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REPORT
BY THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE COUNTY,
For the Year 1891.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
The Bye-Law No. 11 recommended by the Board
of Supervision, and adopted by the County, requires me to make a
Yearly Report to the County in the following form:-
I. - "A General Account of the Sanitary state of the County,
and the Measures which in his Opinion should be
adopted for its Improvement."
The state of the County from a sanitary point of view is fairly
satisfactory. The condition of the houses of the working classes
varies much. In some instances the houses are everything that can
be desired; in others they are old, damp, delapidated, and indeed
past mending.
Ashpits, privies, pigstyes, and dung-heaps, especially in villages,
are often found too near dwelling-houses and wells, and are the
source both of discomfort and sickness.
I think it desirable that in villages, where necessary, public
conveniences should be erected, and that in all cases the Local
Authority should provide for the periodical emptying of all privies
and ashpits in such villages, as I find that often the possessor of the
ashpit is not to blame for its condition, but that the person who has
undertaken to empty it has failed to do so. |
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A better supply of water for domestic purposes is required in
many places, and when at all practicable should be provided.
II. - "A Statement of his Inquiries and Proceedings and
of the matters in regard to which he has given
advice or taken action during the year."
I visited all the Parishes in the County during the year, and
have paid particular attention to the sanitary arrangements of the
schools, and, when I found it necessary, gave instructions as to
better ventilation and greater cleanliness. I enquired into the
following outbreaks of disease in the County:-
Typhoid Fever in Edzell, which did not spread.
An epidemic of Scarlet Fever, also in Edzell, which was of a
mild type, and confined to a limited area.
Three cases of Typhoid Fever in the parish of Kinnettles.
Typhoid Fever in the parishes of Inverarity and Newtyle. I
sent a report regarding these to the County Council, to
which I beg to refer.
I certified Wood's Yard, Craigie, in the neighbourhood of Dun-
dee, a nuisance. I reported, along with Mr Anderson, County
Sanitary Inspector, on the Kingennie Manure Depot, and visited
and inspected, along with him, several of the most unhealthy houses
in the various districts. I have given advice as to the quality of
many samples of water in various districts in the County.
III. - "A Statement of the causes, origin, and distribution
of Diseases in the County, and the extent to which
the same have depended on, or been influenced by
conditions capable of removal or mitigation."
Speaking generally, much of the sickness in the County is due to
dampness, either as to situation or construction of houses, want of
ventilation, to bad drainage and impure water, to exposure to cold,
especially in the case of young children without proper clothing, the
want of proper precautions to prevent the spread of diseases which
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are known to be infectious. This is specially the case with Pulmonary
Consumption, which is the most fatal disease in the County, and
which is now universally allowed to be infectious. I would recom-
mend that instructions as to the best mode of managing such cases
should be printed, and distributed by the District Sanitary
Inspectors, where such disease was known to exist.
An epidemic of Influenza visited the County in the end of the
year. It seemed to attack the towns on the coast first, and to spread
inwards. In the rural parts of the County, although very extensive,
it was not serious when uncomplicated, and comparatively few of
the deaths in the rural part of the County were in any way
attributed to it.
I append a Tabular Statement of the mortality from this disease
in the County and its several Districts.
IV. - "A Summary of the action taken to prevent the
Outbreak and Spread of Infectious Disease, and an
account of the Hospitals or other means of isolation
existing within the County."
By the adoption of the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act,
the Dundee and Brechin Districts have taken the best, and indeed
the only efficient way to prevent the spread of Infectious Diseases,
and it is necessary for the best interests of the whole County that
the other Districts should also adopt it. Whenever a case of
infectious disease was known to exist, the patient was isolated, and
when necessary the other members of the family remained from
school till such time as it was certified safe for them to return
Thorough disinfection was carried out to the satisfaction of the
Sanitary Inspector. In some instances the cases were at once
removed to hospital.
