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61
(when in attendance) were visited at their homes, their rooms (or
houses) and clothes disinfected, and their other patients (being
attended at the time) followed up and watched as required.
ERYSIPELAS.
During 1914, in the Borough of Lambeth, 231 cases of erysipelas
were notified, and 19 deaths registered, giving a case-mortality of
8.2 per cent. Of the 231 cases notified, 63 (i.e., 27.3 per cent.) were
removed to hospital. The annual averages for the two decennia
1891-1900 (Parish) and 1901-1910 (Borough) are respectively (1)
notified cases 347.0 and 140.8, and (2) deaths 17.7 and 12.3.
The advantages from the notification of erysipelas are few, as
the majority of cases notified as "erysipelas" are not such as were
contemplated by the framers of the Notification Act.
DIARRH(EA.
During the year 1914 there were registered in the Borough 196
deaths from diarrhœa, as compared with yearly averages of 196.7
and 173.0 respectively for the two decennia 1891-1900 (Parish) and
1901-10 (Borough).
Taking the statistics of the Parish and the Borough for the
four quinquennia 1891-1895, 1896-1900, 1901-1905, and 1906-1910
respectively, when the yearly averages for diarrhœa (and cholera)
were 191.6, 219.4, 208.6 and 140.2, a comparison may be made of the
variations in the incidence of these diseases.
Of the 196 deaths registered during 1914 in the Borough, 186
(i.e., 94.9 per cent.) were in children under 5 years, and 156 (i.e.,
79.6 per cent.) in infants under 1 year of age. July, August, September
and October were the most fatal months, and, during this
period of 4 months, the incidence of diarrhœa (deaths per 10,000 of
the population) upon the Inner Districts was proportionately
greater than that upon the Outer Districts. In this connection, it is
interesting to note that the 4ft. earth thermometer first registered
56 deg. F. on June 18th, rising to a maximum 62 deg. F. on August
16th, and remaining at such maximum until September 14th, and
sinking to 56 deg. F. again on October 16th. 56 deg. F. is the socalled
"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 diarrhœa, a 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 the Secretary of the Royal Botanic Society for the information
in connection therewith.
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