HH62/1/ABERD/49

Transcription

[Page] 48

that has been felt for years for a cottage hospital in that
district, and I have myself had experience in my work of the
benefit that would have resulted from such a hospital.

THE NOTIFICATION ACT. - The adoption of the Notifica-
tion Act will be of undoubted benefit in dealing with in-
fectious disease in the district, and will, I hope, enable us
to reduce still further the low zymotic death-rate of last
year. It is always necessary as a measure of prevention.
The question of hospital provision, and with it the adop-
tion of the Notification Act, will, I trust, receive the at-
tention of the Committee, so that the district may be ready
to meet an epidemic when it comes, and not be taken un-
prepared.

SPECIAL INQUIRIES. - A special inquiry was made into
the cause of an outbreak of typhoid fever at the farm of
Pitscurrie, near Pitcaple. It was supposed to have been
brought by infection from Auchline, in the Alford district.
The drinking water was analysed, and found to be polluted.
The pump, which from its position could not escape con-
tamination, was disused, and drinking water taken from a
spring at a little distance. A supply is to be taken from
this to the farm.
Another investigation was made into an outbreak of
typhoid fever at Colpy, near Insch. This forms an excellent
illustration of the danger of not isolating first cases of in-
fectious disease. The first case was not isolated. Infection
spread to several of the inmates, resulting in one death,
and was also carried to a woman and her daughter who
were supplied with milk from this house.
Another inquiry was made into an outbreak of diph-
theria at Duncanstone. The cottage was in a wretched con-
dition, with a midden close behind it, from which the urine
must have soaked under the foundations of the house and
polluted the subsoil.

OFFENSIVE TRADES. - The only offensive trade in the
district is the slaughtering of cattle. The District Commit-
tee has intimated to owners of slaughter-houses, none of
whom held a licence to slaughter from the old Local
Authority, to apply now for licence. The Committee will
secure that the places are put into good condition, or re-
moved from any objectionable position, before such licence
is granted.

BAKEHOUSES - Those I have examined are satisfactory.

ZYMOTIC DISEASE. - In all cases of which information was

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obtained (the Notification Act not being in force), the house
was immedicately visited by the Sanitary Inspector, who re-
ported to me full particulars. If any case seemed to require
special attention, I visited it personally, and gave the neces-
sary directions. In all the cases disinfection was carried
out under the instructions, and with the assistance of, the
Sanitary Inspector. Means of hospital isolation will,
however, be of great assistance in the district.

CAUSES, ORIGIN, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DISEASE. - There
is very little of interest that I can say as yet on this head.
Much of what I have mentioned in other reports as to the
origin of such diseases as diphtheria, enteric fever, diarrhœa,
respiratory diseases, &c., is applicable to this district as well.
It is, however, a subject that will require more time to enter
fully upon than the short part of last year at my disposal
allowed.