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27
and very dry weather. The fact that the prevalence of this
disease is limited to the months of July, August and September,
and the influence of season as the main factor is of considerable
importance. This does not explain, however, the fact that
the disease is almost entirely limited to bottle-fed children,
and that the majority of deaths occur among the poorer classes.
It is most probable that hot and dry seasons are conditions which
encourage active changes in the milk to which harmful bacteria
have gained access. That the poorer homes suffer most is
probably due to the greater facilities for food contamination
arising from its improper storage and the insanitary condition of
the home, or to the stale and infected milk supplied by small
vendors, who have not the facilities for cooling and properly
storing milk which has often travelled a long distance under
conditions favourable to deterioration before reaching them.
Chart A shows the seasonal incidence of Epidemic
Diarrhoea.
Miss Whitworth visited 65 houses at which deaths had
occurred from Epidemic Diarrhoea or Enteritis, and elicited the
following facts with regard to the methods of feeding:—
Breast-fed 0
Cows' Milk 13
Diluted Condensed Milk 21
Cows' Milk and Condensed Milk 12
Indefinite (boiled bread, tea,
potatoes, &c.) 19
It was found that practically all the infants who died from
this disease were artificially fed, and that the parents did not
show any concern on the advent of Diarrhœa among infants
during the summer months, attributing it to the fact that "it
is the fruit season." Miss Whitworth says "the majority of
the parents visited displayed amazing ignorance in regard to