HH62/1/HADDIN/23

Transcription

[Page] 22

PARISH OF PENCAITLAND.
One case of Typhoid Fever occurred at Red Row,
Pencaitland, and this was supposed to have been
caused by a bad Water Supply. At that time, the
Water for all purposes was obtained from the Tyne
below the inflow of the Ormiston Sewage, but now a
pump has been sunk near Red Row, which has
improved matters.
D. RITCHIE, M.D.
TRANENT, 23rd January 1892.

PARISH OF PRESTONPANS (Landward).
The Sanitary state of the Parish is in general
satisfactory, as is evidenced by a death-rate of 13 per
1000. The main requirement is a properly-equipped
Hospital for infectious cases. In connection with
this, there should be an ambulance waggon, and
appliances for the disinfection of clothes and bedding.
Special inquiries were made as to the Sanitary
condition of the Cuthill - the principal village in the
Parish (Landward). This has decidedly improved.
Dust-bin Refuse is now removed daily, instead of
bi-weekly as formerly. Special inquiry was made into
an outbreak of Scarlet Fever at Preston in September.
A certificate was granted in the case of the Preston
Nuisance, where a drain has been used as a Sewer.
The Prestonpans Hospital has been occasionally
visited. Both building and furnishings are unsuited
for their purpose.
Twelve cases of Scarlet Fever occurred during the
year. The parents of the children were directed to
isolate them as much as possible, and to keep them
and any other children in the house from School for
six weeks.
Fourteen Deaths were registered during the year.
Deducting one case, where a drowned body was
washed ashore, the death-rate has been under 13 per
1000 (12.753). In 1890, it was 18 per 1000. There
were 32 births registered - the birth-rate being 31.465
per 1000. In April 1891, the population of the Parish
(Landward) was 1017.

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Influenza prevailed to some extent in the Spring,
and again, much more extensively, in the months of
November and December. It caused one death,
through Pneumonia. One case of Typhoid Fever
occurred, and ended fatally. In all probability, the
disease was contracted beyond the bounds of East
Lothian.
WILLIAM C. McEWAN, M.B., C.M.

PARISH OF HUMBIE.
In the Spring months of 1891, the Parish was
visited by an epidemic of Hooping-Cough. There
were two deaths from the epidemic - one an infant,
and the other a child about four years old. The
Hooping-Cough appears to have been imported from
the County Town by a family affected visiting their
friends in the Parish.
During the summer, a complaint was made about
the dirty condition of a Well at Harestanes. I made
an inspection of, and instructed the complainer how
to clean, the well, and he cleaned it.
There was a fatal case of Erysipelas at Bught-
knowe Cottages in November. There was no apparent
cause, but I may remark that this case occurred while
an epidemic of Influenza was prevalent in the Parish.
The Cottages nearest the Farm Steading at Upper-
keith have been reconstructed, and the Pigsty,
formerly at the gable, is now removed to a suitable
distance.
At Pogbie House, in the last month of the year,
there was a fatal case of Typhoid Fever. Two cases
that occurred at the Cottages there a year ago con-
valesced favourably. These cases, as I reported last
year, were in my opinion due to the Water Supply
used. On this occasion perhaps the cause is not so
apparent, but from the Sanitary Inspector's Report,
and from my own observations, I have to note that
the metal pipe conducting the Water Supply of the
House from the spring to the cistern has been broken
in more than one place, and repaired only with field
drain pipes - the result being that Surface Water can