The County is well supplied with hospitals, though they do not
belong to the County Council. In the Dundee District the Dundee
Local Authority receive cases from the County to their epidemic
hospital on certain conditions. The Arbroath District have acquired
a right to send patients to the epidemic hospital in that town. This |
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hospital contains two large wards with 14 beds in each, and two
small wards, and is in every way suitable for the treatment of
infectious cases.
The Brechin District have also made arrangements with the
Infirmary Directors of that city, by which patients are admitted to
the fever wards, and these wards are in every way suitable for the
treatment of such cases.
The Forfar District have no agreement with the Directors of the
Forfar Infirmary, but infectious cases from the District are freely
admitted to that institution.
There are infectious wards in connection with the Montrose
Infirmary, but I understand the Local Authority of that town object
to infectious cases being brought within the burgh, so that negotia-
tions which were being carried on between the Brechin District
Committee and the Managers of the Montrose Infirmary have had
for the time to be suspended.
V. - "A Tabular Statement of the Sickness and Mortality
within the County, embodying the Information con-
tained in the Reports which the Medical Officers of
Districts, or parts of Districts, are required to send
to the County Council."
The population is that of the rural portions of the County
exclusive of the Burghs, and the various statistics apply solely to
the rural portion. The population of the County is 52,866. There
have been 1487 births during the year, giving a percentage of
28.108 per thousand, and 872 deaths, equal to 16.494 per thousand.
I append a tabular statement of the sickness and mortality within
the County, embodying the information contained in the Reports
which as Medical Officer for the District I have already furnished to
the County Council.
In this Report, and also in my Reports to the several districts, I
have abstained from giving particulars regarding the water supply
and drainage of the various districts of the County, as this is
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required of the Sanitary Inspector by the Bye-Laws of the County,
and has been very fully reported on by him.
I have also abstained from giving any statistics, except those
belonging to the County, for the present year. Those who are
interested in previous Census returns and tables of mortality will
find them in the reports of the Registrar-General.
In conclusion, I would draw the attention of the County Council
to the desirability of having an office in the various districts, where
the Sanitary Inspector's books should be kept, and where he might
be seen by appointment at any time.
I have the honour to be,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your Most Obedient Servant,
A. McL. WEDDERBURN, M.D.,
County Medical Officer.
March, 1892. |
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[Table inserted]
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Density of Population, Birth Rate, Infantile, and other Death Rates.
[Table inserted] |
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Tabular Statement of Mortality from Influenza occurring in the several Districts of the County.
[Table inserted]
REPORT
BY THE
SANITARY INSPECTOR OF THE COUNTY
For the Year 1891.
To the Forfar County Council.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
In terms of No. 12 Byelaw, which enacts that
"the Sanitary Inspector shall annually prepare a Report for the
year," I beg herewith to submit my first Annual Report, for the year
ended 31st December, 1891:-
(a) "A general account of the sanitary condition of the
County, and the execution of the Public Health Acts
therein."
The sanitary condition of the County is in some respects fair,
while in others there is room for improvement. Some of the
villages are abundantly supplied with good water and provided with
efficient systems of Sewerage Works. In other villages, the provision
for water is neither sufficient in quantity nor quality. The same
villages are without any proper system of drains. In none of the
villages or rural parts is there a systematic mode of cleansing of
ashpits, conveniences, or such like. Consequently, they are often in
a filthy state, and detrimental to the health of the inhabitants.
In the rural parts of the County, no provision has been made for
drainage, except from the better-class houses, or houses of recent
construction; hence all slops or other foul water are usually either
deposited in ashpits or thrown into roadside ditches, and become
nuisances. Where drains exist, they either discharge into streams
or ditches, or cesspools, and the liquid overflowing therefrom
generally finds its way to streams. |
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The overflows from manure tanks and drains from cattle courts,
in some instances, are carried to roadside ditches and cause
nuisances.
In both the villages and the rural parts, conveniences, pigstyes,
and ashpits are often in close proximity to dwellinghouses, and even
in erecting new conveniences, &c., there is a tendency to keep them
close to dwellings - the occupiers objecting to have to go any distance
from the door.
