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64
DIARRHCEA.
During the year 1898 there were registered in Lambeth
254 deaths from Diarrhoea, as compared with 238 during
1897, and an average of 1751 for the last 10 years. Of
these 254 deaths, 242 (i.e., 91-3 per cent.), were in children
under five years, and 209 (i.e., 82-3 per cent.) in infants
under one year of age. July and August were the most
fatal months (s?e Table Q), though the disease was prevalent
also during June, September and October, In this connection,
it is again interesting to note that the mean monthly air
temperature was in June, 57 6°; July, 61-5° ; August, 64'6°;
September, 621° ; and October, 53 8° ; whilst the 4-ft. earth
thermometer registered 56° F. on June 26th, rising to a
maximum 63 ° F. on August 28th, and sinking to 56° F. again
on OctobeT 29th. 56° F. is the so-called "critical " earth
temperature for Diarrhcea, i.e., the temperature at which
the germs of this particular disease begin to multiply and
prove themselves dangerous.*

# The 4-ft. earth temperatures were taken in Regent s Park, and I beg
to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Wm. Marriott, of the Royal
Meteorological Society, for the information in connection therewith.