HH62/1/BANFF/9

Transcription

[Page] 8

According to Dr Buchannan (Medical Officer to the Local
Government Board), there has been a marked diminution in the
number of deaths from Phthisis in towns which have been
drained, and in which the ground has been rendered drier.
"Where the drying of the subsoil was considerable, the deaths
from Phthisis were reduced by a third, or even by half of what
they had previously been." In a recent work by Dr Thorne-
Thorne (Assistant Medical Officer to the Local Government
Board), on Diphtheria, he states "That dampness of site, and
aspect involving exposure to cold wet winds, and a surface soil
favourable to the retention of wetness and of organic refuse, tend
apparently to the fostering and fatality of Diphtheria." This
statement is based on the extensive evidence obtained in the
investigation of numerous outbreaks of Diphtheria by the officials
of the Local Government Board during the last 20 or 30 years.
During 1891, 47 deaths were registered in Banffshire as due
to Phthisis, 17 to other tubercular affections, 4 to Diphtheria,
and 5 to Typhoid Fever.
Since the adoption of the Infectious Disease (Notification)
Act in July last, 35 cases of Diphtheria and 40 cases of Typhoid
Fever have been notified.
Dampness of the dwelling may be due not only to a bad
site, but to faulty construction. The older cottages, in many
instances, in addition to being badly situated, have their walls
constructed of stones and clay - the roof being made of thatch,
with no provision for gathering and getting rid of the rain water,
which is allowed to soak into the walls or foundations. The
floors of such cottages are generally on a level with, sometimes
below, that of the surrounding ground, and formed of clay or
unevenly paved with stones. The only means of ventilation are
the door and the chimney, the Windows being small and often
fixtures.
In rural districts the above state of matters is bad; still any
evil effects may not be apparent owing to the inhabitants spend-
ing so much of their time in the open air, but in villages such
sites and modes of construction become positively hurtful and
dangerous. Especially is this the case where the houses are crowded
together and the site has been long occupied. Here we have the
surrounding ground usually saturated with filth, and possibly con-
taining germs of disease. At night, with the house door shut,
and a fire burning, a certain amount of fresh air may gain access
through the crevices of the building, but another amount of
vitiated air, very deleterious in quality, bearing not improbably
germs of disease, is extracted from the soil below the dwelling.
I would strongly advise that in future dry sites with proper
exposure be chosen for cottages - that the ground surface around
dwellings be sloped so as to allow of ready surface drainage -
that, if necessary, subsoil drains be introduced - that the floors

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be raised above the level of the ground and properly constructed,
and that all windows be made to open, their size being regulated
by the size of the rooms.
I need hardly say how important for health is the breathing
of pure unvitiated air at all times. That Phthisis, to which 47
deaths were attributed during the past year, depends, to a great
extent, not only on dampness of site, as mentioned above, but on
deficient cubic space and ventilation, has been proved. The
same remark applies to Respiratory diseases in general. In 1891,
72 deaths were registered in Banffshire as due to diseases of the
Respiratory System. In other words, including the deaths from
Phthisis, out of 511 deaths registered, 119 were due to diseases
of the lungs.
But not only may the air of the dwelling-house become
vitiated through a faulty site, want of ventilation, and deficient
cubic space, but the surrounding air is apt to become so, owing
to faulty disposal of refuse - its accumulation - the want of
drainage for slop water, and the near vicinity to the dwelling of
ill-kept pigstyes, byres, &c. This is, perhaps, most noticeable in
some of the inland villages.
In conclusion, I would beg to quote the following remarks
by the late Dr Parkes :-
"The diseases arising from faulty habitations are in a great
measure, perhaps entirely, the diseases of impure air. The site
may be at fault; and from a moist and malarious soil excess of
water and organic emanations may pass into the house. Or
ventilation may be imperfect, and the exhalations of a crowded
population may accumulate and putrefy; or the excretions may
be allowed to remain in or near the house; or a general unclean-
liness, from want of water, may cause a persistent contamination
of the air. And, on the contrary, these five conditions ensure
healthy habitations :-
"1. A site dry and not malarious, and an aspect which gives
light and cheerfulness.
"2. A pure supply, and proper removal of water, by means
of which perfect cleanliness of all parts of the house can
be insured.
"3. A system of immediate and perfect sewage removal,
which shall render it impossible that the air shall be
contaminated from excreta.
"4. A System of ventilation, which carries off all respiratory
impurities.
"5. A condition of house construction which shall insure
perfect dryness of the foundation, walls, and roof.
"In other words, perfect purity and cleanliness of the air
are the objects to be obtained. This is the fundamental and