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46 mortality of childhood.

Diarrhœa.—There was a marked decrease in the mortality from this cause during the
past year, the deaths at ali ages numbering only 38 according to the Department's records—
36 according to the Registrar-General. Such a small number has never been previously
recorded, the next lowest total for any year being that of 1907, when 47 deaths were
attributed to this cause. During the five years 1904-08 the annual average number of deaths
was 92, which contrasts very favourably with the average for the five years 1894-98, viz., 150.
The mortality (per 1,000 persons of all ages) was 0.25 last year as compared with a rate of
0.39 recorded in 1908 and mean rates of 0.62 and 1.07 recorded during the five years 1904-08
and 1894-98 respectively.
The third quarter of the year being the time when the mortality is highest the following
statement of the numbers of deaths recorded in each of the third quarters since 1899 will be
of interest. It will be seen that the deaths recorded last year (19) exceeded those recorded in
1907 (10), although the year's total in the latter year (47) was greater than that of the
former (38).
Deaths from Diarrhœa* during the Third Quarter of the Year.
1899 137 1900 100 1901 108 1902 58 1903 36 1904 110
1905 62 1906 95 1907 10 1908 36 1909 19
* The figures include deaths certified as due to diarrhœa and to epidemic (zymotic) enteritis.
The prevalence of the disease(s) during this quarter of the year depends in some way,
not yet clearly demonstrated, on the meteorological phenomena of the summer. High
temperatures and deficient rainfall are generally held to be the principal factors, acting, it is
now thought, indirectly by favouring the breeding of flies which act as the carriers of the
materies morbi. Striking an average of the rainfall recorded during the past eleven years
(5.97 in.) and grouping the years according as the rainfall of the quarter is in excess of or
below that figure, it becomes fairly evident (see below) that an excess of rain tends to reduce
and a high temperature to increase the prevalence of the disease(s).
Diarrhœa and Meteorological Elements in Third Quarter of Year.
Average rainfall for Quarter (1899-1909)—5.97 in.
Years with excess of rainfall.
Total Mean temperature. Total
rainfall. Air. Earth. deaths.
1903 12.32 59.0 60.18 36
1908 8.15 59.3 60.35 36
1909 7.43 58.7 59.25 19
1901 6.02 61.8 62.06 107
Average for quarter,
four years. 50.
With deficient rainfall.
Total Mean temperature. Total
rainfall. Air. Earth. deaths.
1902 5.91 59.1 59.68 58
1905 5.65 60.0 61.61 62
1904 4.88 60.9 61.47 110
1900 4.38 61.9 61.35 100
1899 3.83 63.1 64.03 137
1906 3.78 62.4 62.08 95
1907 3.36 58.8 59.15 10
Average for quarter,
seven years. 82.