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55
mortality in childhood.
and the averages for 1906-10. Deaths from "Atrophy and Debility" are subject to seasonal
variations closely corresponding to those observed in connection with " Diarrhceal Diseases."
The age-group mortalities are to the same effect, the only rates for last year showing increases
being those for the age-groups 3—6 and 9—12 months, ages at which diarrhoea specially prevails.
It may therefore be concluded that the high rate of infantile mortality observed last year was
due to the coincident prevalence of summer diarrhoea, measles, and whooping cough, and, further,
that there has been no real check in that fall in the mortality from other causes which has been
recorded during the past four or five years.
Diarrhœa.—The changes in the system of classification, following on the adoption
by the Registrar-General of the " International List of Causes of Death," have made it not a
little difficult to adjust the new heading " Diarrhoea and Enteritis," to the old headings
" Diarrhoea " and " Epidemic, Zymotic Enteritis," which have hitherto been used in calculating
the mortality from " summer diarrhoea " of infants. There was, also, formerly a third heading,
" Enteritis," but any deaths under that heading (usually they were comparatively few in number)
were not included in the mortality from "diarrhoea." Now such deaths are included under the
general heading " Diarrhoea and Enteritis." That general heading is subdivided by the
Registrar-General under eight sub-heads, and as there is a slight difference between the subdivision
used by him and that used in the Department, a comparative statement of the two
divisions is appended.
Nos. 104 & 105. Diarrhœa and Enteritis.
Registrar-General's Sub-heads. Departments Sub heads.
A. Infective enteritis. (a) Epidemic diarrhoea ; diarrhoea and vomiting;
B. Diarrhoea—not returned as infective. diarrhea; chronic diarrhcea of infants;
C. Enteritis „ „ dysentery in asylums.
. . " " (b) Enteritis; epidemic, zymotic enteritis; gastro-
D. (Gastro-enteritis ,, „ enteritis; gastro-intestinal catarrh; intestinal
E. Dyspepsia, under 2 years. enteric catarrh.
F. Colic. (c) Diarrhoea due to food.
G. Ulceration of intestines. (d) Dyspepsia (infants); athrepsia ; food atrophy ;
H. Duodenal ulcer. dilatation of stomach (infants).
(e) Intestinal ulceration ; duodenal ulcer ; ulcerative
colitis.
(/) Colic (infants).
(g) Chronic enteritis.
Attention should be directed to the fact that last year the figures for diarrhoea (heading
"Diarrhcea and Enteritis") given in the Registrar-General's Quarterly Reports are the numbers
of deaths at ages under two years, not at all ages as in previous reports, but the mortality rates
(based on those figures) are calculated per 1,000 persons of all ages.
The deaths from " diarrhoea and enteritis " at all ages recorded in the Borough last year,
according to the Department's tabulation, numbered 160, 75 of males and 85 of females. The
numbers falling under each of the sub-headings were—
(a) Epidemic diarrhcea 68 males, 33 ; females, 35
(b) Enteritis, Epidemic enteritis 82 „ 36 „ 46
(c) Diarrhcea due to food 1 „ 0 ,, 1
(The above correspond, as nearly as possible, with the old headings,
" Diarrhœa " and " Epidemic, Zymotic Enteritis.")
(d) Dyspepsia 2 males, 1; females, 1
(e) Duodenal ulcer 5 ,,4 „ 1
(g) Chronic enteritis 2 „ 1 „ 1
(The last represents the old heading, " Enteritis.")
The deaths due to causes corresponding to the two old headings numbered 151 (at all ages),
viz., 69 males and 82 females. (See Tables III. and IV., Appendix A.) Such deaths were