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55
(f) Polluted drinking water. Diarrhœal disease has frequently
been traced to this cause.
(g) Stale or tainted food, especially meat, fish, fruit, and milk.
Food stored in ill-ventilated cupboards, or exposed to foul
smells, very soon decomposes; and if so taken, will undoubtedly
cause diarrhceal disease. This is especially the
case with milk, the staple diet of infants. These are, as
above pointed out, the chief sufferers from this complai t.
Heat, or dryness of the atmosphere alone, it is believed, will not
cause summer diarrhoea; but a combination of these with one or
more of the other conditions will undoubtedly bring about a prevalence
of this diesase.
From a consideration of the above conditions favourable to the
spread of summer diarrhoea it will be readily seen what measures
should be adopted in order to bring about a decrease in its prevalence.
Measures to be Adopted to Prevent the Spraed of
Infantile Diarrhœa.
1. Offensive smells, or any defects in the water-closets or drainage
of the house should be at once reported to the Public Health
Department.
2. House refuse must not be allowed to accumulate on the
premises until it becomes a nuisance, but should be removed at
frequent intervals. This will be done every week by the Vestry's
dustmen, who are instructed to call once a week at every inhabited
house in the parish, Any neglect to make the weekly visit should be
at once reported to the Public Health Department. Householders
should recognise their own responsibility in this matter by always
allowing the dust to be removed when called for. If possible, all
vegetable refuse should be burned providing it can be done without
creating a nuisance. Dustbins ought to be kept clean and in
thorough repair.
3. Where there is constant dampness of the soil near the dwelling,
or of its walls, it should be reported to the Public Health Department.