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234
temperatures and the notification (prevalence) of
enteric fever. It may be mentioned here that the
earth-temperature was much in excess of the mean
for the four preceding years in July last and that there
was an unusually early prevalence of enteric fever.
Further there was during the fourth quarter a period
of exceptionally high earth temperatures between
periods of low, sufficient probably to account for the
apparent discrepancy in the series.
It is not suggested that increased earth temperature
has been the only factor in producing last year's
excess, but it is suggested that that increased temperature
reacting on polluted soil has had some such effect.
An analysis of the information obtained by the
routine enquiries leads to a division of the notifiedcases into the following groups:—
St. Mary.
St John.
Erroneous diagnosis
6
1
Imported cases
21
7
Remainder, Primary
43
7
„ Secondary
11
2
It should be mentioned here that many of the
classes classed as "remainder, primary" were in persons
who, though resident in the Parish, regularly
took meals in other parts of London.
In 6 out of the 98 cases reported, there were
histories of consumption of oysters within the incubation
period of the disease, and in 3 of other shell fish,
such as mussels, cockles, &c. Four patients had been