HH62/45/357

Transcription

[Page] 10

The inhabitants of Methven have, during the past year, been endeavouring to
improve the drainage of the village, but to make satisfactory work the old stone
built drains should be replaced by properly laid water-tight pipes. This has been
done in the vicinity of some of the wells, and will undoubtedly have a beneficial
influence on the condition of the water drawn from the same.
The drainage of Comrie has during the past year received much consideration.
A very satisfactory system has been proposed by Mr. Copland, which it is hoped
the inhabitants will have the good sense to adopt, and that without delay, as the
existing drainage of the village is anything but in keeping with modern requirements.
Pollution of Rivers. - The scheme of drainage for Scone proposed by Mr.
Copland includes a very effective system of land filtration, and nothing better could
be desired.
The sewage of Comrie still pollutes the Earn, but Mr. Copland's scheme for
draining the village includes a very complete land filter which would satisfy the most
exacting, if adopted.
At Blackford the pollution of the Allan from the village and breweries begins
to assume a serious aspect, and it is high time that the Drainage Committee should
look about for some efficient method of purification.
The pollution of the Tay by the sewage of Aberfeldy will soon be a thing
of the past, as the purification works ordered by the Sheriff have been nearly
completed.
At Pitlochry considerable expense has been incurred in endeavours to perfect the
irrigation fields. This work is rendered exceedingly difficult by the fact that in
carrying out the drainage of the village all of the spring water passed en route has
been carried into the drains. As a result an excessive quantity of diluted sewage
reaches the irrigation fields, which are consequently apt to become water-logged.
The pollution of the Tay by the sewage of Dunkeld has been left in statu quo for
some time, but now that the purification works at Killin are working so admirably
and without the slightest nuisance, the pledge given by the District Committee
that Dunkeld would not be pressed in this matter, until some purification works could
be shown suitable for its peculiar situation, is fulfilled, and Dunkeld should be forth-
with called on to follow the example of other towns and cease from polluting
the Tay.
At Killin the sewage purification works have been in operation for some time,
and are giving great satisfaction to all concerned; in fact, a more complete, compact,
and efficient system could not be wished for.
Rattray sewage, in so far as being effectively purified before entering the Ericht,
is not one whit advanced. Sheme after scheme is brought before the Police Com-
missioners, only to be thrown aside by them. It is now high time that the whole
facts of the case be laid before the Sheriff, who would doubtless solve the difficulty
in some such manner as he did when Aberfeldy was in doubt on a similar point.
Meteorological Tables. - Materials for these have again been kindly provided
from the records of the Ochtertyre Station by Mr. Croucher. Comparison of these
Tables, with those of 1896, show that there was a Rainfall of 10 inches more during
1897 than in 1896, the amount of rain being 2.96 inches in excess of the average;
that there were 117 hours less sunshine than in 1896, and the amount was 576
hours short of the average.
Diseases of the Respiratory System caused 114 deaths, or 11.4 per cent. of
the total during 1897, as compared with 109 in 1896. Of these 114 deaths, 52

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occurred in persons over 60 years of age, and 24 in childen under 1 year. The
following table shows the distribution of deaths and sickness due to Respiratory
Diseases throughout the County:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 12.2
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 9.4
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 9.0
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 14.8
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 12.4

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 37.3
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 30.5
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

Diseases of the Circulatory System caused 105 deaths, or 10.5 per cent. of
the total, as compared with 129 in 1896. Of these 105 deaths, 71 occurred in
persons over 60 years of age. The distribution of these diseases throughout the
County is shown as follows:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 10.5
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 7.1
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 10.1
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 14.1
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 12.4

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 10.1
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 10.4
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

Tubercular Diseases caused 137 deaths, or 13.8 per cent. of the total, as
compared with 118 in 1896. Of these 137 deaths, 97 were due to Pulmonary
Consumption, showing an increase of 20 as compared with 1896. It is passing strange
that in these days when such precautions are demanded by the public in respect of
the ordinary infectious fevers, this preventable scourge is allowed to cut off valuable
lives without hindrance. The distribution of these diseases throughout the County
was as follows:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 16.3
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 14.6
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 6.4
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 16.7
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 13.7

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 5.2
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 4.3
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

Diseases of the Nervous System caused 114 deaths, or 11.4 per cent. of the
total during 1897, as compared with 82 in 1896. Of these 114 deaths, 83 occurred
in persons over 60 years of age, and one death was that of a child under 1 year.
These diseases were distributed throughout the County as follows:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 12.2
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 11.8
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 9.0
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 13.5
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 10.3

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 9.7
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 11.8
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

Diseases of the Digestive System caused 54 deaths, or 5.4 per cent. of the
total during 1897, as compared with 61 in 1896. These diseases were distributed
throughout the County as follows:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 5.1
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 7.5
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 4.2
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 5.1
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 4.8

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 37.5
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 42.8
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

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