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83
DIARRHœA.
During the year 1910, there were registered in the
Borough of Lambeth, 90 deaths from Darrhœa, as compared
with 118, 150, 71, '272, 178 and '260 during 1909,
!908, 1907, 1906, 1905 and 1904 respectively (vide p. 107,
deaths from Enteritis).
Taking the statistics of the old Parish of Lambeth for 10
years (1891-1900), it will be seen that the annual average for
Diarrhoea (and Cholera) is 198.9, so that the figures for 1910
for the Borough are 54.8 per cent. less.
Of these 90 deaths, 86 (i.e., 95.6 per cent.) were in
children under 5 years, and 75 (i.e., 83.3 per cent.) in infants
under 1 year of age. August, September and October were
the most fatal months (see Table S). In this connection, it
is again interesting to note that the mean monthly air temperature
registered was, in June, 61.3 deg.; in July, 59.4
deg.; in August, 61.8 deg.; in 'September, 56.6 deg.; and in
October, 53.7 deg.; whilst the 4ft. earth thermometer registered
56 deg. F. on June 12th, rising to a maximum 60
deg. F. on August 16th, remaining at that temperature until
August 30th, with the exceptions of August 21st, August
24th, and August 27th, and sinking to 56 deg. F. again
on October 14th. 56 deg. F. is the so-calle<1 "critical'
earth temperature for Diarrhœa, i.e., the temperature at
which the germs of this disease begin to multiply, and prove
themselves dangerous.* Hence its importance statistically,
in connection with disease, which, though it kills chiefly
young children, attacks at times persons of all ages—a
fact not generally recognised.
* The 4-ft. earth temperatures were taken in Regent's Park, and
thanks are due to Mr. J. B. Sowerby, the Secretary of the Royal
Botanic Society, for the information in connection therewith.