At many of the schools, the conveniences are badly designed and
objectionably near the school buildings, and are not so frequently
cleansed as is desirable; in fact, the excrement in some cases is allowed
to accumulate for a year in pits adjoining the erections. Some of the
schools are deficient in ventilation.
In the rural portions of the County, the water for domestic use is
at great distances from the dwelling-houses in a number of cases, and
in others, where the water is near the dwellings, ashpits, piggeries,
and other sources of contamination are contiguous, which causes
suspicion as to the quality of the water; the same objection not
being applicable to the former. In addition to the distance and the
doubtful quality, there is an alleged deficiency at different places.
The purity of the rivers and other sources of water is a question of
interest to the County. Some of the streams and rivers are greatly
polluted by sewage, including sewage from villages outwith the
County, and refuse from bleachfields and manufactories. At two
villages settling tanks are constructed to receive the sewage, and the
overflows therefrom are allowed to discharge into the stream or river
without any effectual attempt being made to purify the sewage. In
other villages the sewage from any existing drains finds its way to
streams and rivers without the intervention of settling tanks. The
sewage from the village of Downfield is utilized for irrigating a field
of land in the vicinity, and this method, to my mind, proves a satis-
factory way for the disposal of sewage from inland villages. The sewage
from large houses in the County is sometimes allowed to enter
streams and rivers without passing through a cesspool, settling tank,
or filter of any description. Although cesspools or settling tanks
may intercept the grosser or more solid parts of the sewage, the
liquid portion remains deleterious and injurious to health.
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There are manufactories where privies are placed over the lade,
and the excrement drops directly into the water, and is carried into
the stream or river.
If the flow of the river is rapid and the bottom formed of rock or
boulders, the water will to a certain extent be clarified, but in a
slow flowing river, with a soft muddy bottom, the water will be
polluted according to the bulk of sewage and water. The water
from some of the streams and rivers is used for culinary and other
domestic purposes.
The washings and ley from the bleachfields are generally allowed
to enter the rivers without any attempt being made to lessen their
obnoxious feature, other than allowing it to pass through settling
tanks, which at most will only intercept the grosser parts.
The bothies, houses for the labouring classes, and even some
farm-houses, are not in such a condition of repair as is desirable, and
considerable improvements will have to be effected.
The bothies are a very mixed lot as to repair - some all that can
be desired, others bad, and a great number are kept in a filthy state.
It is held by some persons that it is the duty of the farmer that the
bothy be kept clean, while it is maintained by others that, if the
bothy is provided, it is for the occupiers to keep it clean and in a
healthy condition. Much can be said on both sides. Without
entering upon controversial points, it may be stated that no bothy
will be kept clean, however anxious and attentive a farmer may be,
except the occupiers aid in doing so. The better-class bothies having
a large living room, bedrooms for each occupier, pantry and coal_
house, or living rooms with one large bedroom, are little better as
regards cleanliness. In many instances the beds are removed from
the rooms intended for them and placed in the living rooms. The
property is often damaged by acts of carelessness. In one particular
case, it was observed, a first-class new bothy with living room and
single bedrooms had the floor considerably destroyed before it had
been occupied eighteen months.
The dwellinghouse for the labouring class is a question difficult of
solution. Most of the villages in the County have been built or
formed as seats of the hand-loom weaving industry. In fact, the |
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greater number of the houses have been specially built to contain a
space for a loom - the room and stance being considered a necessary
part of the house. It may be parenthetically stated that many of
the houses in the rural parts erected thirty years ago are provided
with a loom stance. Hand-loom weaving is now practically non-
existent, and a person may pass through what was a busy village
thirty years ago, and not hear what must have been the cheery click
of the shuttle. The work having left the villages, and there being
less demand for agricultural labourers, the workers have had to
remove to larger centres, where employment could be obtained -
hence, empty houses, reduced rents, general delapidation, and the
owners unable to keep what had been tidy cottages in a comfortable
and healthy state of repair.
