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Enteric Fever. —The mortality from enteric fever (14 deaths) was
equal to the average of the past 13 years. Of the 14 deaths, four
belonged to Kensal Town.
Diarrhaa.— The deaths in Chelsea in 1897 from diarrhœal diseases
(diarrhoea, cholera, gastro-enteritis, and enteritis) were 154 in number,
and far exceeded the mortality of any recent year. All but 10 of
the 154 deaths were of children under five years of age, the great
majority of these being infants under one year. Of these 154 deaths,
53 were deaths of Kensal Town residents, Kensal Town's proportion of
the total in accordance with its population being only 34 deaths. The
excessive prevalence of diarrhœa commenced in the third week in July,
when the weather was very hot, and reached its maximum about the
middle of August, when a decline set in with the onset of cooler weather.
In the eight weeks ending the fourth September, 114 out of the total of
154 deaths were registered. In London generally there was a similar
excessive incidence of diarrhœal diseases, the death-rate during the
past year from these diseases being the highest recorded since 1868,
when a summer of very exceptional heat was experienced.