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54
FLIES AND DIARRHŒA.—During the year an investigation
into the connection between flies and nuisance was carried out on
behalf of the London County Council by Dr. Hamer, and observations
were made in certain parts of the Borough.
Fly - papers were exposed in certain houses in Goswell Road,
Peartree Street, Bastwick Street, Gee Street, and Great Sutton
Street, which were in the neighbourhood of stables, and the numbers
of flies counted at weekly intervals, when fresh papers were deposited.
In order to discover if there was any connection between the
numbers of flies and cases of diarrhoea, each house in the immediate
neighbourhood of the fly centres was visited once a week by certain
of the Inspectors and enquiries made as to the existence of any cases.
When any were heard of a visit was made by one or other of the
Women Inspectors, and advice given.
The results obtained were inconclusive, and if they suggested anything,
rather lent support to the view that a large number of flies,
even flies which have ready access to stable manure, does not
necessarily imply numerous cases of diarrhœa.
As a matter of fact, the population of the area in which the fly
and diarrhœa investigation was carried on was 5,000, and though
there were large stables in the area and large numbers of flies were
caught, the number of deaths from diarrhœa was exactly 4. Apart
from these, there were some 23 distinct cases of diarrhœa discovered
by the Inspectors.
PREVENTION OF EPIDEMIC DIARRHŒA.— The measures
directed against infantile mortality generally are those likely to
have an effect on epidemic diarrhoea, and it is unnecessary to
recapitulate these here. Cleanliness in the home, cleanliness and
care in connection with the feeding of the baby, are all - important.
The prevention of direct infection by personal cleanliness on the
part of the person attending on the baby is a point to be grasped,
and has already been mentioned.