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The conclusions to be drawn from a consideration of the facts
presented in the above statistics relating to these 72 infant deaths
from Diarrhoea are that the
(1) Influence of season,
(2) Feeding and surroundings,
(3) Health and occupation of mothers,
are the predisposing factors responsible for the mortality from
summer Diarrhœa.
Of these causes the first-mentioned cannot be overlooked.
This will be at once evident from a comparison of the statistics
relating to deaths from Diarrhœa for a number of years. For
example, taking the last three, years, it will be noted that the
mortality returns from the disease vary very considerably. On
examining the meteorological conditions which were prevalent in
each of these three years, it will be found that these also varied
to a very considerable extent. The summer of 1906 was remarkable
as being probably one of the warmest and most prolonged
for a great number of years. On the other hand, the summer of
1907 was very cold and wet, while that of 1908 was what might
be termed midway between these two extremes. On looking at
the mortality returns from Diarrhoea in the third quarter of each
of these years, it will be seen that these figures were as follows:—
No. of De ths.
1906 117
1907 16
1908 53
The influence of season is, therefore, a factor of considerable
importance.
Much has been written on this subject, but the exact manner
in which this influence is exercised has not been proved.
Diarrhoea, it is generally believed, is a disease of microbial origin.
The "identity," however, of the specific organism has not as yet
been definitely recognised. On the analogy of other diseases the
"causal organisms" of which have been isolated and identified,
there can be no reasonable doubt that in this disease as well there
is associated a specific germ, by means of which the infection
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