HH62/45/363

Transcription

[Page] 14

Diarrhoea caused 13 deaths during 1897, as compared with 20 in 1896. As in
1896 there was a close relation between the prevalence of Diarrhoea and the maximum
readings of the 48" underground thermometer. The following table shows the
relation between deaths from Diarrhoea and the monthly mean readings of the
thermometer:-

TABLE showing relation between Deaths from Diarrhoea and
Underground 48-inch Thermometer Readings.

[Table inserted]

Measles was exceedingly prevalent in various parts of the County during 1897.
Three deaths were caused by the disease, these occurred in the Perth and Western
Districts.
Whooping-Cough caused 21 deaths during 1897, as compared with 5 in 1896.
The disease was very prevalent, and the deaths all occurred in children under five
years of age.
Uncertified Deaths, or those in which the cause of death was insufficiently
stated, were 38 during 1897, as compared with 53 in 1896. As these only amounted
to 3.8 per cent. of the total, the fact speaks volumes for the care of the Registrars in
securing certificates, a very difficult matter in some of the scattered districts.
Returns of Births and Deaths have during the past year been regularly furnished
by the Registrars of the 82 Registration Districts. The passing of the new Public
Health Act puts an end to the old voluntary arrangement which has worked so well
in Perthshire during the past seven years. Changes have occurred during that period
amongst the Registrars, but the newcomers were always found ready to carry on the
good work of their predecessors. I would take this opportunity of thanking the
Registrars for the services they have rendered so efficiently, and the trouble many of
them have taken to secure accurate returns, thus showing that they took a lively
interest in the work. Under the new Act the furnishing of Returns of Births and
Deaths is compulsory.
Hospital Accommodation. - The arrangement by which the five District
Committees of Perthshire have a right to send infectious cases to Perth Royal
Infirmary for treatment was fully used during the past year, 117 patients having
been admitted; and as the annual sum paid for the accommodation is £400, it shows
that the cost of providing hospital treatment only amounted to about £3 8s. 4d.
per patient. Unfortunately the number of scarlet fever cases under treatment at the
same time from the City and County seriously taxed the capacity of the Infirmary,

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but the temporary difficulty was surmounted by placing at the service of the Infirmary
Directors two of the Portable Hospitals belonging to the District Committees. These
were erected on a suitable site some distance from the town, and were temporarliy
used for convalescents. It is understood that the Directors have under consideration
a proposal to erect some cottages on the site formerly occupied by the Portable
Hospitals, to be a permanent Convalescent Home for scarlet fever patients. Such a
measure is of most essential importance, as the practice of sending out recovered
patients from wards in which acute cases of scarlet fever are being treated is fraught
with danger to the families to which they return. The County Medical Officer has
no supervision over the management or treatment of infectious cases whilst in the
Perth Royal Infirmary.
As in former years, removals of patients suffering from infectious diseases have
been carried out from all parts of the county, and much assistance has been rendered
in so doing by the Railway Companies and their officials.
The Portable Hospitals belonging to the various District Committees have
happily not been required for the treatment of small-pox cases during the past year,
but they are ready for use when required.
A new disinfectant, known as Formic Aldehyde, has been introduced during the
past year. It is a gas formed by the incomplete combustion of wood spirit. Formic
Aldehyde is one of the most powerful disinfectants yet discovered, it is safe and
convenient to use, and also non-poisonous to human beings. For general use the
Formic Aldehyde Gas is dissolved in water to the extent of 40 per cent., and the
solution is known by the trade name Formalin. As water containing 1 per cent. of
the gas in solution has been found by experiment to be fatal to all germs, whilst it
does not injure the texture or colour of articles steeped in it, nothing better could
be desired for the disinfection of clothing.
For the disinfection of the walls, &c., of rooms, Formalin solution can be used by
means of a spraying machine made by Defries & Co., but this machine is too heavy
for use in country districts, although much used in Paris. It has been found that air
containing a certain amount of Formic Aldehyde Gas is a powerful disinfectant; the
gas being of the same density as the air makes the diffusion of it in the air of a room
easy. There are two methods whereby the air of an infected room can be charged
with a definite quantity of Formic Aldehyde Gas. In that known as Trillat's method
a watery solution of the gas, to which some chloride of calcium has been added, is
heated in a strong boiler, and when under considerable pressure almost pure gas is
given off, which is introduced into the room through a small tube. This system
requires an expensive apparatus, which is too heavy for use in country districts,
besides demanding skilled attention whilst in use. The other method is to use
Paraform, which is a polymeric form of Formic Aldehyde, and is a solid substance,
easily handled. This Paraform, when heated in a specially-constructed lamp, becomes
decomposed, and, combining with the products of combustion, a definite quantity of
Formic Aldehyde Gas is given off, and the air of a room is easily charged with it.
The lamps and Paraform are light and easily portable, and thus the method is
admirably adapted for country work. It has been also found that by an adaptation
which I have received permission to use in Perthshire an ordinary paraffin lamp can
be utilised for vapourising the Paraform, which still further simplifies its use.
Experiments are at present being carried out with a view to fully test the merits
of Formic Aldehyde as an aerial disinfectant in actual practice, and so far every
evidence goes to show that it is efficacious, and a vast improvement on the practically
exploded sulphur fumigation of the past.

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