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tioned in the certificate. In certifying deaths
from diarrhoea, either the authorized term
"epidemic diarrhoea," or else its synonym, "Infective
enteritis" should invariably be employed.
The Royal College of Physicians having recently
condemned the use of such names as "gastroenteritis,"
"muco-enteritis," and "gastric
catarrh," as alternatives for epidemic diarrhoea,
it is hoped that the use of these terms will be
entirely discontinued."
As concurrent causes of diarrhoea, the effects
of hot weather on food kept in unsuitable storage
places, the pollution of milk kept in uncovered
vessels, the prevalence of flies and their means
of accessibility to food—referred to on another
page—the excess of fruit in some years, and above
all, the improper feeding of infants, have all to
be remembered as factors that assist in promoting
cases of this disease so fatal to young children.
Diphtheria Anti-Toxin Order, 1910.
On October 3rd I made a special report to
the Sanitary Committee with reference to the
above Order, which now makes it compulsory on
all sanitary authorities to provide a supply of
this serum for the use of the poorer inhabitants
of their districts in accordance with recommendations
to be drawn up by the Medical Officer of
Health.
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