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55
DIARRHŒAL DISEASES.
Deaths 119. (Decennial average 125).
Diarrhoea was the registered cause of 119 deaths including
those specially certified as epidemic or zymotic
enteritis; 75 per cent. of these were registered in the
September quarter. The death rate on the estimated
population was 0.91 per thousand in Bethnal Green
whilst that in the whole of the County of London was
0.72.
All the deaths except four were amongst young
children and formed a mortality rate of 6.46 upon the
estimated population of young children.
Diarrhœal diseases are caused by eating food which
has been contaminated by germs; these are carried
by dust and flies and the only feasible method
of reducing diarrhoea mortality is by strict cleanliness
and careful food storage. The dust-bin is the greatest
offender; this should be kept covered and in a position
as remote as possible from the meat safe. Animal and
vegetable refuse should be burned and not placed in
the dust-bin. Milk is specially receptive of germs; it
should be stored in clean vessels in a cool place and
kept carefully covered with muslin to exclude flies and
dirt. In hot weather it is wise to boil all milk before
use, though this method undoubtedly deteriorates its
nutritive value. Tainted meat, over ripe fruit and stale
vegetables are poisonous. Tinned foods should be
regarded with a certain amount of suspicion; they
should not be kept for an indefinite time after being
opened, and so much as cannot be used within twentyfour
hours should be destroyed.