HH62/1/CAITHN/5

Transcription

[page] 4

famine on more than one occasion. I have also brought under
the notice of the Local Authority the insanitary state of the
small villages at Brubster and Spittal roadside. I have also
reported to the Watten School Board on the School premises
at Gersa, to the Reverend Mr Macpherson as to the condition
of the Church of Canisbay, and on complaint by the Reverend
Mr Falconer as to the Church at Dunnet. I also sent a note to
the tenant at Drumhead, Bower, as to the improvement of
premises there.

Zymotlc Diseases.
An epidemic of hooping-cough was very general over the
greater part of the County during the summer and autumn
months, but gradually declined towards the end of the year when
it almost ceased. It was very prevalent in the Olrig and Dunnet
districts, and the Durran School had to be closed owing to its
severity. Several sporadic cases of Scarlet Fever occurred in
different districts. At Castletown however in the month of
October it threatened to assume an epidemic form. The usual
measures as to isolation and disinfection were employed, and
instructions were given to the Clerk of the School Board to take
precautions for the protection of the School. The arrangements
were ably supervised by Dr Durran, and the disease did not
spread to any extent.
There were cases of Typhoid Fever in a house at West
Dunnet, and one death occurred. The infection was traced to
the hill of Stemster where Typhoid had been prevalent about
two years ago, and where one of the sons was engaged as a herd-
boy and had gone home labouring under the disease. Disinfec-
tion of the discharges, strict cleanliness, and isolation were
enjoined and the disease did not spread beyond the family.
There was also one case of Typhoid at Gersa School House, the
source of which could not be traced with certainty. I ascertained
that there were likewise one case at Castletown village, one case
at the farm of Murza, and two at Bruan.
About the middle of November influenza made its
appearance in the east district and here and there throughout
the County, it spread rapidly and during the latter half of
December the epidemic had become universal, but although the
cases were very numerous they were usually mild.
I was also informed that sporadic cases of Erysipelas had
occurred in different quarters, but the exact prevalence of
infectious diseases throughout the County cannot be accurately
ascertained nor their prevention supervised unless the Notification
Act be adopted.
I regret that I am unable in the meantime to forward the
Statistical Returns owing to the fact that several of the Registrars
have not yet sent me the necessary information.

I am,
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN ALEXANDER, M.D., D.P.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.

TOWN AND COUNTY HALL,
WICK, 30th Jan., 1892.

*TABLE OF BIRTHS AND MORTALITY FOR 1891.

The County contains about 448,000 acres; Population (exclusive of the Parliamentary Burgh of
Wick and the Police Burgh of Thurso) in 1881 - 27,720; Population in 1891 - 24,638.

[table inserted]

*Since writing the foregoing Report I have been favoured with Returns from all the Registrars
and have appended this table made up so far as the data would permit.