HH62/45/151

Transcription

[Page] 23

Typhus Fever. - A group of cases of this disease occurred amongst a tinker family
who were peeling bark in the neighbourhood of Crieff. Thanks to the prompt
recognition of the nature of the disease by the assistant Medical Officer, and the removal
of five of those affected to the Hospital, as well as thorough disinfection of the place, there
was no spread of the disease in the neighbourhood. The mother and an infant were the
only members of the family who were not ill at the time of the removal, and, on interrogat-
ing the former, she asserted that she certainly suffered from what a doctor who had
seen her called influenza, some time before the rest of the family took ill. She also was
positive that the baby had the same disease as she had, and declared that there had
been no other tinkers about their camp for some time previous to the illness. As events
turned out, it was discovered later that a girl had left the Crieff camp for the Highlands,
(at what date is uncertain), who had been admitted to Logierait Poorhouse, and was
being treated for Measles, on the 22nd of June - four days before the five cases were
admitted to the Perth Hospital. It was well for the Strathearn Poorhouse that they
had for their Medical Officer one who recognised the nature of the disease, as it was only
when application was made for parochial relief that he saw the cases. Eleven days later,
the baby who was stated to have already had the disease was found to be ill, and
was admitted to Hospital. All of these patients did well, although, in two of the cases,
it required all the tinker's tenacity of life to enable the crisis to be safely passed.
Scarlet Fever caused 2 Deaths, against 1 in 1892. In all, 94 cases were notified
during the year. The majority of the cases occurred in the Auchterarder district - 48
were from it. Cases also occurred at Muthill, Braco, Comrie, Gilmerton, and
Fowlis-Wester. In nearly all of these outbreaks, the origin of the infection was traced
to some slight unrecognised case, which had been overlooked; or to infection caught by
visiting large towns in the neighbourhood; or, in a few, from convalescent visitors.
The type of the disease being, on the whole, exceedingly mild, it was very difficult
to maintain isolation. However, when the heads of families became convinced that the
officials meant what they said, this difficulty was considerably lessened. In the country,
Scarlet Fever is rapidly becoming so mild that it is no easy matter, even for a medical
man, to diagnose it; and, if this be the case, heads of families can scarcely be blamed
for not "becoming aware of the nature of the disease." However, in the Central
District, where there is a full staff of assistant Medical Officers, who are ready to visit
any case for the purpose of diagnosis, and thus enlighten the ignorance of the parents, it
will not be held as an excuse for failing to report cases under the Infectious Disease
(Notification) Act, for the head of the house to plead ignorance of the existence of the
disease, seeing that the District Committee has provided means for removing that
ignorance free of expense.
Enteric Fever caused 1 Death - a young man who was previously suffering from
chronic kidney disease. In all, 9 cases were reported during the year, 2 of which were
removed to Hospital. The majority of these were more or less closely connected with
the cases which occurred in Auchterarder Parish in the end of last year, and received
the infection either directly, or through the agency of milk; for, although none was sold,
it was discovered that one person had taken milk, which was to be given to the pigs -
the result being that two members of her family were soon laid down with fever. The
continuance of severe frost delayed somewhat the remedy of the defects about the
premises which were the cause of the outbreak; but, as soon as suitable weather came;
everything was put into a satisfactory state. One of the other cases, a very severe one,
was removed into the District from Dundee during the second week of the disease.
However, by the precautions taken by the Medical Assistant and the care
of the mother, who acted as nurse, the patient recovered, and there was no spread of
the disease.

[Note] 150

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Diphtheria caused 2 Deaths in 1893, against 3 in 1892. In all, 6 cases were
reported, against 14 in 1892. Three of these occurred in the neighbourhood of
Dunning, and were doubtless connected with others which occurred there in the latter
part of 1892. The remainder were single cases in various parts of the District, and were
due to insanitary surroundings, although one was imported from Perth.
Measles caused 1 Death. There were 162 cases of the disease reported during the
year. A large number of these occurred in Muthill, where the assistant Medical Officer
had again and again successfully isolated cases of the disease imported, but at last the
infection spread, and almost every susceptible child took the malady. On the whole,
the disease was of a mild type, but at St. Fillans it was very severe, and it was in
connection with the outbreak there that the only fatal case occurred.
Whooping Cough caused 3 Deaths, the same number as in 1892.
Diarrhoea caused 7 Deaths. In 6 of these the age at death was under one year.
In the latter part of the year this disease was prevalent in the Muthill and Comrie
Districts. At St. Fillans the Water Supply was blamed for the disease, but enquiry
proved that this was not the case.
Influenza caused 6 Deaths or 2.3 per cent. of the total; and Sickness returns show
4.8 per cent. of the total Sickness due to this disease.

[Note] 151