HH62/45/43

Transcription

[Note] 42

COUNTY OF PERTH.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
BY THE
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
OF THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
1891.

COUNTY OF PERTH.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT BY THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
OF THE
HIGHLAND DISTRICT.
1891.

The Highland District has an area of 686,419 acres, and a population (exclusive
of the Burgh of Aberfeldy) of 13,171 persons, as ascertained by the Census, taken
5th April, 1891. Except along the eastern side of the District, the population is
very scattered. Over the whole, the proportion of persons to the acre is .019, or 52
acres to each person.
*During the year 1891, the Births in the District were 248, or at the rate of
18.8 per 1000; the Deaths being 238, or at the rate of 18.0 per 1000. The Infantile
Mortality was 48.3 per 1000 births, and 57.9 per cent. of the total deaths occurred in
persons over 60 years of age.
The Census returns of 1891 show a decrease in the population of this District of
1,324 during the preceding 10 years.
The District is well supplied with water, either by gravitation or from wells
and streams, and in most cases, the supply is as pure as can be desired, although in a
few places gross pollution was discovered in the form of the discharge of liquid manure,
or the contents of washing-tubs into streams which, lower down in their course,
would be the sole source of drinking water. In these instances the pollution has
been stopped, although it was sometimes hard to convince the authors of it that there
could be any permanent harm in such proceedings.
The houses of the working-classes in the District are in good condition, but were
often found to be deficient in sanitary conveniences. There is ample provision for
ventilation, in the shape of windows which can be fully opened; but, as in other
parts of the county, the difficulty is to induce the occupiers to make use of what is
provided.
The drainage in the large villages is good. In Dunkeld there is a scavenger
who not only keeps the streets clean, but also empties ashpits, &c., and whose wages
are paid by the inhabitants. In Pitlochry there is also a scavenger, recently
appointed. His duties do not include the emptying of ashpits, &c., so that a very
essential means of making the village what it should be is neglected there, and the
progress of sanitation in this popular health resort will be much retarded until such
measures are adopted.

*Fuller details will be found at the end of the Report.

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