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10
These tables show at a glance the great mortality amongst children
under the age of 2 years and especially amongst those under the age of 1
year, 49 deaths having occurred amongst infants under 1 year from
Diarrhoea alone, the greater number of these taking place at a time when
the infant was probably having other food substituted for the mother's milk.
Another noticeable fact with regard to these deaths from Diarrhoea is
the number that occurred during the months of August and September, 31
having been registered in August and 15 in September.
The notification of Infectious Diseases Act became applicable to
Diarrhoea in this district on August 22nd, 1894, but this was rescinded on
November 22nd of the same year and has not since been put in force so that
the number of cases that now occur can only be based on conjecture, but it
is evident from the number of deaths registered that a somewhat severe
epidemic took place during the past year, further evidence of which is
obtained from the experience of the Medical Practitioners of the District.
It is now generally accepted that this Epidemic Diarrhoea is due to a
micro—organism which becomes active when the soil temperature has
reached a certain height i.e., when the 4ft., soil thermometer has registered
temperature of 56°F.
I have not been able to obtain Meteorological records of this particular
District but the great heat during August and September was only too
evident and there is but little doubt that the soil temperature reached the
height above mentioned.
The presence of a certain micro—organism and a high soil temperature
are two important factors in the causation of the disease but they are not
sufficient of themselves to bring about the evil results which were so
apparent during the year.
Other agencies must be at work, and as certain plants require definite
kinds of soil as well as definite temperatures in which to flourish, so does
this micro-organism demand a suitable nidus upon which it may grow and
exert its baneful influence.
These other agencies, in the case of infants, may be produced by means
of a lowered vitality due to insanitary surroundings and of mal-nutrition
brought about by injudicious, indiscriminate and careless feeding.