HH62/45/317

Transcription

[Note] 316

Highland District.

The population of the Highland Distict, estimated to the middle of 1896, was
12,531. During the year 226 Births (152 males and 114 females) and 172 Deaths
were registered, giving a Birth-rate of 21.22, and a Death-rate of 13.72, as compared
with a Birth-rate of 21.02, and a Death-rate of 19.36 in 1895. The Natural Increase
of the population during the year was 94, as against 21 in 1895. There were 92
deaths, or 53.4 per cent. of the total, in persons over 60 years of age; and 18 (of
which 10 were ascribed to Developmental Causes) in children under 1 year, giving an
Infantile Mortality of 67.6, as compared with 63.9 in 1895. The Zymotic Death-rate
was .558, as compared with .632 in 1895. In common with the other Districts of
the County, the Highland District has, during the past year, enjoyed a very good
record in so far as health, indicated by Death-rates, is concerned, the total number of
deaths being 73 below that recorded in 1895; but, during the year, Scarlet Fever has
been very prevalent in several localities, and thereby much anxiety has been caused
to the Public Health Department. No large undertakings have been in progress
within the District during the year, and the work of the Department has been chiefly
of a routine nature, but in such a wide District this means a good deal. The sewage
from Murthly Asylum has been treated by broad irrigation on a very suitable field,
and gives promise of becoming a profitable investment for the Institution. The
ground has as yet not been laid down in permanent grass, but, during the short time
it has been irrigated, gratifying results have been achieved in the form of a splendid crop
of turnips. Pitlochry has taken measures to make the sewage irrigation fields
connected with its drainage system more efficient. The Burgh of Aberfeldy has at
last been forced to acknowledge that its sewage, as at present discharged into the Tay, is
contrary to the Rivers Pollution Prevention Acts, and the Sheriff has appointed Mr.
Copland, C.E., Glasgow, to report to him regarding the best available means of
purifying the sewage before its discharge into the Tay. Dunkeld still waits to see a
system of sewage purification which can be carried out without causing a nuisance,
but the time rapidly approaches when the District Committee will have to insist that
some system shall be adopted, as there is danger of this matter becoming lost sight of
amidst the many excitements in the ancient City. The Killin Drainage Works are
expected to be in full working order early in the present year, and a visit to these
might enlighten the inhabitants of Dunkeld as to the possibility of not only perfectly
purifying sewage, but of doing so without causing any nuisance.
2. General enquiries have been made throughout the past year to ascertain the
sanitary condition of the Highland District, and many special visits, some of them
to the most inaccessible parts of the District, have been necessitated in endeavours to
secure information of the existence of Infectious Disease, and to ensure the adoption
of measures to check the spread of the same.
3. Advice was given in connection with the proposed proceedings against the
Burgh of Aberfeldy for polluting the Tay; also in connection with the new agreement
with the Directors of the Perth Infirmary, whereby cases of Infectious Disease from
the District might be received, and on many occasions consultations have been held

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