38 



of feeding have mucli to do witli this excessive mortality from 

 diarrhoea in all towns. On this supposition, in Brighton, we 

 distribute each summer about 10,000 circulars, stating the 

 precautionary measures as to food, etc., which are desirable. 

 But it remains true, that with identical conditions as to food, if 

 the summer is cool and wet, the diarrhoea mortality is trifling, 

 while if the temperature of the air and soil is excessive, the 

 diarrhoea mortality rapidly becomes serious. So far as the soil 

 temperature is concerned, the critical point appears to be 56° F 

 at a depth of 4 feet. When this point is passed, diarrhoea be- 

 comes prevalent. The same rule does not hold good in rural 

 districts, and if as is probable the micro-organism causing 

 Epidemic Diarrhoea has its home in the soil, it follows that the 

 soil of towns is more favourable to its multiplication than that of 

 rural districts. 



Table III. gives an interesting comparison of the chief 

 weather conditions, month by month, during 1896, in Brighton 

 and Crowborough. It will be noted that the relative 

 humidity of the air was greater in Brighton during five out of 

 the seven first months in the year, but markedly less than in 

 Crowborough during the last five months of the year. The mean 

 temperature was higher in Brighton during each month, the 

 mean temperature for the whole year being 29 higher in 

 Brighton than in Crowborough. The extremes were also less 

 violent in Brighton, the absolute minima being 26'0 and 22'8, 

 and the absolute maxima 80"4 and 82'8 in Brighton and Crow- 

 borough respectively. In respect of wind, it will be noticed that 

 a calm occurred on 45 days in Brighton, whereas this heading 

 does not appear in the Crowborough returns. Rain fell {i.e., an 

 amount equal to or exceeding '01 inch) on more days in Brighton 

 than in Crowborough, but the total amount collected was greater 

 in Crowborough than in Brighton by 5' 71 inches. 



ARTHUR NEWSHOLME, M.R.C.P , 



Medical Officer of Health for Brighton. 



