HH62/1/CLACKM/13

Transcription

[Page] 12

factory state, and probably the best arrangement, if it could be carried
out, would be to have a Public Slaughter-house for the Burghs of Tilli-
coultry and Alva.

HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

This question is at present under consideration, and my advice has
been already given, that on the grounds of economy and good manage-
ment a Combination Hospital for the Burghs and County would best
meet these considerations.

VITAL STATISTICS OF THE PARISH.

Since 1st July to 31st December there were intimated 37 deaths,
and at the following ages:-

[table inserted]

Four deaths were due to zymotic diseases, four to influenza, three
to tubercular diseases, two to cancer, and five to respiratory diseases.
Other causes bringing up the total to 37.

LANDWARD DISTRICT.

The report so far as only referred to Burghs, which of course are
not under the administration of the County Council, and the remainder
will deal with that part of the County administered by the Council.
At the last Census the population within the new boundaries was
33,011, distributed between Burghs and Landward districts as follows:-

Burghal Population, ... ... ... ... 21,682
Landward Population, ... ... ... 11,329
Total, ... ... ... ... 33,011

[Page] 13

GENERAL SANITARY CONDITION OF DISTRICT.

I have already reported to the Council, at the request of the
Chairman of the Public Health Committee, on the Sanitary condition of
all the populous places in the district, and as these reports were printed
and circulated it is not necessary to enter into details regarding the
various places reported on. It would be evident from these reports that
in nearly all these places there were defective water supplies. Tullibody,
Menstrie, and Sauchie fairly well represent the general conditions prevailing
as to water supply, and there it is derived from shallow wells in close
and dangerous proximity to sources of pollution. It is no unusual thing
to find in these villages a well used for supplying water, and within a
few feet of it an ashpit, a pigstye, or a byre. At Menstrie there should
not be difficulty experienced in getting a good gravitation water supply,
and at Tullibody, after Gartmorn reservoir is extended, a branch from
Alloa main might possibly be obtained.

In these reports already referred to, the condition of the villages as
to drains and sewers was referred to, and in few is there sufficient pro-
visions for these. Clackmannan village may be specially mentioned, and
Duke Street, where the surface channels run into a cesspool at the foot
of the row of houses.

The question of cleansing and scavenging of these villages is a very
important and difficult one, and as the power of a Local Authority under
the present Public Health Act is limited, the burden of providing for
these must be thrown on the owners and occupiers of property, and ex-
perience shows that then this is not carried out as efficiently as it ought to be,
and accumulations of foul and offensive matters result in consequence.
Wherever people are congregated together, it is only by scrupulous
attention to cleanliness in the very general meaning of the term, that
their health can be preserved. The powers of a Local Authority, how-
ever, do not permit them to undertake uniformly the cleansing and
scavenging of villages, unless under the General Police Act, and under
these circumstances it will necessitate the constant and vigilant attention
of the Sanitary Inspector to see that owners and occupiers of houses
each perform their part in adopting the necessary means to prevent
undue accumulations of house refuse and other dangerous matters near
to dwelling houses.

The general condition of the houses of the working classes is fairly
good, although in some of the villages there are houses which will
require considerable alterations or additions before they will come up to
the standard of efficiency necessitated by the Act of 1891 dealing with
the housing of the working classes. Under this Act it is imperative that
the Medical Officer of Health report on all houses in the district which
are not in a sanitary condition, and unless they are made so, the Local
Authority may apply for a closing order, so that they cannot be occupied
until the necessary improvements have been effected.