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There can be no doubt that very much diarrhoea is occasioned during
hot weather by the use of unwholesome food, especially unripe and rotten fruit,
and putrid fish and meat.
If the Inspector's time were not fully occupied, much more might be done
to check the sale of some of these things. At the present season attention to
complaints alone is more than enough to engage our notice, and many
important matters are obliged to be neglected. The time is approaching for a
renewed inspection of the slaughter houses with reference to the re-application for
licenses; and the time has now expired which was allowed to the Dairymen to
improve the state of their cowsheds, so that the sheds should be again inspected
to ascertain how far the notices have been of use, and, if necessary, to enforce the
requisite improvements by an appeal to a Magistrate.
Workhouse.—During the five weeks there have been 36 deaths in this
establishment. There have been none from epidemic disease. Diarrhoea of a
mild form has been very prevalent; 124 persons have been treated for this
disorder. The number of deaths and of cases of illness is higher than usual.
The Surgeons, however, report favorably of the general state of the health of
the House, with the exception of diarrhoea. The average number of inmates
has been 1323.
Meteorology.—The average temperature of the first week was 62.4°,
which is 1° above the average; of the second, 59.6°, which is 2° below; of
the third, 68°, which is 6.3° above; of the fourth, 68.3°, which is 6.7° above;
and of the fifth, 65.6°, which is 3.2° above, the several averages of corresponding
weeks in 43 preceding years. The highest temperature in the shade at Greenwioh
was on the 28th June, 92.7°; the lowest was on the 8th July, 45.7°.
The greatest range of temperature in 24 hours was on the 28th June, from
55.3° to 92.7°, being 37.4°. At Greenwich l.36 inches of rain fell during the
whole period.
The electricity of the five weeks has been for the most part nearly
positive; on the 10th and 24th only was it negative, and on several days the
electrometer gave no indication.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Tour obedient Servant,
THOMAS HILLIER, M.D., L.R.C.P.
21, Upper Gower Street.