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55
DIARRHŒA.
During the year 1895, there were registered 263 deaths
from diarrhoea, as compared with 139 during 1894, and an
average of 178.3 for the last 10 years. Of these 263 deaths,
239 (i.e., 90.9 per cent.) were in children under five years
of age, and 190 (i.e., 72.2 per cent.) in infants under seven
years. July and August were the most fatal months (see
Table Q), though the disease was prevalent also during June,
September and October. In this connection it is interesting
to note that the mean monthly air temperature was in June,
61°.4; July, 62°.6; August, 62°.2; and September, 62°.2,
whilst the 4-ft. earth thermometer registered 56° F. on
June 11th, rising to 62° F. on Sept. 7th, and sinking
to 56° F. again on October 13th. 56° F. is the so-called
"critical" earth temperature for diarrhœa, i.e., the temperature
at which the germs of this particular disease begin
to multiply and prove themselves dangerous.*
Age mortalities from Diarrhaœ were as follows:—
Age.
Total Deaths.
Percentage of
Total Deaths
from Diarrhœa.
Under 1 year
190
72.2
1 to 5
49
18.6
5 to 20
1
0.4
20 to 40
0
0.0
40 to 60
2
0.8
Over 60
21
7.9
Total
263
...
In London, there were registered during 1895, 3600 deaths
from diarrhoea, giving a rate of 8 3 per 10,000 living, and
41% of total deaths.
* The 4-foot earth temperatures were taken in Regent's Park, and I beg
to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Wm. Marriott, of the Royal
Meteorological Society, for the information in connection therewith.