HH62/45/213

Transcription

[Page] 30

in these circumstances it was not thought advisable to remove any more cases to
Hospital, and it was also impossible at the time to remove the Hospital to another
site as there were 6 patients in it, the only alternative was to offer removal to Perth.
The parents would not agree to this, and the result was that cases of Scarlet Fever
which, for the safety of the public, ought to have been removed to Hospital, had to
be left at home. The type of the disease was in general mild - both of the fatal cases
occurred in Gartmore - in fact in many of the cases the diagnosis was only possible
when the patients began to desquamate. Two other groups of cases of Scarlet
Fever were distinctly traceable to the wanderings of a convalescent child from a
neighbouring County. It is only fair to state, however, that the disease from which
the child suffered had not been recognised in time to prevent harm being done. The
disease was spread in this instance to points, in one case 6, and in the other 11 miles
from the original centre.
Enteric Fever caused 2 deaths during 1894. As 1 of these deaths was not
registered until January, 1895, it does not appear in the Mortality Tables for 1894.
In all 15 cases of the disease were reported during the year. One group occurred
at Killin where a whole family became infected from a case of supposed Influenza.
There was, however, no spread of the disease beyond the house. The cause of
infection was the return home of the supposed Influenza case. Another group of
cases occurred in the vicinity of the Forth, in the Parish of Kincardine. Here there
were almost simultaneously 10 cases. The only connection in this instance between
the infected houses was that they shared the same drinking water, which was drawn
from the Forth, and so soon as the water was ordered to be boiled before being used for
drinking, the disease ceased. Analysis and bacteriological examination of the water
in the Forth at this point showed it to be greatly polluted.
Diphtheria caused 4 deaths during 1894, as compared with 2 in 1893. As one
of these deaths was not registered until January, 1895, it does not appear in the
Mortality Tables for 1894. In all 11 cases of this disease were reported during the
year, as compared with 10 in 1893. The larger number of the cases occurred in the
Aberfoyle District; there was little spread of the disease beyond the houses in which
it first appeared, and this was as well, as the disease was of a very malignant type.
Diarrhœa caused only 1 death during 1894.
Deaths in which the cause of death was uncertified, or insufficiently stated, were
10, as compared with 6 in 1893.

[Note] 212

Eastern District.

The population of the Eastern District, as estimated to the middle of 1894, was
9676. During 1894 there were 208 Births (93 Males and 115 Females), and 148
Deaths (72 Males and 76 Females), giving a Birth-Rate of 21.4, and a Death-Rate of
15.2, as compared with a Birth-Rate of 24.8, and a Death-Rate of 18.4, in 1893.
The Natural Increase of the population during 1894 was 50, as compared with 61 in
1893. Deaths in persons over 60 years of age were 66, or 44.5 per cent. of the total, as
compared with 95 in 1893; and there were 17 deaths in children whose age was under
1 year. Five of these were due to premature birth, giving an Infant Mortality of 81.7,
as compared with 71.4 in 1893. During 1894 the sanitary condition of the Eastern
District has undergone a decided improvement. This is largely owing to the
District Committee having appointed a single Assistant Sanitary Inspector for the
District, who devotes the whole of his time to the work. The former poorly-paid
Parochial Inspectors have been dispensed with. Since his appointment the Assistant
Inspector has done much good work in the removal of nuisances, and in seeing that
milksellers were registered, as well as that their premises were put and kept in such
condition as the Regulations require.
The Death-Rate of the Eastern District shows a marked decline during 1894
when compared with the Rates of the two preceding years, and part of this
reduction may be fairly claimed to be due to the better sanitary conditions in which the
people now live. No large works have been executed in the District during the
year, but steps have been taken to secure for the Villages of Woodside and Burreltown
a better water supply than is at present available, for even those wells in the
place, which from their situation seemed most likely to be good, have been found to
be unfit for use for domestic purposes.
The Burgh of Rattray has as yet done nothing practical towards preventing the
pollution of the River Ericht by sewage, and the District Committee should not
allow this important matter to be unduly postponed.
A requisition was received from the inhabitants of Rosemount, a district lying
to the south of Blairgowrie, and which at present is badly supplied with water, to
have a Special Water District formed; this was done by the District Committee
Negotiations have been for some time going on between the District Committee and
those in charge of the Blairgowrie Special Water District, with a view to the Rosemount
District obtaining its water supply from Blairgowrie, but as the Blairgowrie
Water District could not guarantee a minimum supply, it was doubtful if it would
be wise to accept water on such terms, as, in the event of any scarcity of water in
Blairgowrie, the Rosemount District might be deprived of gravitation water just at
the time when it was most required. From all accounts there seems to be an
abundance of water in Blairgowrie to meet all requirements and give a large overflow,
and it is to be hoped that some arrangement may be come to by which the Rosemount
District may receive a supply of water at reasonable cost.
2. General enquiries have been made from time to time with a view of
ascertaining the sanitary condition of the District, and special enquiries have been
necessitated in connection with water supplies and outbreaks of Infectious Disease.

[Note] 213