HH62/45/205

Transcription

[Page] 22

had been in contact with the patient was re-vaccinated and kept under observation
during the period of incubation. The room from which the patient had been removed
was thoroughly disinfected, and all clothing therein contained was destroyed. The
measures adopted were thoroughly effectual, as there was no spread of the disease;
but the expense of the outbreak amounted to over £70. So soon as the patient was
discharged the Hospital was disinfected, taken down, and returned to its shed in
Crieff without any harm resulting to any of those engaged in the work, thus proving
that these buildings can be effectually disinfected.
Scarlet Fever caused 1 death during 1894. In all 59 cases were reported;
14 of these patients were removed to Perth Hospital, and made good recoveries.
The cases of Scarlet Fever were widely scattered throughout the District; but the
only localities in which difficulties were experienced in stamping out the disease were
Auchterarder and Blackford. The type of the disease was mild, which, in many
instances, made its recognition difficult.
Enteric Fever caused 2 deaths during 1894, as compared with 1 in 1893. In
all 15 cases of the disease were reported during the year, and of these only two were
removed to Hospital, where they made good recoveries. The majority of the cases
of this disease occurred in the vicinity of Crieff, and were more or less directly caused
by drinking water polluted by Crieff sewage. Considerable trouble and expense were
incurred by the proprietors, whose water supplies were contaminated, in protecting
them temporarily against pollution; and, finally, the District Committee, by
threatening to take action under the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act against the
Town Council of Crieff, secured the diversion of the sewage from the vicinity of the
stream. The water of this stream is, at its best, only of secondary quality, and it is
to be discarded as soon as the Madderty Water Supply District has been formed.
Diphtheria caused 5 deaths, as compared with 2 in 1893. In all 21 cases of
the disease were reported during the year (only 1 was removed to Hospital); 10 of
these were from Dunning and its neighbourhood, the others were scattered through-
out the District. In connection with most of the cases, insanitary conditions were
discovered which accounted for the disease. These have been mostly remedied; but
in Dunning the continuous occurrence of Diphtheria cases points to the faulty
condition of the drains, and the inhabitants cannot too early requisition the District
Committee to form the Village into a Special Drainage District, so that a new system
of drainage may be laid down to replace the present one, which is completely out of
date.
Whooping-Cough caused 2 deaths during 1894, as compared with 3 in 1893.
Diarrhœa caused 4 deaths during 1894, as compared with 7 in 1893.
Influenza caused 1 death during 1894, as compared with 6 in 1893. Sickness
returns show that 4.2 per cent. of the total was caused by Influenza.
Deaths in which the cause was uncertified, or insufficiently stated, were 14 in
1894, as compared with 15 in 1893.

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Highland District.

The population of the Highland District, estimated to the middle of 1894, was
12,772. During the year 1894 there were 250 Births (132 Males and 118 Females),
and 184 Deaths (82 Males and 102 Females), giving a Birth-rate of 19.57, and a Death-
rate of 14.40, as compared with a Birth-rate of 21.4, and a Death-rate of 15.27 in
1893. The Natural Increase of the population during 1894 was 66, as compared with
79 in 1893.
Of the 184 Deaths 103, or 55.9 per cent. of the total, were in persons over 60
years of age, and 11 were in children under 1 year, giving an Infant Mortality of
44.0, against 50.7 in 1893.
The improvement in the sanitary condition of the Highland District, referred to
in former Reports, has been steadily maintained during 1894. This is evidenced by
reduced Death-rates under the headings of All Causes, Infant Mortality, and Zymotic.
Much good work has been accomplished during the year, but this has been chiefly of
a routine character. Pitlochry has now the advantage of a new water supply of
excellent quality, and steps have been taken to secure the extension of the irrigation
fields in connection with the drainage system of that Village, the former fields having
proved too small for the proper purification of the sewage. An attempt has also
been made to remedy the flooding which formerly occurred in certain parts of the
Village during heavy rainfalls, when the sewers overflowed, and much damage was
caused to properties. The overcrowded condition of the Burying-Ground at
Moulin has been under the consideration of those concerned, and it has been decided
to open a new Burying-Ground nearer to Pitlochry.
The disposal of the drainage of Dunkeld has also been under consideration.
The scheme for purifying the sewage, before its discharge into the Tay, has
practically been decided upon, but the carrying out of the works has been delayed
until it is seen whether one of similar works, to be established in another part of the
County, causes any nuisance in its neighbourhood. The reason for more than
ordinary caution is that the only available ground at Dunkeld is situated close to the
Village. In so far as the Burgh of Aberfeldy is concerned, nothing has as yet
been done to prevent the pollution of the Tay, and the District Committee should
lose no time in putting the Rivers' Pollution Prevention Act in force against the
Police Commissioners. At the Perth District Lunatic Asylum, Murthly, a sewage
irrigation scheme is under consideration, and when this is complete it will remove a
large pollution from the Tay.
Considerable anxiety was awakened in June by the notification of a case of
Smallpox in the vicinity of Dunkeld. There were several difficulties in the way of
this case being successfully dealt with. In the first place no accommodation had
been provided by the Highland District Committee for the isolation of Smallpox
cases; and second, through the action of the doctor and the person in charge of the
case, no supervision of the isolation of the patient, or of those who had been in con-
tact with him, was possible. In the circumstances the only mode of protecting the
neighbours was to isolate the infected house and those living in it. This was
accomplished by removing the family who lived next door, with all their furniture,
to a Portable Hospital erected in a field close at hand. The reason for so doing was

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