HH62/45/315

Transcription

[Page] 22

condition of the District, and many special enquiries have been rendered necessary in
connection with complaints of alleged nuisances, water supplies, the discovery of
the origin of outbreaks of Infectious Disease, and the proper isolation of the patients.
3. Advice was given in connection with the introduction of water supplies in the
District, the rearrangement of the Local Sanitary Staff, and the new agreement with
the Perth Infirmary Directors for the continued reception of infectious cases from the
Central District. Under the Factory and Workshops Acts several matters were
attended to at the request of the Factory Inspector. The proper administration of
the Factory Acts is at present under the consideration of the District Committee, as
a large amount of work required under them is thrown on the Local Authority.
4. Retail Bakehouses were inspected during the year, both by the Medical
Officer and Factory Inspector, who has now this added to his duties. On the whole,
the Bakehouses were found in a satisfactory condition, and any defects were due to
neglect to lime-wash or paint the ceilings and walls.
5. The arrangement by which the Central District Committee were entitled to
send infectious cases for treatment to the wards of the Perth Infirmary was fully
taken advantage of during the past year, 31 patients having been removed. The
former arrangement terminates in May, 1897, but a new agreement has been entered
into, by which, on payment of an annual sum, patients will be admitted as formerly.
The portable Hospital belonging to the Central District, which is reserved for treating
cases of Smallpox, should they occur, has not been in use during the year.
6. During the past year the energies of the Department have been much taxed
in tracing up the cause and confining the spread of Infectious Disease, and when the
Infectious Disease (Notification) Act failed to give notice through ignorance of the
nature of the illness on the part of householders, this was remedied by house to house
visitation. As a result, none of the outbreaks were allowed to spread to any extent.
When Infectious Disease was ascertained to exist in a house, all of the usual
precautions were taken to protect the public, and disinfectants were supplied. In
dealing with Scarlet Fever, in one or two instances the closure of public schools was
recommended.
Diseases of the Respiratory System caused 23 deaths, or 13.5 per cent. of the
total during 1896, as compared with 26 in 1895. Of these 23 deaths, 13 were in
persons over 60 years of age, and 7 in children under 1 year. Sickness returns show
that 30.0 per cent. of the total was due to this class of diseases.
Diseases of the Circulatory System caused 29 deaths, or 17.0 per cent. of the
total during 1896, as compared with 22 in 1895. Of these 29 deaths, 22 occurred in
persons over 60 years of age. Sickness returns show that 8.8 per cent. of the total
was due to Circulatory Diseases. A close relation is seen between these Diseases and
Rheumatic Diseases, as, during the year, the latter caused 8.7 per cent. of the total
sickness.
Tubercular Diseases caused 26 deaths, or 15.2 per cent. of the total, during
1896, as compared with 26 in 1895. Of the 26 deaths, 18 were ascribed to Pulmonary
Consumption. Sickness returns show that 3.6 per cent. of the total was due to
Tubercular Diseases.
Diseases of the Nervous System caused 13 deaths, or 7.6 per cent. of the
total, during 1896, as compared with 25 in 1895. Of these 13 deaths, 12 occurred in
persons over 60 years of age. Sickness returns show that 10.3 per cent. of the total
was due to Nervous Diseases.
Diseases of the Digestive System caused 9 deaths, or 5.2 per cent. of the total,

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during 1896, as compared with 13 in 1895. Sickness returns show that 36.7 per
cent. of the total was due to Digestive Diseases.
Cancer and Malignant Disease caused 11 deaths during 1896; in 1895 the
number was 7.
Old Age was given as the cause of death in 24 instances, as compared with 21
in 1895.
Developmental Diseases caused 5 deaths during 1896, as compared with 6 in
1896.
Violence caused 5 deaths during 1896, as compared with 9 in 1895.
Zymotic Diseases caused 11 deaths during 1896, as compared with 17 in 1895.
The Zymotic Death-rate was .985, as against 1.5 in 1895, thus showing a marked
improvement. During 1896, 117 cases of Infectious Disease were reported to the
Department. In 1895 the number was the same.
Scarlet Fever caused no deaths during 1896, but 75 cases of the Disease were
reported. Scarlet Fever was very prevalent in some parts of the District, at Trinity-
Gask and Madderty, and especially at Dunning, where the Disease was existing at
the beginning of the year. The type of the Disease was so mild, that in several
instances it had been in existence in the localities for some time before its nature was
recognized. A considerable number of the cases were supposed to be German Measles
by the parents, and thus the infection was spread through lack of proper precautions.
Of the 75 cases reported, 16 were removed to Hospital.
Enteric Fever caused 3 deaths, as against 2 in 1895. There were 26 cases of
the Disease reported to the Department during the year, as compared with 5 in 1895.
Most of these cases were included in two outbreaks which occurred, one at Dunning
and the other at Blackford, and there seemed to be little doubt that the infection in
both was introduced from without. Unfortunately, the early cases were very mild,
and before a medical man was called in, and their true nature recognised, they had
contaminated milk supplies, and thus the infection was spread. One fatal case was
removed to a house in the District only a few days previous to death. The necessity
for securing early diagnosis of Enteric Fever was very clearly shown in connection
with these outbreaks, as irreparable mischief is often caused by slight cases unrecog-
nized through heedlessness on the part of relatives. Half of the 26 cases were
removed to Hospital, and made good recoveries.
Diphtheria caused 1 death during 1896, as compared with 2 in 1895. Only 4
cases of the Disease were reported during 1896, as against 22 in 1895, thus showing
a marked improvement.
Diarrhoea caused 7 deaths during 1896, as compared with 9 in 1895. The
Disease was most prevalent during the months of June, July, and August.
Deaths in which the cause of death was uncertified, or insufficiently stated, were
12 in 1896, as compared with 15 in 1895.

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