HH62/45/55

Transcription

[Note] 54

COUNTY OF PERTH.

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

COUNTY OF PERTH.

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

The Perth District has an area (exclusive of the Burgh of Perth) of 148,849
acres and a population (exclusive of the Burghs of Perth and Abernethy) of 21,661,
according to the Census of 1891. The number of acres to each person is 6.8.
The appointment of Chief District Medical Officer dates from July 13, 1891,
consequently this Report deals only with the latter months of the year, and it is
impossible at this time to give more than a general sketch of the sanitary condition
of the District, as there has been no time for minute inspection, except in the places
where infectious disease occurred.
*The Vital Statistics for the year are the following:- Births 501, at the
rate of 23.1 per 1000. Deaths from all causes 384, or at the rate of 17.7 per 1000,
showing a natural increase of population of 117 for the year. The Infant Mortality
was at the rate of 65.8 per 1000 births. The Mortality over 60 years of age was
55% of the total. The Census returns for 1891 show a decrease of population,
amounting to 1,039 during the preceding ten years.
Almost the whole District has a plentiful supply of water, by gravitation in
many cases, and from wells and streams in the remainder. Judging from the sources
of the gravitation water-supplies, their quality may be considered in most instances
to be beyond suspicion, but in one suspected instance analysis proved the water
to be unfit for use. Where wells yield the supply it is usually plentiful, but in many
instances it is not protected against surface pollution. In these cases it will be
necessary without delay to make certain that the water is not contaminated, and the
Sanitary Inspector should be empowered accordingly.
Drainage is mostly in a rudimentary condition, and will require elaboration ere
it can be considered satisfactory.
With the exception of the Village of Errol, there is no system of scavengering
in the seven large villages of the District. One of the most prolific sources of a low
condition of health is to be found in the heaps of house refuse, &c., stored up in
back gardens waiting the convenience of a neighbouring farmer to remove them.
Now, a man devoting two, or, at the most, three days a week to each village could not
only keep the streets clean, but also effectually prevent the above state of matters,

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

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