HH62/45/201

Transcription

[Page] 18

Whooping-Cough caused 8 deaths during 1894, as compared with 1 in 1893.
The Disease was prevalent in the District, and although on the whole its type was
mild, in several localities it was the reverse.
Diarrhœa caused only 2 deaths during 1894.
Deaths in which the cause of death was uncertified or insufficiently stated were
16, against 17 in 1893.

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Central District.

The population of the Central District, estimated to the middle of 1894, was
14,000. During the year there were 326 Births (171 Males and 155 Females), and
237 Deaths (108 Males and 129 Females), giving a Birth-rate of 23.28, and a Death-
rate of 16.92, as compared with a Birth-rate of 23.7, and a Death-rate of 17.8, in
1893. The Natural Increase of the population during the year was 89, as compared
with 83 in 1893. Deaths in persons over 60 years of age were 115, or 48.5 per cent.
of the total, and 18 Deaths occurring in children under 1 year (5 of these were due
to developmental causes), give an Infant Mortality of 55.21 per 1000 Births, as
compared with 125.7 in 1893.
During 1894 satisfactory progress was made in advancing the sanitary condition
of the Central District. Beyond combating infectious diseases the work has been
chiefly routine, a lowered Death-rate, - both under the headings of All Causes and
Under One Year, - is the best proof that it has been of use. In the Report for 1893
several matters were pointed out as requiring attention, but, so far, nothing has been
done.
In the latter part of the year Auchterarder finally decided to throw off the yoke
of the Central District Committee, and went boldly in for Home Rule by having the
Village declared a Police Burgh. With a limited exchequer the ratepayers of the
new Burgh may have reason to regret that, when large expenditure in connection
with Public Health administration is demanded, the funds of the Central District
Committee are not available, but , if one may judge from the salary of the Burgh
Medical Officer, there seems to be no intention on the part of the Local
Authority to depart from the practice of other small Burghs in spending as little
under the Public Health Department as possible. In so far as the Burghs them-
selves are concerned, the fact that their Local Authorities, by want of Hospitals and
non-administration of the Public Health Acts, allow infectious disease to pursue a
practically unchecked course, is no business of the Local Authorities in the Landward
Districts. But as the Burghs are the centres on which the Landward Districts
depend for supplies, and often also for education, it will be easily understood that,
indirectly, the Landward Local Authorities, who are spending a large sum in properly
administering the Public Health Acts, are interested that Burghs should advance in
line with them.
In Comrie the inhabitants have at last shown a disposition to move in the
direction of securing for that Village a proper drainage; this is a matter of great
importance for the health of the place, and one to which the District Committee
should give every encouragement. One difficulty in the way of draining Comrie
efficiently arises from the levels of the ground surrounding the Village being
exceedingly flat, but this difficulty could be easily overcome, as there is an abundant
supply of water power, which could be utilised to raise the sewage to such a level as
would allow it to be used for irrigation purposes.
After considerable difficulty the Crieff Local Authority have been convinced
that it is their duty to see that the sewage from the Burgh should not be allowed
to pollute the water supplies of the neighbouring Landward District, but it was only

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