HH62/1/ABERD/31

Transcription

[Page] 30

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE SANITARY STATE OF THE
DISTRICT.

This district has an advantage, from a sanitary point of
view, in having few villages. There are only two - Alford
and Lumsden.
The drainage of Alford is in an exceedingly unsatis-
factory condition, while the water supply is also defective.
I need not enter into a detailed account as this has been
very well given by Mr. Hogg, the Sanitary Inspector, in
his Report. I will content myself with corroborating from
my own personal observation all that he says with regard
to drainage and water supply. I would strongly advise the
formation of the village of Alford into a Special Water and
Drainage District. The health of the village would un-
doubtedly be much improved by the introduction of an
ample supply of pure water, and by thorough drainage.
Cases of diphtheria and typhoid fever occur from time to
time in the village, and it may be hoped that these diseases
will occur less frequently under improved sanitary con-
ditions.
The village of Lumsden shows some peculiar features
regarding its drainage, but the place is exceedingly healthy.
Were it not for the gravelly nature of the soil, the existing
conditions would be very dangerous to health, more es-
pecially were the water supply not introduced, as it is, by gravi-
tation from a distance. The sewage is removed, one may
say, by a natural process of downward intermittent filtration.
Something, certainly, may be done to carry away the slop
water, but it is questionable how far a regular system of
drainage is necessary under the circumstances, unless it were
shown to be requisite for the benefit of the inhabitants. It
would be well, however, to institute a careful inquiry
into the health of the village during a number of years, to
find out if disease has resulted from the present method of
sewage disposal. Of this, as yet, I have found no evidence.

SANITARY CONDITION OF THE FARM STEADINGS AND THE
HOUSES OF THE LABOURING CLASSES.

In connection with farm steadings, the most important
matters for consideration are the sleeping accommodation for
the unmarried men and the condition of the cottar houses.
With regard to the sleeping apartments and cottar
houses, I would beg to refer to my remarks in my Report
on the Aberdeen District. In the newer steadings more
attention is being paid to providing suitable accommoda-
tion for farm servants. One such apartment I inspected at

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a new farm steading in this district might well be taken as
a model for all the others. I was assured by the foreman
on the farm that the comfort of such an apartment was
fully appreciated by the men.
Before passing from farm steadings, I cannot help
emphasising strongly that the Sanitary Inspector's suggesstions
regarding the method of dealing with the liquid manure,
and pointing out that such a plan would more than repay
the primary outlay through the non-deterioration of the solid
part, and the preservation and utilisation of what is really
the most valuable part of stable or byre manure, viz., the
liquid part. It would also prevent the too frequent
pollution of small streams by farmyard sewage, which is a
very important matter. Such streams are used for cattle,
and sometimes for human beings, and polluted water may
produce disease in cattle, as it certainly does in man.

SCHOOLS.

I have looked into the health conditions of some of the
schools in the district. The school at Corgarff was specially
unsatisfactory with regard to cubic space and ventilation,
but improvements are to be effected.

THE NOTIFICATION ACT.

With regard to infectious disease, the adoption of the
Notification Act, as contemplated by the Public Health
Committee, will facilitate the more prompt dealing with
such cases. The only object aimed at by the Notification
Act is to secure the earliest intimation to the Sanitary
Authority of cases of infectious disease, so that more
immediate steps may be taken than would otherwise be
possible, and the spread of disease perhaps averted.
It gives no extra power of dealing with such diseases.
Some form of hospital provision, or means of isolating the
cases that cannot be readily isolated at home, will be of
undoubted service to the district. This latter question will
require the careful consideration of the Committee.

GENERAL AND SPECIAL ENQUIRIES.

During the latter part of the year, I made a general
inspection of a large part of the district, directing my atten-
tion to the villages, farm houses, cottar houses, and schools.
Several special inquiries were made into the cause of
outbreaks of enteric fever, as at Auchline, Castlenewe, and
Deuchary. I will no enter at length into details. Some