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60
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1925.
It has not been found necessary to take any action under
these regulations.
2.—Non-Notifiable Diseases.
Chickenpox.
1,172 cases of chickenpox were reported voluntarily.
Diarrhœa.
The number of corrected deaths registered from diarrhœa is 32,
as compared with yearly averages of 191.6, 219.4, 208.6, 140.2,
178.2, 77.4, and 52.2, during the seven quinquennia 1891-1895
(Parish), 1896-1900 (Parish), 1901-1905 (Borough), 1906-1910
(Borough), 1911-1915 (Borough), 1916-1920 (Borough), and 19211925
(Borough), respectively. All the 32 deaths registered during
1927 occurred amongst children under 5 years of age, and 25, i.e.,
78.1 per cent., amongst infants under 1 year of age. This decrease
in the number of registered diarrhœa deaths during 1927 is realised
when thus compared with the quinquennial yearly averages during
the past 35 years.
During 1927, the 4 ft. earth thermometer first registered 56°F.
on June 14th, rising to a maximum of 61.5°F. on August 16th, and
remaining at such maximum for one day only, sinking to 56°F. again
on October 7th. The inter relationship between this particular
disease and the 4 ft. earth temperature has long been noted, so much
so that the latter is known as the critical earth temperature in
connection with all diarrhœal diseases, being the temperature at
which the particular germ or germs that are the cause or causes of
diarrhœal diseases, especially of infantile zymotic, or summer,
diarrhœa, take on virulence and become so fatal, chiefly to infants
and young children.* Under such a theory, the deaths from
*Adults also suffer from zymotic or summer diarrhoea, but rarely, if ever,
fatally.