HH62/1/AYR/59

Transcription

[Page] 58

which were notified since that date From the Table of deaths in
the district, which is complete for the year, we get a fair approxima-
tion of the various diseases which prevailed.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOTIFIED IN AYR DISTRICT DURING THE
LAST QUARTER OF YEAR.

[Table inserted]

As to the diseases notified in this district during the last quarter
of the year, it will be seen that scarlet fever was very prevalent, only
three parishes escaping - Dalrymple, Stair, and Ayr (landward).
The first cases notified of this epidemic were in the village of Muir-
kirk, where there had been a number of cases for some time previously,
although they only came to the knowledge of the Health Department
when the Notification Act came into force. The disease also appeared
almost simultaneously in Glenbuck, Auchinleck, and other places in
the district, being no doubt spread by human intercourse. As the
first cases did not come within our observation it was impossible to
trace the outbreak through its usually intricate stages to its origin,
and, moreover, when the cases were notified the disease was more or
less epidemic all over the county. The next disease, in numerical
order, which was notified was erysipelas. As to its origin, all that
need be stated is that we know it to be a disease due to a specific
microbe, and that the latter delights to inhabit foul drains and
sewers, and accumulations of decomposing animal organic matter, and
under certain conditions, as in badly ventilated houses, may attack

[Page] 59

human beings, usually through an abrasion of the skin or mucous
membranes. Enteric fever comes next with six cases. The two
cases appearing under Muirkirk parish occurred in the village of
Glenbuck, and were probably due to bad drainage, if not, to the water
supply. Two of the other cases in the district were probably caused
by contaminated water, while in one of the cases no probable cause
could be detected.
Respecting diphtheria, the only suspicious cause that could be
connected with the cases in Muirkirk village was the defective
condition of the house drains. In one case a drain from a cesspool
at the back of the house passed under the floor, and as there did not
appear to be any gradient of the drain towards the street in front, it
could not be properly flushed. The evidence in regard to the causa-
tion of some of the other cases was not so clear. There was of course
the usual privy-ashpit disposal of refuse, but these were in fair order.
The drainage may have had some relation to the case of puerperal
fever which was notified.
Prior to the adoption of the Notification Act in the district, two
cases of typhus came to my knowledge - one at Muirkirk in a lodg-
ing house, and the other in the parish of St Quivox. The case at
Muirkirk was that of a labourer who had been frequenting common
lodging-houses about a week previously. He was removed to Ayr
Hospital. The bed-clothes, &c. in the house were burned, and the
inmates of the house quarantined till the house was thoroughly
cleaned and disinfected. The case which occurred in St Quivox
parish was supposed to have caught the infection in Ireland. This
case proved fatal in a few days. In neither of these cases did the
infection spread. The history which the Burgh of Ayr furnishes of
typhus fever during the year is an unusually serious one, resulting in
about six deaths, including the Medical Officer of Health and one of
the Hospital nursing staff.

VITAL STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR.

Birth-rate. - The birth-rate (35.2) is the highest of any of the
districts of the county. The average for the four districts is 33.5
per 1000. It will be noticed in Table II. that the parishes of New
Cumnock, Muirkirk, Auchinleck, and Dalmellington show the highest
rate, while the smaller parishes have the lowest.
Total Death-rate. - The deaths from all causes (19.5) is the
highest of the four districts except that of Kilmarnock. It may be
stated that for a district such as this the death-rate should not ex-
ceed 17 per 1000. It seems, however, that here like other places
influenza has been a factor in the somewhat high mortality which
prevailed all over the country. It appears that New Cumnock has
not only the highest birth-rate, but also the highest death-rate.
Infantile Death-rate. - In a healthy rural district, 100 deaths of
children under one year of age per 1000 registered births may be
considered a fair standard. In this district the figures are 122. We
may note that density of population is generally detrimental to the