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62
Owing to the excessive prevalence of diarrhoeal disease during
the late summer and autumn of 1911, special efforts were made
by the Health Department of the Council to cope with the outbreak.
The Health Committee authorised the issue of the following
leaflet, which was distributed throughout the Borough—
HOW TO PREVENT DIARRHCEA.
With the advent of hot weather, Diarrhoea becomes very
prevalent, and it is most important that precautions should be
adopted to prevent the occurrence of the disease.
These are best carried out by paying attention to the ordinary
rules of health as regards personal cleanliness, proper ventilation
of the rooms, removal of dust and dirt, and the protection of the
food from contamination.
Diarrhoea is caused by eating food which has become contaminated
by germs. These germs are carried by dirt and dust,
and by the agency of house flies, and the way to prevent diarrhoea
is to keep your house and everything in it scrupulously clean.
The yards should be kept free from accumulations of refuse and
dust, and the dust-bin should be used for the reception of dry
refuse and dust only, and should be kept covered. Burn all animal
and vegetable refuse.
Milk should be boiled the moment it comes into the house.
Stand the jug containing the milk in a saucepan of water, and
boil for half an hour. Then keep it covered to prevent other germs
getting in.
Do not eat tainted meat or fish, or unripe or unsound fruit
Keep your water cisterns clean, and boil your drinking water.
Diarrhoea is excessively fatal to hand-fed babies, thousands
dying every summer, but breast-fed babies are seldom attacked.
It is most important therefore not to wean babies during the hot
weather, and that hand-fed babies should have their food prepared
with scrupulous care. All utensils used must be most carefully
examined to see that they are perfectly clean.
The Council's Health Visitors and Sanitary Inspectors were
instructed to pay special attention to those districts of the Borough
where from the weekly mortality returns the disease was shown
to be most prevalent. A large number of cases were as a result
of this action discovered and 93 of them (68 infants under one year
old and 25 aged from 1-5 years) recovered. A full enquiry was
carried out into the history of each of these cases and also into
that of 189 fatal cases. The results of the investigation carried
out are summarised as follows :—