HH62/45/19

Transcription

COUNTY OF PERTH.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
BY THE
COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICER,
1891.

[Note] 18

COUNTY OF PERTH.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT BY THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
OF THE
BLAIRGOWRIE or EASTERN DISTRICT.
1891.

1. The Blairgowrie District has an area of 175,664 acres,* and a population of
9,778 (exclusive of the Burghs of Alyth, Blairgowrie, Coupar-Angus, and Rattray),
as ascertained by the Census of 1891. The number of acres to each person is
about 17. The Census Returns for 1891 show a decrease of population in the
District of 1,038 during the preceding 10 years.
In the rural part of the District the total Births were 222, or 22.7 per 1000,
and the Deaths were 162, or at the rate of 16.5 per 1000 inhabitants. The Infant
Mortality was at the rate of 40.5 per 1000 births; and the Mortality over 60 years,
54.3 per cent. of the total. The natural increase of the population of the District is
60.
From the above figures it will be seen that the health of the District is very
good. Indeed, in this respect, it stands second in the list of the Districts of
Perthshire.
As the population of the Blairgowrie District is nearly equally divided into urban
and rural, a comparison of the vital statistics of the two classes would form an
interesting study, but the time at disposal during the past year has been too limited
to permit the details being worked out.
The appointment of Chief Medical Officer to the District dates from 9th July,
1891, hence this Report only deals with the latter half of the year, and is of necessity
not so full as it might otherwise have been.
There are a number of villages in the District, and these are, as a rule, in good
condition as regards sanitation. In all of them the water supply is obtained from
wells or streams, and is in most cases of good quality. In the village of Meigle,
where the Dundee Water Supply pipe runs close by the village, it would be of decided
advantage to the inhabitants if a supply could be obtained from this.
The house accommodation of the working-classes throughout the District is good.
No overcrowding has been found, and there is ample provision for ventilation by
means of windows which open, - the chief trouble being to convince the occupiers of

*i.e., as nearly as possible approximating its boundary to that as altered by the Boundary Commissioners.

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