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SUMMER DIARRHŒA.
A special enquiry has been made into 135 deaths from
Zymotic Enteritis, or Summer Diarrhœa occurring during the
three months, July to September.
Diarrhoea was very fatal during the third quarter of this
year, more so than it has been for four years past. The
prevalence of this disease, which is usual in warm summers,
began this year in the second week of July, reached its height
in the second week of August, and came to an end at the
beginning of October (the prevalence being measured by the
deaths registered).
The temperature three feet below the ground reached 61°
in the first week of July, gained its highest point—65.09°—
on the 7th August, and fell below 57° in the last week of
September. In 1903, the three foot thermometer never
exceeded 62°. During each week of July and the first and
last weeks of August, the temperature of the air was above
the average; the remaining seven weeks of the quarter
however had a temperature below the average. The Rainfall
for the quarter, 4.88 in., was below the average (7.0 in.).
The number of deaths in each week shows a fairly close
connection with the temperature, rising as the temperature
rises and falling as it falls. The mortality, however, did not
rise at once, and it persisted for several weeks after the
temperature had fallen below the point where the mortality
began to rise, indicating that the deaths from diarrhoea are