HH62/45/155

Transcription

Page 27

on the ground that they would cause a nuisance and frighten visitors from the town;
consequently the matter has been delayed until it can be seen whether similar works
can be conducted without causing a nuisance. Of the possibility of this being
accomplished there is no doubt, and it is confidently anticipated that the works will
be completed during 1894.
One cemetery, about the condition of which a complaint was received, has been,
by orders of the District Committee, put into good order, and Bye-Laws have been
made to prevent a recurrence of the cause of complaint.
2. General inspections have been made to ascertain the Sanitary Condition of
various parts of the District, and a large number of special visits have been
necessitated in connection with insanitary premises, and the diagnosis or isolation of
infectious diseases.
3. Advice was frequently given in connection with nuisances or insanitary
conditions of dwelling-houses; these were all remedied, but in one instance the remedy
was only provided after a certificate had been granted with a view to prosecution.
In connection with the introduction of the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act,
a considerable amount of trouble was entailed, as it was found difficult to break the
old habit of keeping any disease of an infectious nature as secret as possible.
In several instances violation of section 49 of the Public Health Act occurred
by convalescent scarlet fever patients coming out too soon. It was, however, deemed
not advisable to prosecute any of them, as the offence was committed in ignorance,
but occasion was taken to inform the people generally of the penalties incurred, and
there is a distinct understanding that a prosecution will follow the next failure to
conform to instructions.
In one instance a serious difficulty threatened the administration of the Public
Health Act (in so far as the supervision of the isolation of notified cases of infectious
disease was concerned), the Medical attendant having taken upon himself
to order that no Sanitary Official was to be admitted to the house; the
assistant Inspector was in consequence refused admission when he called to see that
the case was properly isolated. On this state of matters being reported at head-
quarters, a Sheriff's Warrant to enter the premises was obtained, which had the
effect of immediately securing admission, and enabling the Department to be satisfied
that such precautions were taken as to secure the other members of the family, and
the public, from risk of infection.
No action has required to be taken in connection with Factories or Workshops
within the District, during the year.
4. Retail Bakehouses. - There are eight of these in operation in the Landward
Highland District. Visits have been made to these during the year, and they have
all, with one exception, been found in good order. One Bakehouse has been removed
to new premises, which are all that can be desired. The Rannoch Bakehouse is still
in a condition far from creditable either to the proprietor or occupier, and it would
be well to have it replaced by premises better suited for the purpose, as has
been done in Pitlochry and Dunkeld. Were this done the Highland District
Bakehouses would compare favourably with the same class of workshops in other
parts of the County.
5. During 1893 there were 11 cases of Infectious Disease admitted from the
Highland District to the Perth Hospital. In all of them, with the exception of one
of Typhus Fever, the result was most satisfactory, and the patients sent home well
and happy. The facilities for removal have been much increased by the Highland
Railway Company consenting to carry the ambulance, containing patients and nurse,

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by ordinary trains, and still further by the courtesy of the officials in carrying the
waggon by trains which, as a rule, do not take on carriage trucks at wayside stations.
Whilst the patients are in Perth Hospital, the Medical Officer has ample
opportunities for supervising the treatment and isolation received, with both of which
he is fully satisfied.
6. To removing conditions injurious to the health of those resident within the
Highland District, the assistant Sanitary Inspector has devoted his whole time;
and from the tables appended to the Chief Sanitary Inspector's Report it will be seen
that, conjointly, they have accomplished a large amount of work, which is the chief
means at the disposal for the Local Authority for preventing the outbreak and spread
of Infectious Disease. In such a favourite health resort as the Highland District,
there is a constant risk of such disease being imported from the large towns by
convalescents, who are sent for change of air at too early a date; and there is another
class of visitors - viz., the tinkers - who have, on two occasions at least, during the past
year, been the medium by which disease has been carried into the District. In
no instance has there been any serious spread of infectious disease in the District.
In the early part of the year, in consequence of the occurrence of a number of
Smallpox cases on the Crianlarich section of the new West Highland Railway works,
it was feared that the malady might spread to that section of the works which passes
through the Highland District, and, in consequence, the propriety of securing a portable
Hospital was brought under the consideration of the District Committee. A Sub-
Committee was appointed to act along with the Medical Officer in securing a Hospital
should a case occur, but happily there has been no occasion to call a meeting; thanks
to the effectual barrier interposed between the affected section and the Moor of
Rannoch by the prompt re-vaccination of the men employed under Mr. Macrae, one
of Lucas & Aird's managers. Messrs. Lucas and Aird, through their chief engineer,
Mr. Tarry, also largely contributed to the effectual stamping out of the disease by
refusing to take on any new men unless they had been successfully re-vaccinated,
whilst Mr. Grainger, the manager of the northern section of the works, by kindly
agreeing to grant the use of a hut for hospital purposes on the same terms as were
paid at Crianlarich, did much to lessen the anxiety of the Department. As many of
the navvies working on a small contract between Loch Rannoch and New
Station as would submit to the operation, were re-vaccinated by Dr. Caird, Rannoch,
at the suggestion of the Medical Officer.
One suspicious case was reported, which happily proved not to be Smallpox.
As matters at present stand, the Highland is the only Rural District of Perthshire
which has no provision made for the isolation and treatment of Smallpox, but it is
ready when a case actually occurs to make the necessary provision.
7. The population of the Highland District was 13,175 according to the census
of 1891, consisting of 6346 males and 6829 females, and, estimated to the middle of
1893, the population was 12,895. In 1893 there were 276 Births and 197 Deaths,
giving a Birth Rate of 21.40 and a Death Rate of 15.27, as compared with a Birth Rate
of 17.3 and a Death Rate of 16.2 in 1892. Of those who died in 1893, 92 were males
and 105 were females.
The natural increase of the population during the year was 79, against 16 in
1892. Deaths in persons of 60 years and upwards were 121 or 61.4, of the total.
Deaths in children under one year were 14, of which 9 were due to Developmental
causes, giving an Infant Mortality of 50.72 per 1000 births, as against 92.9 in 1892.
Respiratory Diseases caused 18 Deaths or 9.1 per cent. of the total. In 10
of these the age at death was above sixty years, and in 2 it was under one year.
Circulatory Diseases caused 13 Deaths or 6.0 per cent. of the total; 11 of these
were in persons over sixty years of age.

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