HH62/1/ABERD/47

Transcription

[Page] 46

more frequent cleaning out. In one block several cases of
enteric fever have occurred."
The enteric fever at this tenement may have arisen from
emanations from a most foul undrained ashpit of huge size,
which was little better than an open cesspool, and into which
everything from the tenement block was thrown. Instruc-
tions were given for improving the condition of the place, and
a promise received from the manager that it would be
attended to. I have met with cases of typhoid fever origi-
nating under similar circumstances, as at Auchmill in the
Aberdeen District.

MONYMUSK. - With regard to Monymusk, Dr. Henry reports
as follows:- "With few exceptions the houses in Monymusk
contain no water pipes, sinks, or closets. The village is
efficiently drained by a sewer running through the main
street, and there is an abundant supply of water in the street
wells, brought from springs about a mile distant. In the
bakehouse the sink pail and water tap are not what they
should be, and the office and dunghill, in the rear, are too
close to the house."

OLDMELDRUM. - Dr. Wilson, Medical Officer of Health for
Meldrum, reports as follows:- "The water supply of the
village is deficient in summer, and no extra supply can be
obtained in the vicinity of the reservoir. From the nature of
the soil, contamination of the wells has never to my
knowledge taken place, and I would suggest the erection of
pump wells, in properly situated stations, to augment the
limited supply.
"Drainage. - The drains of the village are well arranged; most
of the houses, as well as the ashpits, have connection with the
main drains. The Local Authority has for years bestowed
much attention to the drainage of the village.
"Slaughter-House. - The slaughter-house is erected on a bad
site, it being next to impossible to obtain proper drainage,
and there is not a sufficient supply of water. Recent steps
have been taken to improve matters."
(Dr. Wilson had sent several reports to the old Local
Authority, but apparently without much effect.)
"Infectious Disease. - There was one death during the year
from infectious disease, viz., a child that came from Glasgow
ill with whooping cough, and died a few days after its
arrival. The disease spread to two children in an adjoining
house, but no further.
"There has been no case of typhoid fever for very many
years. I have observed for a long time back that, in the
summer months, we have annually imported into the village,
scarlet fever, measles and whooping cough. During the past

[Page] 47

year we had a case or two of this, otherwise I should have
said that the parish was entirely free, as it now is, from this
disease.
"Dwelling-Houses. - The state of the dwelling-houses in the
village is on the whole fairly good, with the exception of a
block of buildings in Back Wynd. These are in a most filthy
condition, overcrowded, and unfit for human habitation."
(Note. - These have since been closed).
Dwelling-Houses of the Labouring Classes. - In connection with
this subject, I desire to draw attention to the remarks
of Dr. Paterson, Medical Officer for Inverurie, Landward,
which are deserving of careful consideration. "In regard
to the dwelling-houses of the labouring classes, great
improvement is required. In such weather as at present
we are having, many cases of bronchial troubles have scarcely
a chance of recovery, on account of the impossibility of
keeping out draughts from defective roofs, doors and
windows."
Improvement is also necessary in the case of sleeping
places on farm steadings. On the newer farms these are
somewhat more satisfactory. On this subject, Dr. Wilson,
Oldmeldrum, reports:- "The sanitary condition of the farm
steading might with great benefit and profit be greatly
improved, and better accommodation for farm servants is, in
many cases, much to be desired."
Hospital Provision. - Some hospital provision will be required
for the district. The following passages from the reports of
Medical Officers of the district are of interest in this
connection.
Dr. Paterson, Inverurie, says:- "In cases of infectious
disease occurring among servants at farm towns, we are very
much in want of hospital accommodation. It will be difficult
to say what accommodation would be required, but the
removal of all cases at the outbreak might be the means
of curtailing an epidemic which might assume large propor
tions."
Dr. Wilson, Oldmeldrum, writes:- "There is much need
for an hospital for infectious disease for this and adjacent
parishes, and I am of opinion that the present Parochial Board
room and the two adjacent wings of the Poorhouse could be
altered, at a nominal cost, to meet the requirements."
Dr. Davidson, Medical Officer for Rayne, Daviot, and
Chapel of Garioch, writes:- "Hosptial accommodation is
needed for fevers and critical cases, where the home is poor and
the nursing inadequate, as is too often the case. Should an
hospital not be forthcoming, one or two efficient nurses in
the district, available at a cheap rate, would be of service."
Dr. Currie, Insch, has expressed to me the great need