HH62/1/DUMFRI/25

Transcription

[Page] 24

suffering from typhoid. Though the milk was not obtained from
this animal, it is admitted that some contamination may have
reached the milk which was supplied. The chemical analysis of
the sample taken from the well showed that it was contaminated
by vegetable matter, but there was no evidence of pollution of
animal origin. Though it was not expected that any organism
likely to cause typhoid would be found, a bacteriological examina-
tion was made, with the result that, while a considerable number
of micro-organismal colonies were developed, they were none of
them of such a kind as would be likely to produce disease. On
reviewing these facts it seems to me that there is not sufficient
evidence to show that this outbreak originated from the dairy in
question. The pollution of the water supply is not sufficient, as it
was vegetable in character, and there was, so far as we could
ascertain, no case of illness, such as diarrhœa or typhoid, in its
vicinity. The most damaging fact is the taking of milk, though in
very small quantity, which, it is admitted, may have been exposed
to the risk of typhoid contamination. But even if so much be
admitted, it will not account for the cases which occurred before
the 13th December, nor for a case which we are informed was
diagnosed on the 16th. Further, the proportion attacked is some-
what small for a milk epidemic. If there were 110 customers, it is
a low estimate to say that there must have been at least 400
consumers. Of these only nine were attacked and these at long
intervals during the last three months of the year, in two of which
typhoid is known to be prevalent. It has also been stated to
us by persons in Moffat, whose word we have no reason to doubt,
that there have been several cases in the Burgh during the last
three or four years. These may have been imported cases, but,
looking to the insanitary conditions in the houses which we visited,
it seems to me that the outbreak is as likely to have been caused
by these as by any contamination of the milk from the dairy in
question.
The solitary case reported from the Langholm District
occurred in Eskdalemuir. So far as our investigations went, there
did not appear to be anything in the locality to account for it, and
as the patient had been a short time before resident in another
place, it is highly probable that the disease was imported.
The deaths were three - one in Thornhill, two in Dumfries.
The rates are below the average.

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Erysipelas occurred in all some 14 times. There were three
cases in each of the Thornhill and Lockerbie Districts and four in
each of Dumfries and Annan. None of them call for any comment.

Whooping-cough is not a notifiable disease, and I am unable
to say how far it may have been prevalent in the County Districts.
Judging from the mortality returns, it would seem to have been
most active in Canonbie, where seven deaths have been registered
as due to it. In other Districts the sum total of the deaths is
twelve. The mortality rate is somewhat above the mean for
1881-90. It is a disease which can only be dealt with by prompt
isolation of sufferers.

Towards the end of the year Influenza became epidemic in
various parts of the County. My attention was drawn to it
officially on the 8th November, when I visited the parish of
Tundergarth in consequence of a communication from the School
Board to the effect that the school attendance had diminished 50
per cent. because of colds and bronchitis among the children. The
letter went on to say - "There are no cases of scarlet fever or other
epidemic, yet there is great sickness in the parish among young
and old." With the experience gained in the epidemic of 1889-90
one had little difficulty in concluding that the illness from which
so many suffered was Influenza. The question of closing the
school was raised, but as the epidemic appeared to have reached its
maximum I did not feel justified in recommending such a course.
It was too late to permit of any benefit being gained, and in a very
few days the attendance began to improve and the illness to
diminish, so far as Tundergarth was concerned. In other parts of
the Lockerbie District cases of the malady had occurred before
the epidemic in this parish. Dr Bell informs me that he saw a case
on the 12th September. Dr Maclachlan thinks it became prevalent
about the 20th October, but states that he has had occasional cases
under his care ever since January, 1890. This would seem to
have been the experience in some of the other Districts of the
County, deaths having been registered as due to it in the months
of March, May, June, July, and September, 1891. In the Annan
District the epidemic appears to have commenced in Dalton, where
Dr Scott saw the first case on Oct. 29th. It was supposed to have
been introduced from Lockerbie. It did not become prevalent in
Ruthwell till the 15th December, and in Cummertrees not till a
fortnight later. Dr Murdoch, Annan, saw cases about the end of