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62
2..0Non.Notifiable Diseases.
Chickenpox.
824 cases of chickenpox were reported voluntarily.
Diarrhoea.
The number of corrected deaths registered from diarrhoea is 22, as
compared with yearly averages of 191.6, 219.4, 208.6, 140.2, 178.2,
77.4, and 52.2, during the seven quinquennia 1891.1895 (Parish),
1896 1900 (Parish), 1901-1905 (Borough), 1906-1910 (Borough),
1911-1915 (Borough), 1916-1920 (Borough), and 1921-1925
(Borough), respectively. All the 22 deaths registered during 1926
occurred amongst children under 5 years of age, and 19, i.e., 86.4
per cent., amongst infants under 1 year of age. The large decrease
in the number of registered diarrhoea deaths during 1926 is realised
when thus compared with the quinquennial yearly averages during the
past 35 years.
During 1926, the 4 ft. earth thermometer first registered 56°F. on
June 19th, rising to a maximum of 62.5°F. on September 3rd, and re.
mainingat such maximum until September 2oth,sinkingto 56°F.again on
October 21 st. The inter relationship between this particular disease and
the 4 ft. earth temperature has long been noted, so much so that the latter
is known as the critical earth temperature in connection with all
diarrhoeal diseases, being the temperature at which the particular germ
or germs that are the cause or causes of diarrhœal diseases, especially
of infantile zymotic, or summer, diarrhoea, take on virulence and
become so fatal, chiefly to infants and young children*. Under such
a theory, the deaths from diarrhoea during 1926, should have been
larger in number in view of the readings of the 4 ft. earth thermometer.
There were other counteracting influences at work, and it is reasonable
and fair to attribute the decrease in diarrhœal mortality (and corresponding
morbidity) to the Council's activities in maternity and child
welfare work throughout the Borough, having regard to the recognised
* Adults also suffer from zymotic or summer diarrhoea, but rarely, if ever, fatally.