HH62/45/189

Transcription

[Page] 8

forward the work of purification. In the Perth District the purification works in con-
nection with the sewage of Scone were interdicted through a want of attention to the
preliminary steps, previous to commencing operations; but it is anticipated that the
works will ere long be in operation. The works considered necessary for the preven-
tion of the pollution of the Tay by the sewage of Stanley have been authorized to be
carried out at the expense of the District, and there is little doubt that, even if the
necessary land required for the works has to be taken by compulsion, the scheme will
be proceeded with.
In the Central District the pollution of drinking water by the sewage of Crieff was
most successfully dealt with, and the Burgh has given a guarantee that such pollution
will not be permitted for the future. A sample of water taken from one stream be-
fore its pollution was stopped, although under chemical analysis not showing signs
of contamination by sewage, was found on bacteriological examination to contain 17,000
colonies of micro-organisms in each cubic-centimetre, that is a number enormously
in excess of that considered allowable in a safe drinking water, and at the time the
sample was taken this water was undoubtedly causing Enteric Fever amongst those
who used it unboiled. In the Highland District, the purification works in connection
with the sewage of Dunkeld are only waiting till it can be shown that it is
practicable to maintain sewage purification works without causing a nuisance
in their vicinity, the reason for this being that the only available site for these works
at Dunkeld is close to the Village and a public road. In so far as the prevention of
the pollution of the Tay by the sewage of the Burgh of Aberfeldy is concerned,
little except talking has been done by the Police Commission, and the District Com-
mittee will not allow this important matter to rest in its present unsatisfactory con-
dition. In the Western District the pollution of the Forth has been energetically
taken up by the District Committee, as well as the pollution of the Rivers Teith,
Dochart, and Lochay. In connection with the purification of the two last-mentioned
rivers, everything seems to favour an early and satisfactory issue.
In the Eastern District the sewage of the Burgh of Rattray is still discharged
into the Ericht in its crude state; but, although the adoption of purification works is
delayed, there is no intention on the part of the District Committee to allow the
Burgh Commissioners to evade their responsibilities.
In the Perth and Eastern Districts important and very satisfactory changes
have been effected in the appointment, in the former, of five Assistant Sanitary
Inspectors to undertake the whole work of the District, and, in the latter, of a single
Assistant. These changes have not much increased the expenditure and have very
much improved the administration of the Public Health Acts in the respective
Districts.
The Sale of Food and Drugs Act. - This Act has been administered during the
past year by the County Police, and the Report of the Chief Constable of the County
shows that good work has been done.
The Bye-Laws in connection wth Slaughter-houses have proved helpful in pre-
venting the erection of unsuitable premises, and as a result new premises are
far in advance of the majority of the older structures erected for this purpose
Meteorological Tables. - Through the kindness of Sir Patrick Keith Murray
of Ochtertyre, it has been possible to add to these during the latter half of the year
a new series of readings, namely, those of the underground temperatures, at depths from
3 to 48 inches. Sir Patrick Keith Murray, understanding that the Medical Officer
was anxious to obtain regular records of those temperatures, very generously ordered a
complete set of new instruments for the Ochtertyre Station. It is anticipated

[Note] 188

[Page] 9

that the readings obtained from these instruments will prove to be of great
value. During the year, selected readings of the various instruments at the
Ochtertyre Meteorological Station have been kindly supplied by Mr. Croucher,
who, besides being a careful observer, takes a keen interest in the influence of
Meteorological conditions on the health of the community.
During 1895 the Parish Councils will come into existence, and the discharge of
many important duties will fall upon them.
In so far as their power to form scavenging districts - which is one feature of the
new Local Government Act - is concerned, Perthshire has, under the power given in
the Public Health Act, already provided a scavenger in every large centre where it
was considered necessary. The wages of these scavengers are paid out of the District
Rates, and the scavengers are entirely under the control of the Chief Sanitary
Inspector. Their position is thus very different from that of the scavengers who
will be appointed under the Parish Councils. The latter will be responsible to the
Committees of the various small Districts appointing them, and will, in all probability,
assume the same attitude as the officials appointed by the Special Drainage District
Committees under the Public Health Act, which is one of the absolute independence in so
far as the Officials of the Local Authority are concerned. This is a position of affairs
which is not at all in accordance with the principle of the Local Government Act of
1889, and it will be a step backwards if the Act of 1894 leads to a decentralization of
the control of sanitary matters.
The administration of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act, 1894, will also
fall upon the Parish Council, as proceedings under this Act can be instituted by
that body; and when it is stated that the exposure of a young child, so as to
cause such child unnecessary suffering or to injure its health, constitutes an offence
under the Act, it will be seen that it is within the powers of the Parish Council to
deal effectually with the much vexed question of reclaiming the tinkers, and that in
the most effectual manner, by removing the children from their parents at an early
age; for when a conviction under this Act is obtained the Court has not only power
to imprison the person who caused the exposure, but may also take from
the person so convicted the custody of the child, and commit it to a relative
of the child, or other fit person named by the Court, until it attains the age of 16
years.

DISTRIBUTION OF DISEASES.

Respiratory Diseases caused 122 deaths, or 11.8 per cent. of the total during
1894, as compared with 167 in 1893. Of these 122 deaths, 55 occurred in persons over
60 years of age, and 34 in children under one year. Deaths from these diseases show
a considerable diminution, which is probably accounted for by the mild season and the
absence of any great amount of influenza. The following table shows the percentage
of Deaths throughout the County from Respiratory Diseases, and also the percentage
of Sickness in the Central and Western Districts, these being the only Districts in
which the services of the local Medical Officers have been retained, and thus sickness
returns have been available:-

Percentage of Deaths.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- 9.7
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 10.9
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, -- 11.4
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 11.2
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- 18.9

Percentage of Sickness.
PERTH DISTRICT, -- No Returns.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, -- 32.1
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, --No Returns.
WESTERN DISTRICT, -- 28.6
EASTERN DISTRICT, -- No Returns.

[Note] 189