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however, with the high temperature that has prevailed, the cases of zymotic
disease have increased by one-filth, the same number, 128, representing the
cases of this class during the past 4 weeks, and duriug the 5 weeks previous.
The principal increase is observed in the cases returned as fever or
typhus, in diarrhoea and in chicken-pox. Of diarrhoea, 8 cases were entered
in the first week of the month, 8 in the second, 12 in the third, and 25 in the
fourth. Two cases were also returned as dysentery.
Compared with June last year, the principal difference observable is, that
while the total number of cases has been less by 31, some important zymotic
diseases have been more prevalent. Thus hooping-cough has furnished 14
cases against 8 last year (although the disease has been less fatal), diarrhoea
53 against 35, and fever 13 against 9. On the other hand, there were only 13
cases of measles, against 35 in June last year, and only 2 cases of scarlet fever
against 7.
A case of cholera came under my notice at the begining of the month
(commencing on June 1st), which recovered under the care of a private
practitioner.
The temperature of the month just closed has been unusually high; in
the last week it is said to have exceeded the average of the same week in 43
years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher) by 6.9 degrees. The mean temperature
of the four weeks, was 61°, that of the corresponding weeks last year, being
56.9°. The mean temperature of the last week of the month was 67.3°, or about
as high as that of the hottest week (the first week in August) last year.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
42, Myddelton Square,
July 2nd, 1857.