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44
Only 11 deaths occurred before September 30th, and 11 occurred
in October. In addition to these 22 deaths, 5 further deaths
occurred in November. From this and other information it
appears that the greater part of the zymotic enteritis occurring
this year came on after September 30th, and consequently the
majority of the cases that have occurred have not been notified.
Age Distribution. Table I. shows that nearly half the cases
notified were between 3 and 12 months of age, the largest
number in any three months being between 9 and 12 months of
age. 18 cases over 5 years of age were notified. From inquiries
made, I have no doubt that the disease affects persons at all ages,
but it is much more serious under the age of 2, and in extreme
old age.
Local Distribution. As notification is voluntary, it was to be
expected that some doctors would be more inclined to notify than
others, and this will necessarily affect the local distribution as
indicated by notification, and consequently too much reliance
must not be placed on the figures given for the Wards. The
largest number of cases occurred, proportionally to population, in
River North, St. Nicholas's, and Dockyard Wards.
Table III. shows the condition of the 93 houses affected as
regards crowding and cleanliness. 10 houses were found to have
more than two persons to a room, and 34 were found to have
more than 1 1/2 persons to a room. 14 were very clean, 39 clean,
27 indifferent, and 13 dirty.
Table IV. shows the manner of feeding of all cases under one
year of age. Only 4, or 8 per cent. were fed on the breast alone
and 9, or 18 per cent., on breast and other food. 3, or 6 per
cent., were fed on depot milk; one of these, however, no doubt
had other food given as well. The remaining 68 per cent. were
nearly all fed on fresh cows' milk or Nestle's condensed milk. In
1905 and 1906, 20 per cent., and in 1907, 26 per cent., were fed
wholly or partially on the breast. An enquiry made in 1904