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31
Summer Diarrhœa.
The number of deaths from Diarrhoea (which includes Epidemic and Zymotic
Enteritis, Dysentery and Dysenteric Diarrhoea) was 297, or 8 less than in the
previous year. 230 were under 1 year of age.
77 belonged to the Limehouse District, or at the rate of 1.47 per 1,000
of the population.
68 belonged to St. George-in-the-East, or at the rate of 1.46 per 1,000
of the population.
111 belonged to Mile End Old Town, or at the rate of 1.00 per 1,000 of the
population.
41 belonged to the Whitechapel District, or at the rate of .63 per 1,000 of
the population.
The death rate for the whole Borough was 1.08 per 1,000 of the population.
During the first week in July, 7,731 leaflets were sent to premises where births
occurred during the previous twelve months. These leaflets gave instructions as
to the precautions which were to be taken to prevent deaths from Summer Diarrhoea.
Special visits and re-visits were made by the Health Visitors during the season
to premises, in which there were infants from 3 to 12 months old, and in which
breast feeding was known to have ceased. Special stress was laid on the methods
to be adopted for storing milk and other food. The mothers were urged to
have milk vessels thoroughly cleansed and scalded, and afterwards kept cool in
water, or wrapped in a damp cloth. They were also advised to have flies
destroyed by fly-traps or fly-catching papers, &c.