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46
21 occurred in infants under one year of age, and 47 occurred
under 5 years of age. That the disease is spread from patient to
patient, particularly in crowded tenements, is illustrated by the
fact that about 30 per cent. of the deaths occurred in "model
dwellings."
The means of preventing Whooping Cough (from which 1,627
children died in London in 1903, as compared with 1,876
in 1902) are largely in the hands of the public. Sufficiently
long isolation of infected children, and watchful care over the
infants' departments of the schools, are perhaps the main points
requiring attention.
EPIDEMIC DIARRHCEA.
During 1903 there were 100 deaths attributed to this disease,
77 of these cases being infants under one year of age. This gives
a death rate for Epidemic Diarrhoea of 0.99 per 1,000, compared
with 0.81 in 1902 and 1.2 in 1901. Frequently in this district
of London the death rate has been over 2.0 per 1,000. So that
the present death rate compares favourably with previous rates.
It should not however be forgotten that the London rate for
1903 was as low as 0.64 per 1,000. Hence, there is still much
room for improvement in this particular district. It should be
added, in relation to nomenclature, that of the 100 certificates
received 71 were returned as Epidemic Diarrhtea, and 29 as
Epidemic Enteritis. 41 per cent. of the cases occurred in the
St. Luke division, 28 per cent. in South Clerkenwell, and 31
per cent. in North Clerkenwell.
Tn continuation of my report on this subject (see Report on
Health of Finsbury, 1902, pp. 73-79), I may state that during
1903 the enquiry has been continued in respect to the influence
of climatic conditions and milk supply.
(a) Epidemic Diarrhoea and Climatic Conditions.—The modern
scientific view of the etiology of epidemic diarrhu'a briefly
stated is that it is a bacterial disease, and its occurrence