HH62/45/313

Transcription

[Note] 312

Central District.

The population of the Central District, estimated to the middle of 1896, was
11,163. During the year 301 Births (157 males and 144 females) and 170 deaths were
registered, giving a Birth-rate of 26.06, and a Death-rate of 15.22. In 1895 the
Births were 265, and the Deaths 206. The Natural Increase of the population of
the District during the year was 131, as compared with 59 in 1895. There were 99
deaths in persons over 60 years of age, making 58.2 per cent. of the total, and there
were 22 deaths in children under one year of age, of which 5 were due to develop-
mental causes, giving an Infantile Mortality of 73.08, as compared with 101.8 in 1895.
The Zymotic Death-rate in 1896 was .985, as compared with 1.50 in 1895.
The general health of the Central District was very satisfactory during the past
year; there were, however, several sharp outbreaks of Infectious Disease, which were
confined to the localities in which they originated. No works of magnitude have
been carried out during the year, although much has been done in providing water
supplies to places previously deficient in this respect within the proposed Madderty
District. The Requisition to form Madderty into a Special Water Supply District
was abandoned by the District Committee in consequence of the opposition with
which it was met. That the locality will be as completely supplied with water as if
the District had been formed is undoubted, but whether those interested have taken
the wisest and most economical course remains to be seen. When the larger scheme
was abandoned, the District Committee authorised the Sanitary Inspector to proceed
against those proprietors in the area who had not provided water supplies, and
already many small independent schemes have been introduced, and others are in
progress. The drainage of Dunning has given no trouble during the past year, and
under the charge of the District Committee it may serve for years to come. The
Village of Comrie has not yet been formed into a Special Drainage District, but the
desirability of this being speedily accomplished must again be pointed out, as the
present drains are a constant source of danger to the inhabitants, and a pollution of
the River Earn. Some trouble was experienced by complaints about the want of
management of the Crieff sewage irrigation fields, and it was arranged at a conference
between the County Officials and representatives of the Burgh Authority, that a
man should be employed to attend to the proper distribution of the sewage. The
Crieff irrigation fields are well suited for their purpose, and with good supervision
should cause no nuisance. Two vacancies occurred amongst the Local Medical
Officers, one at Blackford the other at Logiealmond; these were both due to resigna-
tions. Dr. Hislop, Blackford, was appointed to the former, and Dr. Simpson, Trinity
College, to the latter. The reorganization of the Local Sanitary Staff was under
consideration, and it was at first decided to dismiss the whole of the Parochial
Inspectors, and to appoint one man to do the whole work of the District, but finally
vacancies in the existing staff were filled up, and the Local Inspectors were retained,
their salaries being made somewhat adequate to their duties, and an allowance given
for travelling expenses when extra work was necessitated, so the matter is now on a
more satisfactory footing.
2. General enquiries were made throughout the year to ascertain the sanitary

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