In the rural parts considerable improvements have in recent years
been made on the cottages required for the use of farm labourers,
but much remains to be done. Generally, little attention is given to
repairing the houses occupied by those, who may be styled day-
labourers, except the houses are in the vicinity of quarries or public
works, and even at these places there are many exceptions. Since
the introduction of agricultural machinery there is less demand for
day-labourers, unless at special seasons. It is unfortunate that the
labourers have had to remove in such large numbers to towns.
There are many empty houses (976 in 1889), and those really let
yield such a small rent as to discourage any expenditure by the
owner.
It is to be feared that the proprietors will allow the occupiers to
remove elsewhere rather than incur expenditure for which there will
be no return.
As this Report only comprises the period of about one year, and
as it may be said the Public Health Act has practically been in force
only during that period, little can be said as to the execution of the
Act, but there is an evident desire on the part of the District Com-
mittees to enforce its provisions, and the authors of nuisances have
hitherto been willing to remove or abate them.
(b). "A Statement of any Sanitary Measures he may
consider advisable."
Several of the villages are without any proper system of sewerage
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works or an adequate supply of water.
The foul water and other offensive matters are generally disposed
of by being deposited in ashpits. The water supply in the villages,
other than those formed into special districts, is generally derived
from springs, streams, and sunk or shallow wells. In instances, ash-
pits, privies, and other sources of contamination are suspiciously
near to the wells.
The water supply in many parts of the rural districts is obtained
from similar sources, and is under the same suspicion as to quality.
It is desirable that the larger villages, such as Friockheim,
Newtyle, &c., be formed into special districts and a proper system of
sewerage works laid down where necessary; the same district to be a
special water district and an adequate supply of water provided for
domestic purposes.
In the rural districts the water supplies, besides being of doubtful
quality, are often at considerable distances from the houses - a fact
which does not tend to promote cleanliness. Wholesome water
should be provided, where practicable, to all inhabited houses within
a reasonable distance.
It is desirable that the Public Health Act should be amended to
the extent of authorizing the formation of special districts for cleans-
ing purposes. Villages will not be kept thoroughly clean without
the aid of scavengers.
Public conveniences should be erected in all villages of any
importance.
In regard to the cleansing of villages, the following quotations are
from practical suggestions issued by the Board of Supervision, and
are better than any recommendation of mine:-
"Removal of Contents of Ashpits and Privies. - In scattered
communities it is impracticable for the Local Authority to take
charge of such matters, and they must be left in great measure to
the inhabitants themselves. But in towns and villages all experience
tends to show that the removal of refuse and excreta, when left to
householders, is very inefficiently attended to. In localities where |
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the houses have no sufficient area of ground attached to them, the
Local Authority should arrange for the removal of domestic refuse
and the contents of ashpits. A week is the longest period that
refuse should be allowed to accumulate in the neighbourhood of
dwellings. Where large masses exist, the evolution of deleterious
gases takes place, and when the heaps are disturbed in the process
of removal, sickening odours are emitted. In towns where the
refuse has to be kept within the houses, removal should be effected
daily. The practice of contracting with farmers for the removal of
refuse is unsatisfactory, the work being frequently very inefficiently
and irregularly performed. Local Authorities should themselves
undertake the duty."
"Where water-closets are not in use the Local Authority ought
also to undertake the removal of the contents of privies and earth-
closets. A week is the longest period that excreta can remain in
the vicinity of dwellings without nuisance, unless it is mixed with
dry earth or other deodorant. Where an efficient system of sewerage
and water supply exists, and the houses are provided with water-
closets, the Local Authority may properly discourage the use of
privies by throwing on the householders the burden of cleansing
them and removing their contents. Public privies and water-closets
must in all cases be attended to by the Local Authority. In towns
where the water supply and sewerage system is complete, public
water-closets are frequently constructed on the trough system,
flushing being periodically effected by automatic means, or by the
servants of the Local Authority."
(c.) "A Summary of his Proceedings during the year,
and of the cases in which he has given advice or
taken action."
The most of the County has been generally inspected by myself,
and the Districts of Dundee, Forfar, and Arbroath by my Assistants,
the District of Brechin having been examined by the District
Inspector. Advice has been given on several occasions as to water
supplies and drainage, which has in all cases been accepted.
