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9
the Vestry I have since the close of the year written and had
distributed at all houses a card giving brief instructions as to
the necessity of carefully treating all cases of measles, and
pointing out the fatality of the disease, and the necessity of
isolating the patients. Owing, however, to the infection being
usually communicated before the nature of the disease is
recognized it is not easy to prevent its spread, and I do not
think much will be gained by making it a notifiable disease.
Diarrhœa.
17. Diarrhœa caused only 10 deaths, compared with 26 in
1893. This is the lowest number recorded since 1885. This low
figure is no donbt largely due to the wetness and low day
temperatures of the summer months, July, August, and September,
but it is also satisfactory evidence of good sanitary
condition.
Meteorology of the Year.
18. The average temperature at Greenwich of the first three
months was 41°.4, or 2°.5 above the average of 53 years, and
the weather was on the whole mild and genial. The rainfall
was slightly above and the amount of sunshine 8 percent, above
the average. In the spring (April-June) the average temperature
was 1°.0 above the average, but the amount of sunshine
was below the average, although the rainfall was also below.
In the summer months (July-September) the temperature was
1°.2 below the average, and the amount of sunshine was 10 per
cent, below the average. The weather was damp and cloudy on
the whole, though the amount of rain measured was below the