HH62/45/371

Transcription

[Page] 22

soon be a matter for the consideration of the Committee whether a requisition should
not be got from Ratepayers who, although resident in the Central District, are not
resident in Comrie. Certainly the present condition of the drainage of Comrie
canot be long left as it is, if for no other reason than the pollution of the Earn
caused by its sewage. Mr. Copland's scheme for drainage included a very effective
purification system which would meet all the requirements of the Rivers Pollution
Prevention Act.
At Blackford complaints are received of the pollution of the neighbouring
streams by the discharges from the drains and breweries of the village. The Com-
mittee in charge of the Special Drainage District should have their attention directed
to finding out the best available means of purifying the drainage effluent before its
discharge, and works for this purpose should be constructed without delay.
2. General enquiries have been made throughout the District to ascertain its
condition, and special investigations have also been made in connection with water
supplies, drainage, and the supervision of Infectious Disease.
3. Advice was given in connection with the proposed drainage scheme for
Comrie, also in concluding the arrangement with the Perth Royal Infirmary for the
treatment of Infectious Cases. No certificates were given under the Public Health
Acts during the past year. The Central District Committee recognising its re-
sponsibilities under the Factory and Workshops' Acts appointed as Inspectors
under the Acts the Chief Medical Officer and Sanitary Inspector; as a result, all of
the Workshops in the District have been visited, and particulars of the various
premises, and persons employed therein, registered. When premises were found not
in harmony with the provisions of the Acts, attention was directed to the defects in
order that these might be rectified.
4. Retail Bakehouses. - These have been visited during the year, and the
provisions of the Factory and Workshops' Acts relating to them enforced. As a
rule the premises were found in a satisfactory condition.
5. The new arrangement by which the Central District Committee is entitled
to send Infectious cases to Perth Royal Infirmary for treatment has been fully
taken advantage of during the year, as 22 patients were admitted from the District.
The Portable Hospital reserved for Smallpox cases has happily not been required.
6. The usual endeavours have been made by the various Officials of the Depart-
ment to prevent or limit the outbreak of Infectious Disease, and the substantial
reduction of the number of cases reported, as compared with 1896, shows what
success has attended these efforts.
Respiratory Diseases caused 20 deaths during 1897, as compared with 23 in
1896. Of these, 7 occurred in persons over 60 years of age, and 7 in children under
5 years. Sickness returns show that 37.3 per cent. of the total was due to this class
of diseases.
Circulatory Diseases caused 15 deaths during 1897, as compared with 29 in
1896, thus showing a considerable reduction. Of these, 11 deaths occurred in persons
over 60 years of age. Sickness returns show that 10.1 per cent. of the total was
due to this class of diseases.
Tubercular Diseases caused 31 deaths, as compared with 26 in 1896. Of the
31 deaths 22 were attributed to Pulmonary Consumption. Sickness returns show
that 5.2 per cent. of the total was due to Tubercular Diseases.
Nervous Diseases caused 25 deaths during 1897, as compared with 13 in 1896,
these diseases also showing a large increase over 1896. Of the 25 deaths 20 occurred
in persons over 60 years of age.

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Digestive Diseases caused 16 deaths during 1897, as compared with 9 in 1896.
Sickness returns show that 37.5 per cent. of the total was due to this class of diseases.
Cancer and Malignant Diseases caused 15 deaths during 1897, as compared
with 11 in 1896.
Old Age was the cause of death in 33 instances, as compared with 24 in 1896.
Developmental Diseases caused 7 deaths, of which 3 were attributed to pre-
mature birth, as compared with 5 in 1896.
Violence caused 11 deaths during 1897, as compared with 5 in 1896.
Zymotic Diseases caused 16 deaths during 1897, as compared with 11 in 1896.
The Zymotic Death-rate was 1.4, as compared with .98 in 1896. During the year
72 cases of Infectious Disease were notified, as compared with 117 in 1896.
Scarlet Fever caused 3 deaths during the past year. In all 37 cases of the
disease were notified, as compared with 75 in 1896, showing a considerable reduction.
The type of the disease was more severe, however, as is shown by a case mortality of
of 8.1 per cent.
Enteric Fever caused 4 deaths during 1897, as compared with 3 in 1896. In all
10 cases were notified, as compared with 26 in 1896. Although the number
of cases was smaller, the type of the disease was much more malignant than
in 1896. The cases were mostly isolated, and three of them were doubtless due to
bad water or insanitary conditions, which were at once remedied. In none of the
cases was there any spread of the Disease.
Diphtheria caused 2 deaths during 1897, as compared with 1 in 1896. The
majority of the cases occurred in a large family, in which the disease had
existed for some time before it was recognised; the other cases were distributed
over the District, and were chiefly due to damp houses or faulty drainage. Seven of
the 14 cases were removed to Hospital.
Measles was exceedingly prevalent during the past year, especially in the
Dunning, Auchterarder, Muthill, Blackford, Madderty, and Monzievaird Districts.
The type of the disease was mild, and no fatal cases resulted.
Whooping Cough caused 6 deaths during 1897. The Disease was very prevalent
in the Logiealmond, Dunning, Auchterarder, Blackford, and Monzievaird Districts.
As usual, the deaths occurred amongst children under five years of age.
Diarrhoea caused 1 death during 1897, as compared with 7 in 1896.
Deaths in which the cause of death was uncertified, or insufficiently stated, were
6 in 1897, as compared with 12 in 1896.

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