HH62/45/301

Transcription

[Page] 10

the supply of the entire village, and the cost of the combined schemes for both
drainage and water would not be prohibitive.
At Stanley the progress of sanitation has been much retarded by the decision of
the Sheriff that the village should not be formed into a Drainage District. It has been
through no fault of the District Committee that Stanley has not been provided with
the only means of rendering it other than the most insanitary of the villages in the
District; but, in view of the Sheriff's decision, the Local Authority are powerless,
excepting to order the removal of nuisances as they arise. This partial remedy will
not suffice for Stanley, as such a village, with practically an unlimited gravitation water-
supply taken into or close to every house, can never be in a healthy condition without
a properly-constructed drainage system. It is all very well to speak of rural hygiene
and perfect scavenging, but this is not applicable to a village with a water supply of
something like 100 gallons per head of the population, in the 24 hours. No scavenger
could be expected to remove some 400 tons of slop water daily to a safe distance from
the houses, and the dirty water from sinks, &c., must, even with the most careful
scavenging, still find its way over or through the soil in the immediate neighbourhood
of crowded dwelling-houses into the nearest open ditch, or equally offensive brick-
built drain, which is little better than an elongated cesspool. The continuance of
such a state of matters is a constant danger to the health of the inhabitants.
In Killin, the Special Drainage District referred to in last Report has been
proceeded with during the year, and the works are now approaching completion, and
give every evidence of being perfect. The purification system adopted is the most
recent application of the International.
The system of Scavenging throughout the County of Perth has been fully main-
tained during the year, and has, to a large extent, been the cause of the improved
sanitary condition. It has proved itself at the same time efficient and economical.
In Dunkeld, one of the only two Special Scavenging Districts in the County, the
scavenger has been placed under the direction of the Sanitary Inspector, so that for
the future the work will be supervised as it should.
Pollution of Rivers. - At Aberfoyle works have been completed for the
purification of the sewage from many of the houses which previously discharged it into
the Forth. The system adopted by order of the Sheriff was a modified form of the
International, and, if properly managed, should give a very good effluent.
At Killin the International System of Sewage Purification is to be adopted in its
entirety, and as the whole sewage of the village is to be purified thereby, a very com-
plete installation will be the result.
Aberfeldy, after many vain promises to cease polluting the Tay by its sewage,
suddenly decided to do nothing, holding it to be the privilege of the Burgh to dis-
charge its sewage into the noble river, and further asserting that by doing so the
water was purified and made more fit for domestic purposes for those who might
require to use it further down. The patience of the Highland District Committee
was at last exhausted, and a prosecution was ordered, and as the case now stands, the
Sheriff has appointed an expert to report on the best available means for purifying
the Burgh sewage before it enters the Tay.
In connection with the Sewage Irrigation fields at Crieff, complaints were again
and again received that they were managed in such a manner as to cause a nuisance
to those living in the neighbourhood. An investigation showed that the fault lay in
failing to attend to the proper distribution of the sewage, and, after a conference, the
Burgh Authorities agreed to employ a man who should attend to this most importamt

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matter. There is no doubt that this was all that was required to stop complaints, as
otherwise the system is very satisfactory.
It has now been decided to carry Rattray sewage into the Blairgowrie main
sewer, so that the pollution of the Ericht, so far as Rattray is concerned, will be
obviated.
Meteorological Tables. - Extracts from the records at the Ochertyre Station
have again, through the kindness of Mr. Croucher, been regularly supplied during
the year, and from these the Tables have been compiled, which are well worthy of
perusal. To the following facts particular attention may be directed:- The high
barometer, high mean temperature, and small rainfall of May. The mean temperature
of October was the lowest since 1859. The rainfall of November was the smallest
since 1867.
Diseases of the Respiratory System caused 109 deaths, or 10.9 per cent. of
the total during 1896, as compared with 124 in 1895. Of these 109 deaths, 56
occurred in persons over 60 years of age, and 23 in children under 1 year. The
following table shows the percentage of deaths throughout the County, as well as the
percentage of sickness in the Central and Western Districts, from Respiratory
Diseases.

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 15.5
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 13.5
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 9.3
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 10.1
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 7.6

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 30.0
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 28.5
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.


Diseases of the Circulatory System caused 129 deaths, or 14.2 per cent. of
the total during 1896, as compared with 132 in 1895. Of these 129 deaths, 92
occurred in persons over 60 years of age. The distribution of these diseases
throughout the County was as follows:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 16.2
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 17.0
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 11.0
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 18.1
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 13.8

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 8.8
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 9.6
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

Tubercular Diseases caused 118 deaths, or 13.0 per cent. of the total during
1896, as compared with 119 in 1895. Of these 118 deaths, the cause of death in 77
was attributed to Pulmonary Consumption. This shows a decrease of 2 in the
number of deaths due to Consumption, as compared with the previous year, but an
increase of 1 from other Tubercular Diseases. The ravages of Tubercule seem from
the records of the past few years to be kept within certain limits. This is probably
due to better housing of the people, but to effect any marked reduction, the disease
will require to be boldly faced, as are other infectious disorders. The distribution of
Tubercular Diseases throughout the County was as follows:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 12.1
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 15.2
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 9.3
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 12.3
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 17.6

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 3.6
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 4.8
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

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