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The question as to the correct certification and classification
of Diarrhoea deaths has of late occupied the attention of those
responsible for statistics concerning sickness and mortality, and
more particularly the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers
of Health, and as a result of enquiries made by them from all
available sources as to the classification generally adopted, it
was found they were was so varied as to render the statistics
of Diarrhoea deaths, and consequently of death-rates, in
different localities misleading and altogether useless for comparison.
As a result of their enquiries a memorandum on
certification of " Diarrhoea" deaths has been issued by them
to registered medical practitioners in England, Scotland, Ireland
and Wales to the effect that in future the only authorised names
to be used in certifying deaths from this disease are: epidemic
enteritis, zymotic enteritis, or epidemic diarrhoea, and all other
synonyms are to be entirely discarded.
The new tables issued by the Local Government Board
provide for the distinct separate classification of the Diarrhoea
or zymotic enteritis deaths from those of the non-specific gastroenteritis,
&c., deaths.
Under the head of Diarrhoea and English Cholera one
hundred and forty-nine deaths were recorded during the year,
and although this is as nearly as possible equal to the average of
the past six years, the mortality is higher than during 1899.
The following shows the mortality recorded during each
of the past six years:—
Year. Deaths.
1895
1896 169
1897 141
1898 154
1899 123
1900 149
Annual average for the past six years 147