HH62/45/187

Transcription

[Note] 186

County of Perth.

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT BY COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICER,
1894.

The population of the Landward County of Perth, as estimated to the middle
of 1894, was 67,218. As the Registrar General has, during 1894, given effect to
many more of the alterations made on the populations of the component Registration
Districts of the County, by the orders of the Boundary Commissioners, considerable
changes have in several instances been made on the populations of these Districts,
although they have had little or no effect on the County as a whole, the altered
Registration Districts being already entirely included within the County. Moreover,
the navvies employed on large contracts in the Western District having now taken
their departure, the population of that District has returned to its normal, and in
estimating the same for 1894 this has been taken into consideration. Although
considerably reduced, the population of the Western District is still the only one of
the five in Perthshire which shows any signs of increase. During 1894 there were 1493
Births registered in the Landward County, of these 741 were males and 752 females,
and there were 1027 Deaths registered, of which 498 were males and 529 females,
giving a Birth-Rate of 22.21 and a Death-Rate of 15.27, as compared with a Birth-
Rate of 24.14 and a Death-Rate of 16.43 in 1893. The Natural Increase of the
population during 1894 was 466, as compared with 532 in 1893. In persons over 60
years of age there was 485 deaths, or 47.2 per cent. of the total, as compared with
569 in 1893; and in children under one year there were 105 deaths, of which 43 were
ascribed to developmental causes, giving an Infant Mortality of 70.32 as compared
with a Rate of 84.08 in 1893.
During the past year the sanitary condition of the County has been steadily
improving, and the health of its population has been very good. This is attested by
the Death-Rate of 15.27, a figure well below the average of the preceding five years,
and one which has not been equalled since 1886. Moreover, although Infectious
Disease has been very prevalent, the Zymotic Death-Rate was only .966, and the
Infant Mortality (one of the surest guages of the health of a community) was 70.32,
as compared with 84.08, and 87.86, in the two preceding years.
In the report for 1893 reference was made to several large works as likely to be
completed during 1894, but unforeseen difficulties have arisen by which the com-
pletion of the schemes has been delayed. There is, however, every prospect of good
work being accomplished during 1895, as the negotiations of the Sub-Committees
entrusted with the carrying out of these schemes have been nearly completed.
Pollution of Rivers.- The proceedings under the Rivers Pollution Prevention
Act, commenced during 1893, have been maintained during the past year; and, although
little seems to have been actually accomplished, on looking back on the year's work,
at least indifference to the increased pollution of Rivers has been overcome, and the
various District Committees concerned have done everything within their power to


[Note] 187