HH62/45/309

Transcription

[Page] 16

the courtesy of the Directors, he has the right of entry, when necessary, to the
Fever Wards.
The Portable Hospitals belonging to the various District Committees have not
been in use during the past year, but they are ready to be erected at a few hours'
notice, should they be required. The Hospital of the Western District, formerly
situated at Glenoglehead, has been removed at the request of the inhabitants of
Killin to a site nearer the village, and in its present position the management will be
much easier.
Removals of fever patients have been carried out without accident or bad
results of any kind during the past year, and, as formerly, much valuable assistance
has been received from the various Railway Companies, who have, by the courtesy
of their officials, much facilitated removals.
Little has to be added to the remarks of former years regarding the working of
the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act, which has been in many instances of
material help in preventing the spread of infectious disease during the past year,
though in several cases the disease was only notified after its discovery by the
sanitary officials, which is not exactly a help to them. It is to be hoped that during
the present year Scotland may become possessed of a new Public Health Act
thoroughly up to the times, which will place rural Local Authorities in a position to
do their duty more expeditiously than at present.
The courtesy and consideration at all times extended to me by the County
Council and District Committees must again be acknowledged gratefully.

JOHN T. GRAHAM,
County Medical Officer.

31st March, 1897.

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Perth District.

The population of the Perth District, estimated to the middle of 1896, was
20,612. During the year there were 525 Births (273 males and 252 females)
registered, giving a Birth-rate of 25.47, as compared with 25.2 in 1895, and 296
Deaths, giving a Death-rate of 14.36, as compared with 14.60 in 1895. The Natural
Increase of the population during the year was 229, as compared with 220 in 1895.
Deaths in persons over 60 years of age were 153, or 51.6 per cent. of the total (in
1895 the number was 130), and in childen under 1 year there were 44 deaths, of
which 21 were attributed to Developmental Causes, giving an Infantile Mortality of
83.8, as compared with 84.1 in 1895. Zymotic Diseases caused 15 deaths during
1896, as compared with 25 in 1895, giving a Zymotic Death-rate of .630, as compared
with 1.34 in 1895.
The continuous improvement in the sanitary condition of the Perth District,
noted in former years, has been well maintained during 1896; and, in the Villages,
the changes for the better are especially marked. During 1896 the water supply for
the Village of Errol and western portion of the Parish, received much consideration,
and the formation of a Special Water District to include them was met by appeals to
the Sheriff against this. After mature deliberation, however, the appeals were
dismissed, and now all that is required to complete the District is the bringing in of
the water. The source of water supply for the District is from a little hill stream,
which yields an ample and pure supply. The formation of the Wester Errol Water
District completes the water supply, to a large extent, of the Carse of Gowrie.
The water supply of New Scone has also been under consideration, and a
requisition to form the village into a Special Water Supply District was met
by appeals against the inclusion of certain lands within the District; but,
whilst under the consideration of the Sheriff, the appeals were withdrawn,
so that the introduction of the water to the village will not be delayed much
longer. The water supply to the inhabitants of Bankfoot still continues to be
derived from shallow wells, and with the same dire results as in the past to the health
of the inhabitants. Malignant Typhoid Fever seems to have come to stay in the
place. Much has been done to render the present wells safe, but without success; and,
in my opinion, the only course is to have the wells closed by order of the Sheriff, and the
proprietors compelled to bring in asafe supply of water. The inhabitants of Methven,
about the drainage of which village considerable discussion took place, resolved to do
nothing to improve the condition of the village, as they say that without a gravitation
water supply no drainage system can give satisfaction. Perhaps they may be right
in so saying, but certainly, if properly laid fire-clay pipes cannot be worked satis-
factorily without plenty of water to flush them, the present system of old-fashioned
stone-built drains cannot be in any other condition than one of grave danger to the
inhabitants. Some portions of the Village of Methven are fairly supplied with water
which, however, from the situations of the wells yielding it, is liable to contamination
from the above-mentioned drains, so that for the benefit of the whole village, as well as
the neighbouring district, it would be well that those interested should introduce a supply
of water by gravitation, rather than shut their eyes to the present dangerous condition

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