HH62/45/111

Transcription

[Note] 110

Western District.

The Sanitary Condition of this District has gone on steadily improving during
the year. The local Medical Officers and Sanitary Inspectors have more than kept
up the reputation of the past by their energetic attention to Public Health matters.
The sanitary condition of the huts occupied by the navvies engaged on the new West
Highland Railway and Glasgow Water-Works Extension Contracts has demanded a
good deal of attention, but as the contractors and their managers have taken the wise
plan of adopting precautions to prevent the outbreak of filth-diseases amongst the
employees, the duties of supervision have been considerably lightened. The accom-
modation provided for the men is much above what might have been expected.
No scavengers have as yet been appointed by the Committee to see to the
cleaning of the villages. Killin specially requires the appointment of a scavenger.
The private scavengers of Deanston and Ashfield are doing good work, and these
villages are a proof of what can be done by the systematic removal of domestic refuse.
Water-supplies, on the whole excellent throughout the District, have, in a few
instances, been found to be polluted. In one instance the pollution was transitory,
being caused by the washings of the new Railway gaining access to the water.
The resultant flavour of creosote was not agreeable, but it soon disappeared. In
another instance the pollution was found to be of a more dangerous nature; the well
was consequently closed, and is to be replaced by a gravitation supply derived from
a pure source, which will be a great improvement. The village of Killin is
increasing its water-supply, and will be abundantly supplied when the new works are
completed.
The Bye-laws relating to Milk-sellers have come into operation, and a number
of dairy-farms have been inspected. In many cases an inhabited bedroom, almost
in direct communication with the milk-store, was found, and this most objectionable
combination was ordered to be discontinued. It is pleasant to be able to add that
occupiers and proprietors alike have willingly carried out the recommendations given,
on the reasons for these being explained to them.
The Drainage in some of the modern houses has caused trouble during the
year, as the occurrence of Diphtheria has again and again been traced to neglected
soil-pipes, &c. These have been rectified, and the expenses connected therewith will
convince proprietors that it is very unwise to neglect such matters until disease
manifests itself, and a large expenditure is necessary to remedy faults which a little
regular supervision would entirely have prevented.
In the village of Aberfoyle, where the water-carriage system of soil is almost
universally carried out, a large pollution of the neighbouring river is caused. Steps
should be taken to prevent the discharge of the sewage from the village into the
river without purification. In summer, when the river is small and a large number
of visitors are resident, there is grave danger to the households further down the
river, who depend on its water for domestic supply.
Slaughter-Houses have, on several occasions, been inspected, and found to be
in very good order. The proprietors have also voluntarily carried out suggested
improvements.

[Note] 111