HH62/45/3

Transcription

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One special danger to which Perthshire is liable arises from the presence, in the
County, of many large houses which are only fully occupied for about two months
during the year. In most cases the drainage of these houses is carried into a
cesspool, and unless such a drainage system be properly supervised, there is a great
risk in suddenly utilizing it for the requirements of a large establishment. A proper
certificate ought to be obtained annually, in his own interest, by the occupier, as to
the efficiency of the drainage system of the house. In many of the older houses the
drainage systems are antiquated, but still doing good service; these must be made the
best of. It would be well, however, that Bye-laws should be made (Section 57,
Local Government Act), with regard to new houses, and their plans submitted for
the approval of the Sanitary Inspector. Thus faults might be easily remedied, which,
if allowed to go on, would eventually lead to sickness, and a larger subsequent
expenditure.
In many parts of the County there is a great deficiency of conveniences in
connection with houses, or a primitive and dangerous arrangement for the same. This
is gradually being remedied by the introduction of the pail system, which is the least
expensive in construction and maintenance.
The question of retaining the services of Sub-District Medical Officer has been
before the various District Committees of Perthshire during the past year. In only
two Districts, the Central and Western, have the services of these officials been
retained; but, where retained, they have been of great benefit. The determination
of the other Committees to dismiss the Sub-District Medical Officers is much to
be regretted, as, without their valuable local knowledge and co-operation, Preventive
Medicine is deprived of one of its most important aids. The Local Government
(Scotland) Act, in deciding that the Chief District Medical Officer should be debarred
from private practice, did not anticipate that the Medical Officers under the Public
Health Act should be abolished; it was rather intended to supplement the efficiency
of the latter by giving them a superior independent of local influences, who
might consequently enforce reforms which they saw to be necessary, but were unable,
from their position, to execute. The Sub-District Medical Officers were also of great
service to the County in furnishing data for statistics regarding the Distribution of
Disease, and should these District Committees adhere to their decision of dismissing
their officers, some arrangement will require to be made whereby Sickness Returns
from all the medical men throughout the County may be obtained.
There has been, in recent years, a general adoption of the water carriage system
for the removal of excreta throughout the County, and at the same time no means
have been adopted to render harmless the discharged sewage matter before its
reception into the nearest water-course. In the case of large towns and villages the
pollution caused by such a proceeding is very great, and even from isolated country-
houses where, to be fashionable, in these days the water carriage system is adopted, the
pollution is likely to assume such grave dimensions as to necessitate active interference.
Such a total disregard for law and common decency is in direct violation of one
of the Sections of "The Rivers' Pollution Act, 1876." which states that "Every
person who causes to fall, or flow, or knowingly permits to fall, or flow, or to be
carried into any stream, any solid or liquid sewage matter, shall (subject as in this
Act mentioned) be deemed to have committed an offence against this Act." That
there is ample provision made by the Act for the enforcement of this clause may be
gathered from another section which is as follows:- "The County Court (in Scotland
Sheriff Court) having jurisdiction in the place when any offence against the Act is
committed, may by summary order require any person to abstain from the commission

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of such offence;" and farther, "Any person making default in complying with any
requirement of an order of a County Court (Sheriff Court) made in pursuance of this
section, shall pay to the person complaining, or such other person as the Court may
direct, such sum not exceeding £50 a day for every day during which he is in default,
as the Court may order." Within the past year two large burghs have taken steps
to adopt measures which, when completed, will do much to obviate the pollution of the
neighbouring rivers; but similar improvements will have to be made in connection with
all defaulting drainage systems ere the "Rivers' Pollution Act" can be said to be
carried out satisfactorily in Perthshire. One instance will prove the necessity of
such measures being adopted. The City of Perth, with a population of 29,902, is
entirely dependent on the River Tay for its drinking-water; and as the Tay, before it
reached the Perth Bridge, may receive the sewage of a population roughly
estimated at 45,000, it will be perceived that he inhabitants of the city are placed
in a most perilous position. That want of thought which is frequently the origin of
river pollution amounts in this case to almost criminal selfishness, and it is time that
corporations and private individuals should know that they must adopt one or other
of the simple means employed for the purification of sewage, and that the conversion
of some of the finest rivers in the country into common sewers will no longer be
tolerated.
During the past year much has been done by the Sanitary Inspector and his
Assistants to improve the condition of the County. Their efforts, however, have
been impeded by lack of organisation, and by the fact that the Assistant Inspectors
in many places were new to their work. Now that Bye-laws have been adopted for
the various Districts, and that the workers have grasped the extent of their duties, it is
hoped that during 1892 the administration of the Public Healths Acts will be much
facilitated. It is gratifying to state that in no instance have legal proceedings been
required to induce improvements. Although alterations have often entailed a some-
what large outlay, there has been a general willingness on the part of proprietors and
their agents to undertake whatever was deemed necessary, and where these take the
initiative, there is little difficulty in persuading tenants to carry out their part of the
necessary changes. Such a state of matters augurs well for the progress of sanitation in
Perthshire, for where the people can be made their own sanitary reformers, the Public
Health Act will not be felt as a coercive measure, and its most perfect fulfillment will be
attained. With a view to making the District Committees more intimately acquainted
with the work of their officials, the Finance Committee asked the latter to send Quarterly
Excerpts from their County Journals to the respective Districts. If the Finance
Committee would further recommend that the Chief District Officials should be
present at Committee Meetings when it is intended to discuss matters relative to
Public Health, the efficiency of this department would be greatly increased.
2. During the past year systematic general enquiries have been made into the
Sanitary Condition, &c., of the more populous parts of the County. On many
occasions special investigations have been necessitated in consequence of the occurr-
ence of infectious disease, but in no case has any action been necessary as County
Medical Officer. This is owing to the fact that as Chief District Medical Officer I
have executed the work which, in the terms of my original appointment, would have
been referred to me as County Officer by the Subordinate District Officials.
Upon the recommendation of the County Medical Officer, the County Council
issued a strong recommendation to the various District Committees, urging them to
accept of a very generous offer made by the Directors of the Perth Royal Infirmary
whereby accommodation for infectious cases would be secured during a period of five
years.

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