HH62/45/105

Transcription

[Page] 14

3. Advice has been given regarding insanitary Houses, and defective Water-
supplies. No certificates under the Public Health Act have been required, as pro-
prietors have invariably done what what was necessary. No Factories have been reported
to the Local Authority as in an insanitary condition.
4. Retail Bakehouses have received eighteen visits during the year. All were
found to be clean and well kept. Some are very old, and might with advantage be
replaced by new buildings. Six young persons found to be employed were reported
to H.M. Inspector of Factories.
5. The Central District Committee entered upon a five years' agreement with
the Directors of the Perth Royal Infirmary, in accordance with which cases of
Infectious Disease are admitted to that Institution for treatment. An Ambulance
Wagon has also been procured, by which the removal of patients is accomplished
with safety and ease. The Railway Companies have courteously agreed to carry the
Wagon loaded, and thus the time occupied by the journey is reduced to a minimum.
Four cases were removed to hospital during the year. The Chief Medical Officer has
ample opportunities of supervising the accommodation and treatment of patients
admitted to the Perth Royal Infirmary, and has every reason to be satisfied there-
with.
During the summer the District was threatened with an outbreak of Small-pox,
as an infectious convalescent had been visiting some of its busiest parts. At that time,
no provision having been made for the isolation of Small-pox cases, application was made
to Perth City Local Authority, who very generously agreed to receive any case of
the disease from the Central District sent for treatment to their Small-pox Hospital.
As this accommodation was only granted for a limited period, arrangements have been
made whereby a portable Iron Hospital will now be kept for the use of the District
at some central spot, from which it can be taken and erected near the infected house
in a day's time.
6. The energies of the Medical and Sanitary Staff have been directed towards
the prevention of any Outbreak of Infectious Disease. Cases of Fever have been
imported again and again, but prompt action in the way of isolation has been the
means of preventing the disease from spreading. Schools have been notified of the
occurrence of Infectious Disease, and it has been recommended that members of
infected families should not be permitted to attend. This precaution has been carried
out. Two schools had to be closed on account of the occurrence of Diphtheria
amongst the scholars. Happily, the disease spread no further.
The retention of the services of the local Medical Officers has enabled the
notification of cases of Infectious Disease to be made at once, and measures for
removal or isolation to be adopted without delay. The department has worked
exceedingly well during the year.
7. The corrected population of the Central District for 1891 was 14,441, and
estimated to the middle of 1892 it was 14,246.
Births - 323 were registered, giving a Birth-rate of 22.6 per 1000. Deaths -
249 were registered, giving a Death-rate of 17.4 against 22.12 in 1891, and shewing
a Natural Increase in the population of 74 during the year. Deaths in persons over
sixty years of age were 126, or 50.4 per cent. of the total. Deaths under one year
were 23, of which 10 were due to Birth-debility, giving an Infant Mortality at the rate
of 71.2 per 1000 births, against 77.6 in 1891.
Zymotic Diseases caused 9 deaths, giving a Zymotic Death-rate of .631 per 1000,
against 1.58 in 1891.

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To the Local Medical Officers thanks are specially due for supplying, besides
immediate notification, regular monthly returns of sickness in their districts. From
the latter, it has been possible to give some idea of the distribution of disease through-
out the District.
Respiratory Diseases caused 41 deaths, as compared with 44 in 1891. In 25
cases the age at death was over sixty years, and in 8 it was under one year. From
sickness returns extending over 2000 cases, it is found that this class of disease formed
26 per cent. of the whole.
Tubercular Diseases caused 41 deaths, of which 32 were certified as due to
Phthisis. The respective figures for 1891 were - Phthisis, 29, and other Tubercular
Disease 8, shewing an increase in the deaths caused by Phthisis in 1892. This
class of disease formed 5.3 per cent. of the total sickness in the District.
Diseases of the Circulatory System caused 33 deaths, of which 23 were in persons
over sixty years of age. This class of disease caused 30 deaths in 1891. The
percentage for 1892 is 13.2 per cent. of the total, and 16.4 per cent. of the sickness.
Diseases of the Nervous System caused 25 deaths, against 32 in 1891, and 11 per
cent. of the total sickness.
Diseases of the Digestive System caused 7 deaths, against 13 in 1891, and 29.3 per
cent. of the total sickness.
Cancer and Malignant Diseases caused 12 deaths, against 11 in 1891.
Rheumatic Diseases caused 7.4 per cent. of the total sickness.
Influenza caused 6.6 per cent. of the total sickness, and 8 deaths were due to
this cause.
Developmental Diseases caused 10 deaths, against 7 in 1891.
Old Age was certified as causing 26 deaths, against 42 in 1891.
Zymotic Disease caused 9 deaths, against 23 in 1891.
Scarlet Fever caused 1 death. Sixteen cases of the disease were reported during
the year. They were all scattered over the rural part of the District with one
exception, which occurred in a village, where isolation was maintained very strictly.
Two of the cases were removed to hospital. Two of the cases occurred in connection
with dairies. Absolute isolation of the dairy, and of those handling the milk, was
willingly carried out.
There were no deaths from Enteric Fever during the year. Four cases of the
disease were reported. These were infected the one from the other in spite of
exceptional precautions in the way of professional nurses, &c., being employed.
Measles caused 1 death, but there has been no epidemic of the disease. Cases
have been infected on several occasions, but no outbreak has ever occurred.
Whooping-Cough has caused 3 deaths, and was prevalent in the early part of the
year in certain portions of the District. It was of a mild type.
Diarrhoea caused 1 death. With the exception of Dunning, no part of the
District reported an unusual number of cases during the year.
The District Registrars have regularly supplied Monthly Returns of Births and
Deaths, and deserve public thanks for their willing help in this important matter.

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