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2. Gold. —Exposure to oold and wet, constant catching colds, neglected colds, &c, are given as a predisposing cause in 113 cases. Whether a " oold " is the cause or a symptom of the commencement of consumption is of interest from the medical point of view; but the important point for the public to realise is that there i.s a close connection between "constant catching cold," " neglected cold," &c, and the commencement of consumption. '■'). Pleuriiy.—ln 24 cases the patient had had pleurisy. Most cases of pleurisy are tubercular in origin, and pleurisy is generally an early stage of consumption rather than a predisposing cause. It would be well if every.case of pleurisy was treated as a case of consumption. 3. Alcohol. —Seven cases out of the 192 males had made an excessive use of alcohol. This proportion is not probably in excess of the average proportion of non-consumptive males who indulge to excess. 4. Occupation. —ln 8 cases a special occupation was attributed as a predisposing cause; two of these were stonemasons and four were miners, and these undoubtedly had stonemasons' phthisis and miners' phthisis respectively. The cases oi a linotype-operator and a brass-turner being due to their occupation are more doubtful. 5. Insanitary Surroundings. —A note was in most cases made of the condition of the premises and building. In only IV cases was there any special cause for remarking on any insanitary condition in the house or surroundings. 6. Miscellaneous. —In 9 cases influenza, in 7 pneumonia, and in 3 bronchitis was given as a predisposing cause. Direct Sources of Infection. 1. Previous Case.—ln 44 cases the source of infection can be attributed directly to living with an infected relation, and in 12 cases there was a history of close contact with a consumptive friend or workman. In cases where other members of the family besides the patient, such as brothers or sisters, have been affected, there has only been one other member affected in the large majority of instances. For instance, in 63 cases where other members of the family were affected, only one member was affected in 44 cases, two in 14, and over two in 5 cases. 2. House. Inquiries were usually made as to whether any previous cases had occurred in (he same house, but this source of infection was found to be practically non-existent. It must be pointed out that the occupiers of houses are frequently changing, and that fresh tenants would be unlikely to know whether or no any of the previous tenants had had consumption; but if the occurrence of previous cases in a house was frequent source of infection, there would probably be some evidence to that effect. In the large majority ot casts, therefore, the actual source of infection is unknown. Also in (he large majority of case's the infection does not spread from one member of the family to another. The predisposing'causes seem to be of more importance than direct and constant exposure to infection. INFANTILE DIARRHCEA. As was only to be expected in a dry and hot summer, there was a somewhat serious epidemic oi infantile diarrhoea in the months of January, February, and March. In the minds of most medical men it is probable that the terms "infantile diarrhoea," "cholera infantum, and "enteritis" or " gastro-enteritis " are interchangeable as expressing the same disease when it occurs in the summer months. For some reason diarrhoea and cholera infantum are classed in Order 2 of Class 1, which is described as " Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases," whereas enteritis and gastro-enteritis are classed in Order 5 wirh Class 6, which comprises " Local Diseases." The result of this arrangement is that notices of death are sent to the District Health Officer when they come in Order 2 of Class 1, but they are not sent when the}' are classified in Order 5, Class 6, and therefore I receive no notices of the occurrence of deaths from enteritis oi gastro-enteritis. ■ For statistical purposes these two terms may be regarded as representing the same disease. In January. February, and March, 1907, there were 68 deaths from infantile diarrhoea and ■ •astro-enteritis in Christ church City and Woolston Borough. Forty of these were classified as diarrhoea and 28 as enteritis or gastro-enteritis. In l!) 04 there were 30 deaths in the same period from the same causes, in 190.5 there were 12, and in .1906 13. The increase this summer in the death-rate was therefore pretty considerable. A fairly direct connection between the increase of deatiis from these causes and a hot and dry summer can generally be traced. In Christchurch the connection is quite obvious. As February is generally the hottest month, and also the greatest number of deaths generally take place in this month from' these causes, the absolute moan temperature in February may be taken as a sample In 1905 the mean temperature in February was 59-3°, in 1906 it was 55-9° (in January, 1906 the mean temperature was 57-9°), and in February, 1907, the mean temperature was 625°. The connection between the deaths and the rainfall is even more direct. It is unnecessary to quote all the figures in this connection, as it is well recognised that the drought this summer was exceptional in Christchurch. In December the rainfall was o'7Bin., in January 0"93 in., in February 1-09 in., and in March 1-80 in. The driest period was between the 18th January and the 16th February. On the 18th January there was 0-4 in, rainfall, but there was practically no more rain until the 16th February. During this period there were 26 deaths from diarrhoea and 13 from enteritis—that is, more than one-half the deaths took place in this period. After nearly an inch of rain fell on the 16th February there was a noticeable decrease in the number of deaths. Inquiries were made in 34 cases of the 38 which were notified to this Department, and the following is a summary of the particulars thus obtained: Of the 34 cases 7 were illegitimate: whereas if the same proportion had been observed between deaths of legitimate and illegitimate children as there is between the births, there should only have been between 1 and 2 deaths, the

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