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34
Fifteen of the deaths occurred in St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
11 in the Childrens' Hospital, Great Ormond Street and other
hospitals, 4 in Poor Law Institutions, and the rest at home.
The parents were nearly all in poor circumstances—19 were
carmen or general labourers.
Epidemic diarrhœa not only attacks infants, but may also attack
older children and also adults. In 1909 there were 22 Finsbury
residents over one year who succumbed to the disease. This
number included 7 who were over 65.
For a long time it has been known that the number of deaths
from diarrhoea shows a closer connection with the temperature
of the soil than with the temperature of the air.
The temperature of the soil naturally varies with the temperature
of the air, but is always some days behind in a rise or fall—
it is more steady in its record and a less sensitive indicator.
Dr. Ballard has shown that:—
The summer rise of diarrhœal mortality does not commence
until the mean temperature recorded by the thermometer placed
4 feet below the earth's surface has attained a temperature of
about 56 degrees Fahrenheit, no matter what may have been the
temperature previously recorded by the air thermometer or by
the thermometer placed one foot below the earth's surface.
The largest number of deaths in any year from diarrhoea is
usually found in the week in which the four foot earth thermometer
has its greatest mean weekly value.
As a rule the four foot temperature, the rainfall and the number
of deaths from epidemic diarrhœa are highest in the months of
July, August and September.
The following tables show some of these points:—