HH62/45/93

Transcription

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From this it will be seen that there is little danger of overcrowding in Landward
Perthshire. Even in the villages, where such a source of disease might be
supposed to predominate, the average number of rooms to a house is 3.9, and the
average number of persons to a family 3.7. Only one house appeared distinguished
by the fact that it had no windows. On enquiry this was found to be a shelter-hut
erected on the Moor of Rannoch in connection with the West Highland Railway
works, and it is now replaced by a very comfortable structure.

STATISTICS OF VILLAGES IN COUNTY OF PERTH.

[Table inserted]

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Houses occupied by single men at farms have been the subject of considerable
controversy. On one side the condition of the houses and the treatment of the men by
their employers is held up as the cause, whilst on the other the men and their habits
are blamed for the existing condition of affairs, which is certainly not satisfactory.
There is truth on both sides, but experience proves that, in many instances, the men
do not take advantage of the means already at their disposal to keep their living-
room clean and tidy. The occasional wholesale destruction of the fittings of a good
room for the purpose of procuring firewood does not give very great encouragement
to proprietors and employers to exert themselves. The reform in the housing of
this class of agricultural labourers, if it is to be a success, must be accomplished by
the mutual exertions of both parties concerned.
Rivers Pollution. - In last Annual Report attention was directed to the existing
pollution of the River Tay by the wholesale discharge into it of unpurified sewage.
This important matter has been taken up by the County Council, to whom a
Special Report on the whole question was presented, the result being that the
attention of the various Local Authorities concerned has been called to the existing
state of matters. Except in the Burgh of Blairgowrie, where an extensive alteration
of the drainage outlet is in process, nothing has really been undertaken as yet.
Dunblane is also re-modelling its drainage system, and means are provided to purify
the effluent before its discharge into the River Allan. The whole subject is one of
considerable magnitude, and can only be dealt with gradually, although a good
beginning has been made in this important branch of sanitation.
Sale of Food and Drugs Act. - This has been very effectually carried out under
the County Police for many years, and its effects, as a deterrent force, are highly
satisfactory.
Slaughter-Houses have received a considerable share of attention. The con-
dition of many of them was found to be so bad that the necessity for the adoption of
Bye-Laws with reference to construction and conduct of operations was very
evident. These Bye-Laws are at present under the consideration of the District
Committees, and it is to be hoped that a uniform set will soon be adopted for
the whole County.
The corrected population of Perthshire for 1891 was 69,715, and estimated to
the middle of 1892 it was 69,283. Births were 1491, giving a Birth-rate of 21.52
per 1000. Deaths were 1091, giving a Death-rate of 15.76 per 1000, against 18.05
for 1891. Natural Increase during the year, 400. There were 544 deaths of persons
over sixty years of age, or 49.8 per cent. of the total. Of these 169 were due to Old
Age. Deaths under one year were 131, of which 56 were due to Birth-debility,
giving an Infant Mortality of 87.8 per 1000 Births.
Distribution of Diseases. - In three of the five Districts of Perthshire the Dis-
tribution of Diseases can only be gathered from the Death Returns. In the Central
and Western Districts the local Medical Officers have been retained, and Sickness
Returns give a better idea of the prevalence of the various diseases.
Respiratory Diseases caused 169 deaths, or 15.4 per cent. of the total in 1892,
against 184 in 1891. In persons over sixty years of age 88 deaths occurred, and 44
were of those under five years. The months in which deaths from Respiratory
Diseases were most prevalent were:-
January, -- 34.
March, -- 22.
April, -- 20.

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