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MORTALITY IN CHILDHOOD. 85
at the Infirmary, made in the early months of this year, showed that 12 other cases in children
under two years old had been treated there daring the time the "Diarrhœa Register" was open,
but the Department had no knowledge of the cases at the time of their occurrence. Putting the
numbers together, a total of 255 cases in children aged 0-2 years and 72 in persons aged two
years and upwards were known during the lives of the patients. Among the former there were
33 deaths, while 34 other deaths (at ages 0-2 years) took place without the Department being
aware of the patients' illness. The dates of onset of all cases and deaths are shown week by week
in Table 45. The totals for the three years shown at the bottom of the table are not comparable
owing to the longer duration of the inquiry last year. If the cases (and deaths) occurring
subsequent to the week ending November 22nd be eliminated from last year's figures, and the
attacks of unknown dates in all three years, the total numbers of cases become 250 in 1913, 150
in 1912, and 405 in 1911, and the deaths 53, 44, and 126.
The fatality among cases known during life was 12.9 per cent. last year, as compared with
10.8 in 1912 and 147 in 1911. Such statement, however, gives an incomplete view of the
differences in the fatalities of the three years. Considering the cases "recovering" and "dying"
(with known dates of onset) during the four months July to October, in two periods, it will be
found (see below) that the fatality (persons) during July and August of last year was at the rate
of 10.0 per cent. and that during September and October, 13.6 per cent. In previous years
there was no corresponding increase in the fatality in the second period, and the SeptemberOctober
fatality during last year was higher than that recorded in 1911—the year when the
diarrhoea epidemic was particularly severe.

As in recent years, fly counts were obtained at selected spots in the Borough, from which
the average numbers of flies per "cemetery" exposed were determined in each week. The results
are given in Table 46, with the corresponding figures for 1911 and 1912, together with certain
important meteorological data. The more important parts of that table are shown in graphic
form in the chart facing page 86, and, as a contrast, the corresponding chart for 1912 has been
reproduced.
Last year's chart* presents the following differences from that of 1912:—
(i.) The absence of any "peak" in the curve of earth temperature, which failed to rise to the level
attained in 1912, but continued at a lower level for a somewhat more extended period and fell away more
slowly. In 1912 the falling curve crossed the line of 55° during the first ten days of October. Last year
that point was not reached until the corresponding period of November.
(ii.) The rainfall was more evenly distributed throughout the period of observation, but was generally
less in amount in corresponding periods.
(iii.) The "fly curve" attained a first maximum at about the usual period (during the first ten days of
August), then fell away some ten points, and in the last days of September rose to a second maximum
{25 points approximately above the earlier). The second "peak" indicates that the flies at that date were
about 50 per cent. more numerous than in August.
(iv.) The "attack curve" was at no time high, but continued throughout November, 1913, at a higher
level than in 1912.
(v.) The interval between the curves of attacks and deaths was greater in 1913 than in 1912, during
the true diarrhoea season. Such change might be due either to a greater proportion of the true total
number of attacks becoming known or to a lower fatality. Both factors are believed to have been
operative.
* It is to be regretted that it was found necessary to compress the 1913 chart horizontally to allow reproduction
here. The result is a loss of correspondence of the vertical rules indicating the dates of the months.