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16
It is now pretty well understood that there is a very close connection
subsisting between temperature—especially the earth temperature at four
feet deep—and the prevalence of Diarrhoea.
Iregretthatlhave not the means at my disposal of observing the earth
temperatures in this district, and I am, therefore, unable to give them.
I may say, however, that as a rule within 14 days of the earth having
obtained a temperature of 56° Fan. at a depth of four feet, the deaths
from Diarrhoea begin to increase .
The only air temperature data at my disposal is that given by the
Astronomer-Royal in the Registrar-General's weekly reports. They
may, however, be taken to be as nearly as possible the temperature
which obtained in the Parish during the quarter.
I might remark that the weather in June was dry, fine, bright and
sunny, and that the high day temperature was above the average, and
the low night temperature was about its average. The mean daily
temperature was above the average till the 11th of the month, and again
from the 20th to its close. Thus July set in with temperature conditions
most favourable to the propagation of Diarrhoea, and therefore one is not
surprised to find that the disease became at once very fatal.
In July the weather was generally wet and dull during the first week,
then dry, the sun being occasionally bright, till the 17th, and generally
wet and dull from the 18th. The rainfall was 0.80 inch above the average
of 54 years.
August was wet, dull and unsettled until the 14th, then bright and
fine to the end of the month, and the mean day temperature was a little
higher than the average, while the mean night temperature was a little
above its average. The mean daily temperature of the air was generally
below its average until the 15th and generally above from the 16th.
The weather in September was very warm, fine and dry, with a
remarkably hot period, extending from the 24th to the 29th. The mean
high day temperature was 75.4°, being 8.1 above the average, which,
with one exception, 1865, had not been so high since 1841. The mean
* I am indebted to the Astronomer-Royal's Reports to the Registrar-General for the facts as to
the weather,