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18
Disinfection is carried ont when practicable in those cases that come
to our knowledge.
DIARRHŒA.
This was the cause of 20 deaths in this district. In London it was
the cause of 3,223 deaths, or at a rate of 0.72 per 1,000 living. This
rate was about the average of the preceding 10 years, which was 0.70.
There were also 1,680 deaths from enteritis.
2,624, or 81 per cent. of the deaths from diarrhoea, took place in the
third or summer quarter of the year. The great majority of these are
hand-fed children under one year of age, living in insanitary dwellings
on a polluted soil, which during the hot summer months gets heated to
the requisite temperature. It has been found experimentally that there
is always a sudden rise in the mortality from diarrhoea when the soil
at a depth of 4 feet from the surface attains the temperature of 56° F.
DISINFECTION.
During the year ending December, 1896—
322 rooms were fumigated.
174 premises stripped and cleansed.
2,528 articles were disinfected by Messrs. Armfield & Sons,
viz., the following:—
193 Beds.
63 Mattresses.
97 Palliasses.
138 Bolsters.
334 Pillows.
308 Blankets.
312 Sheets.
173 Quilts.
207 Pillow cases.
73 Cushions.
87 Shirts and nightshirts.
27 Chemises.
24 Drawers.
57 Frocks.
102 Petticoats.
99 Coats, &c.
36 Suits of clothes.
12 Curtains.
18 Rugs
45 Shawls and carpets
17 Books.
1 Bassinette.
72 Bundles of sundries.
2,528