HH62/45/311

Transcription

[Page] 18

of affairs. Besides all this, there is the question of nuisance caused by the discharge
of the present drainage into a stream which passes close to several houses; this
has been completely overlooked by the inhabitants in their consideration of the
question. To this latter the District Committee should direct earnest attention. In
so far as the completion of the drainage system of New Scone is concerned, nothing
has been done during the past year, but it will be imperative that the District
Committee urge the Sub-Committee, entrusted with the management of the Scone
Drainage District, to do their duty so soon as the new water supply is introduced,
otherwise the present condition of the drainage of the village will not be tolerable.
As for the drainage of Stanley, the District Committee decided to form the village
into a Special Drainage District, but appeals were lodged against this, and the
Sheriff upheld these. This is most unfortunate, as without a safe drainage system
Stanley will be a continual source of Infectious Disease.
2. General enquiries have been made during the year in order to ascertain
the sanitary condition of the District, and many special visits have been necessitated
in connection with water supplies, drainage, and nuisances, as well as for ascertaining the
origin and spread of Infectious Disease. No certificates have been granted under the
Public Health Acts, nor has any action been taken under the Factory and Workshops
Acts during the year.
3. Advice was given in connection with various water supplies and drainage
schemes, as well as in connection with the arrangements for securing accommodation
for fever patients.
4. Retail Bakehouses. - These have been visited during the year and found to
be in a satisfactory condition; lime-washing has been regularly attended to.
5. During the past year 37 patients suffering from infections disease were
removed to the Perth Royal Infirmary. The former arrangement whereby the
District Committee was entitled to send its infectious cases to Perth Infirmary
expires in May, 1897, but a new agreement has been entered into by which, on pay-
ment of an annual sum, patients may still be sent. The Chief District Medical
Officer has no supervision over the treatment of patients removed to the Perth
Infirmary. No use has been made of the portable iron Hospital retained for the
treatment of Smallpox cases should they occur.
6. When infectious disease has been notified, either under the Act, or privately,
the energies of the Sanitary Staff have been at once directed to prevent its spread as well
as to ascertain its cause, and, if due to any insanitary condition, insist on its removal.
Much valuable assistance has been received from the Local Inspectors, who were ever
ready to do their utmost to help. During 1896 133 cases of infectious disease were
reported to the Medical Officer, as compared with 209 in 1895, thus showing a con-
siderable reduction, the most marked being in the number of cases of Diphtheria,
which were less than a fourth of those reported in 1895.
Respiratory Disease caused 46 deaths during 1896, as compared with 33 in
1895. Of the 46 deaths, 26 occurred in persons over 60 years of age, and 7 in
children under 1 year.
Circulatory Diseases caused 38 deaths during 1896, as compared with 37 in
1895. Of these 38 deaths, 30 occurred in persons over 60 years of age. This class
of disease caused 16.2 per cent. of the total mortality.
Tubercular Disease caused 36 deaths during 1896, as compared with 43 in 1895.
Of these 36 deaths, 24 were attributed to Pulmonary Consumption. These diseases
caused 12.1 per cent. of the total mortality.

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Diseases of the Nervous System caused 25 deaths during 1896, as compared with
23 in 1895. In 21 of these deaths, the age at death was over 60 years.
Diseases of the Digestive System caused 25 deaths during 1896, as compared
with 18 in 1895. This class of diseases caused 8.4 per cent. of the total mortality.
Cancer and Malignant Diseases caused 17 deaths during 1896, the same
number as in 1895.
Old Age was the cause of 35 deaths during 1896, as compared with 40 in 1895.
Violence was the cause of 11 deaths during 1896, as compared with 4 in 1895.
Developmental Diseases caused 21 deaths during 1896, of these 15 were
attributed to premature birth; the number of deaths due to Developmental Diseases
in 1895 was 19.
Zymotic Diseases caused 13 deaths during 1896, as compared with 25 in 1895.
The Zymotic death rate was .630, as compared with 1.34 in 1895.
Diphtheria. - There were no deaths from diphtheria in the Perth District during
1896, and only 15 cases of the disease were reported, as compared with 10 deaths
and 64 cases in 1895. The cases were scattered widely throughout the District,
and there was no spread of the disease, excepting in one instance where the first
patient, a servant, was sent home, and two sisters were infected there in consequence.
Six patients suffering from diphtheria were removed to Hospital, and made good
recoveries.
Scarlet Fever caused 3 deaths during 1896, as compared with 2 in 1895. There
were 78 cases of the disease reported to the Medical officer during the year, as com-
pared with 90 in 1895. Twenty-three of these patients were removed to Hospital,
and all, with one exception, made good recoveries.
Groups of cases of Scarlet Fever occurred at Methven, Stanley, Aberdalgie, and
Glencarse, but the type of disease was exceedingly mild, excepting in the Stanley
cases, which were very malignant. Nowhere did the disease assume alarmig pro-
portions, although it was surprising that this did not happen, as in several instances
the patients had been thought to be suffering from Measles, and no precautions taken.
Enteric Fever caused 4 deaths during 1896; in 1895 the number was the
same. During the year 17 cases of this disease were reported to the Department,
of these 7 were removed to Hospital. Six cases were credited to Bankfoot, and of
these, two were fatal; another of the fatal cases occcurred in Stanley.
Measles. - One case of this disease was removed to Hospital at the request of a
householder. The patient was a servant, and had recently come to the District.
Diarrhoea caused 6 deaths during 1896, as compared with 8 in 1895.
Deaths in which the cause of death was uncertified, or insufficiently stated, were
16 in 1896; in 1895 the number included under this heading was 20.

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