HH62/45/1

Transcription

COUNTY OF PERTH.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT BY THE COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICER
1891.

1. The County of Perth has an area (exclusive of the City of Perth) of 1,586,115
acres, and the Census Returns for 1891 shew a population (exclusive of Burghs) of
69,912. The County of Perth consists of 74 Parishes, which, for purposes of Public
Health administration, have been grouped into five Districts, viz.:-

PERTH DISTRICT, - - - - - 27 Parishes.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, - - - - 14 Parishes.
WESTERN DISTRICT, - - - - 9 Parishes.
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, - - - - 10 Parishes.
BLAIRGOWRIE OR EASTERN DISTRICT, - - 14 Parishes.

Although the general sanitary condition of the County of Perth may be
considered fair, the fact that the death-rate is 18 per 1000 of population, or more
than 2 per 1000 above the average (15.7) for mainland rural Scotland, shews that
there is still ample room for improvement.
Throughout the County there are numerous large villages, and it is improving
the sanitary condition of these that the largest reduction of the death-rate will be
attained. As a result of bad hygienic surroundings the mortality in many of these
villages is exceptionally high. There is, in the majority of the villages, no provision
made by the Local Authority for the regular removal of house refuse, hence the soil
in the immediate vicinity of the dwelling-houses becomes saturated with all manner
of offensive matter, and, from the construction of the houses, the gases from this
polluted soil has free ingress to the homes of the people; in some instances the liquid
manure may even be seen soaking through the walls. Such a condition has a very
depressing effect upon the general health of the household, and should scarlet fever,
or a similar disease occur, it very often proves fatal, and the cases invariably assume
a more or less malignant type, a result largely due to the unhealthy state of the
systems into which the fever has been introduced. Strong recommendations have
been laid before the various District Committees by the Chief Medical Officer, and
Sanitary Inspector, urging these Committees to take advantage of the ample powers
conferred upon them under the Public Health (Scotland) Act, and to appoint in each
of the large villages a scavenger, whose duty it would be to remove all domestic refuse
regularly to a safe place; and it would be well if the County Council would strongly
urge the District Committee to adopt the views of their Chief Officers.
The general house accommodation throughout the County is good, and it is the
exception to find a familly living in a single room. As a rule, there is ample provision
made for efficient ventilation by means of windows. In very many cases, however, a
bad selection has been made as to the site of houses. Earth banked against the wall,
eaves-drippings, and the absences of any sub-soil drainage, must cause damp. The
want of ventilation underneath the floors is also a serious defect.

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