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being below that of the corresponding mean temperature of 1901. It
will be seen that during last year the deaths registered under the
terms enteritis and gastro-enteritis were just in the same proportion
as those registered under diarrhœa, as observed during 1901; showing
that all the deaths are probably due to the same cause, and the
distinctions made in the description is purely arbitrary. The deaths
from enteritis and gastro-enteritis under one year may therefore be
regarded with those under the head of diarrhœa, as deaths due to
epidemic diarrhoea.
Measles.—This disease was not quite so fatal during 1902 at
during the year 1901. There were 74 deaths in the Borough, of
which 71 were amongst children under 5 years of age. This probably
does not represent the total mortality, as some of the deaths from
measles may have been entered under other causes which have
intervened as complications of the disease. An attempt is now
being made to reduce this high mortality, by applying some of the
sections of the Public Health (London) Act, relating to the prevents
of infectious disease to measles. I do not for a moment think that
this effort will diminish the prevalence of measles ; but it will I think
have a tendency to lessen its mortality, which no doubt is due to
want of care in the treatment of cases of this kind. If all parents
learn that measles is a serious disease, and that exposure and
neglect is likely to cause serious and probably fatal complications,
much will be done towards diminishing its mortality.
The death-rate for the year 1902 from this disease is .33 per 1,000
living.
Whooping Cough.—This is another disease the mortality of which
amounts to a high figure every year. The disease was more wide
spread during 1902 than during the previous year, the deaths during
1902 numbering 87, while they only reached the total of 49 during
1901. The mortality for the year is therefore .39 per 1,000
living. Of the total deaths from this cause 84 occurred amongs
children under 5 years of age. The remarks which I have made