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14
from homo. It needs but a single whiff of this
poison to produce the disease in those who are predisposed
to its attacks.
DIARRHŒA.
The Table of zymotic disease presents us with a
slight increase of diarrhœa in 1802, over the two
O preceding years; but taking the eight years, there
have been 48 deaths from diarrhoea in the last four
years, against 69 for the four preceding. This
would seem to indicate that some of the sources of
diarrhoea have been removed. There can be no
doubt that one of the great causes of diarrhoea is
the introduction into the system of decomposing
animal and vegetable matter, and that this
decomposition comes on most speedily in hot
weather. It is thus that in hot seasons we have
most diarrhoea. But much may be done, even in
the hottest seasons, to prevent the spread of this
disease, by removing accumulations of tilth, and
more especially by taking care that the water drunk
is free from impurities. With regard to the water
supply, I have constantly directed my attention to
the state of the water in cisterns. Unless cisterns
are cleansed out every two or three months, tlicy
are liable to accumulations of vegetable matter
at the bottom which in the summer suddenly
decompose, and the water is then in a state which
will produce diarrhoea in those who drink it. I