HH62/1/ARGYLL/11

Transcription

[Page] 10

In many districts it might be difficult, if not impossible,
to enforce strictly the statutes bearing on insanitary dwellings.
It has occurred to me that a good deal might be done in a
variety of ways. Proprietors, I am told, in many cases are
ready to provide wood and lime on condition that the
occupiers do the necessary labour for the improvement of
such crofters' or cottars' houses as may be found in an in-
sanitary condition on their estates. It might be desirable to
devote part of the Local Taxation grant towards the improve-
ment of the dwellings of paupers, or towards the relief of
local rates, in so far as such rates might be affected by the
improvement of pauper's houses. In some cases it might be
necessary to apply to Government for further help for the im-
provement of the dwellings of the poor. Such a petition
coming from the County Council would have great weight.
The present insanitary condition of the houses of the labour-
ing classes in the County is a most important question, and
deserves the serious consideration of the Council, as well as
the District Committees.

IV. With regard to the Hospital provision at present in
the County, and to the action taken to prevent the outbreak
and spread of infectious disease, I beg to state that there is a
hospital for the isolation of infectious disease within the burgh
of Oban. It is situated within the Poorhouse grounds, and
consists of a kitchen, three nurses' rooms, and four wards.
There is accommodation for from twelve to fourteen patients
according to ages. The kitchen is too small. Hitherto the
food was cooked in the Poorhouse. The laundry is defective;
there is no disinfecting chamber attached to the hospital;
there is no ambulance for the conveyance of patients to it;
the baths are not provided with hot water. It is not in my
opinion sufficiently isolated from the Poorhouse.

A small cottage in Tarbert, consisting of a kitchen and
two rooms has been used for isolating infectious diseases in
the neighbouring parts of the Districts of Mid-Argyll and
Kintyre. One room is 18 1/2 ft. by 14 1/2 ft. by 9 ft., and one
room is 12 ft. by 10 ft. by 9 ft. This cottage would accom-
modate two or three cases. Two infectious diseases could
not with safety be isolated in this cottage at the same time.
There is no ambulance nor disinfecting chamber in connection
with this cottage. It is in my opinion too small, not suffici-
ently equipped, and not well situated for the requirements of
the district.

Near Bowmore, in Islay, there is another cottage, con-
sisting of a kitchen, nurses' room, and two rooms for patients.
One room is 12 ft. 9 in., by 14 ft. 8 in., by 10 ft.; and
the other is 11 ft. 3 in., by 14 ft. 8 in., by 10 ft. The wards

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here also are not sufficiently far apart for the isolation of two
infectious diseases at the same time. It is not well situated,
being close to the public road; it has no water supply; there
is no disinfecting chamber; nor an ambulance for the con-
veyance of patients to it.

As far as I know, only three cases of scarlet fever were
treated during the year in the Tarbert cottage; and two
cases of erysipelas, and one of influenza were treated in the
hospital at Oban.

In the absence of hospital provision, ambulances to con-
vey patients to the hospitals, and nurses to attend on them,
it was impossible in some places to prevent disease from
spreading during the past year.

Owing to the small ill-constructed houses in which a
large proportion of the population dwell, it was impossible in
many cases to isolate the infected person from the rest of the
inmates, with the result that in many cases all susceptible
persons suffered from the disease. Every care was taken to
isolate the infected household from the rest of the community.

Whenever a case of infectious disease was reported to
me I made the necessary enquiries, or asked the local
Medical Officer to act for me, and directed the chief Sanitary
Inspector to take immediate action in order to prevent the
spread of the disease. Leaflets with printed instructions
were sent by him to the local Sanitary Inspector to be de
livered and explained to the house-holder. These leaflets-
give directions as to the measures which should be taken to
prevent the disease from spreading among other members of
the family. Other printed instructions were sent to the local
Sanitary Inspector giving particulars of the action that should
be taken by him in each case. When the disease terminated,
and the case was declared recovered by the local Medical
Officer, or the medical practitioner in attendance, the house
was disinfected according to the instructions by the local
Inspector, and a report to that effect sent by him to the chief
Sanitary Inspector.

I beg to point out the want of medical attendance in
many parts of the County. There is no medical man resident
in Craignish, Kilninver, or Kilmelfort. The nearest doctor
to these places lives on the one side at Ballymeanoch, near
Lochgilphead; on the other in Oban or in Easdale. The
parochial Medical Officer for Kilmodan, I understand lives in
Rothesay; for Gigha, in Tarbert; and for Colonsay, in the
Island of Jura. There is no Medical practitioner within
twenty miles of a large population in Western Ardnamurchan.
Many in these places die without medical attendance, and the