HH62/45/353

Transcription

[Note] 352

County of Perth.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT BY COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICER,
1897.

Estimated to the middle of 1897, the population of the Landward County of
Perth was 63,302. During the year 1897 there were 1539 Births registered in the
Landward County, and 992 Deaths, giving a Birth-Rate of 24.3 and a Death-Rate
of 15.6, as compared with a Birth-Rate of 24.2 and a Death-Rate of 14.2 in 1896.
Of the 1539 Births, 7 per cent. of the total were illegitimate, and were thus dis-
tributed amongst the five Districts - Perth, 6 per cent.; Central, 8 per cent,;
Highland, 7 per cent.; Western, 4 per cent; Eastern, 8 per cent. The Natural
Increase of the population during 1897 was 547, as compared with 639 in 1896.
Of the 992 Deaths, 507 occurred in persons over 60 years of age, whilst 101
were children under 1 year, of which 40 were attributed to Developmental
Causes, giving an Infant Mortality of 65.6, as compared with 76.3 in 1896. Old
Age was given as the cause of death in 174 cases during 1897, as compared with
146 in 1896.
The Zymotic Death-Rate during 1897 was .963, as compared with .674 in 1896.
The total number of cases of Infectious Disease notified during 1897 was 377, as
compared with 449 in 1896. Measles and Whooping-Cough were very prevalent
during the year, and 24 deaths were due to them.
The general health of the County has been good during 1897, and although
the Death-Rate was a little higher than during 1896, it is still within the limits
of what may be expected in a population such as that of Perthshire. The Notifi-
cations under the Infectious Disease Notification Act were 72 fewer than in 1896,
proving that these diseases, which are generally known as preventable, have been
well kept in hand; the type of these diseases was more severe than in former years
as the case mortality shows. Of the five Districts, the Perth is the only one which
shows fewer deaths during 1897 than in 1896, thus keeping up its reputation of
former years. In the Highland District the most remarkable feature is the almost
entire absence of deaths from Zymotic disease - 3 deaths from Whooping-Cough and
1 from Diarrhoea making up the total, while perfect immunity from Diphtheria
is a fact to be noted.

[Note] 353