(d.) "An account of the Sanitary Condition of all premises
belonging to or under the control of the County Council,
and of the condition and efficiency of all Water
Supply and Drainage Works constructed under the
Public Health Acts within the County."
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The premises belonging to, or under the control of the County
Council are in a fair condition, unless a few police offices. These
are being gradually improved under the directions of the Joint
Committee of the County.
Drainage Works have been constructed under the Public Health
Acts in the villages of Monifieth, Downfield, Edzell, and Southmuir,
Kirriemuir. Those in the two first-named villages are efficient and
in good condition. In Edzell and Southmuir the sewers, so far as
can be seen, are in good condition, but in consequence of the absence
of manholes or inspecting shafts, a proper examination cannot be
made. No ventilators are provided, consequently there is great
danger of the sewer gas being forced into the dwelling houses. A
sufficient number of manholes, and lampholes, or inspection shafts
should be introduced, having perforated cast-iron covers, to act as
ventilators as well as admit of the examination of the sewers, as the
sewers may be silted up without it being known to those in charge.
The village of Ferryden has several short drains, side channels,
and other improvements made under the Public Health Acts. These
are in good condition.
The villages of Ferryden, Edzell, and Southmuir, Kirriemuir,
have been provided with a supply of water. The works are generally
in an efficient condition. The water was slightly deficient during the
early part of last summer in the two former villages, and owing
to local causes is occasionally scarce in Southmuir. The defects
are being gradually remedied.
The villages of Monifieth and Downfield were provided with
an abundant and wholesome supply of water under the Acts. These
villages are now included within the compulsory Water Supply
Area of Dundee, and the pipes and other works will in future
be under the care and management of the Dundee Water Com-
missioners.
(e.) "A Statement embodying the information contained in the
Reports which the Sanitary Inspectors of Districts or
parts of Districts are required to send to the County
Council." |
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I. - INSPECTIONS.
-- Number.
Total Inspections under Public Health Acts, -- 4662
II. - NUISANCES.
Nuisances dealt with, -- 473
Intimations to authors of Nuisances, -- 291
Nuisances abated by authors thereof, -- 229
Nuisances abated by Local Authority, -- 1
Scavengers, &c., employed by Local Authority, -- 1
III. - SLAUGHTER-HOUSES AND OFFENSIVE TRADES.
Inspections of Premises, -- 30
Applications for consent under Section 30, -- 1
Applications granted, -- -
Applications refused, -- -
IV. - COMMON LODGING-HOUSES.
On Register at 1st January, -- General Inspections
Registered during year, -- General Inspections
Inspections between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., -- General Inspections.
Inspections between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., -- General Inspections.
Intimations of Irregularities sent to Keepers, -- General Inspections.
Unregistered Premises dealt with, -- General Inspections.
V. - INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Cases ascertained, -- 91
Visits of Enquiry, &c., -- 115
Patients removed to Hospital, -- 4
Notices to School Boards and Teachers, -- 4
Houses or Premises disinfected, -- 38
Sets of Clothing, Bedding, &c., disinfected or destroyed, -- -
VI. - BURIALS.
Burials undertaken in terms of Section 43, -- 2
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VII. - DAIRIES, &c.
On Register at 1st January, -- 155
Registered during year, -- 53
Inspections, -- 187
Contraventions of Orders or Regulations dealt with, -- 4
VIII. - UNWHOLESOME FOOD.
Inspections under Section 26. -- General
Seizures of Unwholesome Food, -- -
IX. - SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
Special Drainage Districts at 1st January, -- 5
Formed during year, -- -
Special Water Supply Districts at 1st January, -- 3
Formed during year, -- -
X. - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Cases in which Local Authority have taken legal proceedings, -- 1
I have the honour to be,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
JOHN ANDERSON,
Assoc. Inst. M. C.E.,
County Santiary [Sanitary] Inspector.
MONTROSE, MARCH, 1892. |
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