HH62/1/FIFE/25

Transcription

[page] 24

Rathillet. - The hamlet is supplied with water from wells near to
houses. The school well is very close to the school closets, and is of a
very suspicious nature in consequence.
Springfield derives its water from shallow wells sunk in a porous
sandy soil, till rock is reached. These wells are close to houses, and
often at a lower level. In one case a well is at the side of a burn which
receives a considerable portion of the sewage of the village. The whole
circumstances of the water supply of Springfield are suspicious, and a
supply by gravitation is much needed. There are no drains, and nuis-
ances are very common.
Strathmiglo. - This village has already been reported on as to its
defective water supply, want of drainage, and defective scavenging. The
wells are in many cases within a few feet of dangerous pollutions, and
are not so constructed as to offer any resistance to the entry of these.
It is argued that there is abundance of good water in Strathmiglo, if
only the sources of pollution were removed sufficiently far away. I do
not think that anything short of removal of the wells, with the introduc-
tion of water by gravitation, will be sufficient. I have considered it
desirable to express my opinion on the general subject of water supply
from wells, in Dunfermline District Report, and the reasons why wells
surrounded by or near to houses are dangerous will be found there.
The waters from Strathmiglo wells were analysed some years ago,
and I append copies of the analyst's reports of James Brown's well (No.
1); G. Laing's (No. 2); Mrs Todd's (No. 3); well in Skene Street (No.
4); Bank well (No. 5); William Robertson's well (No. 6); Manse well
(No. 7.)

ANALYST'S REPORT - STRATHMIGLO WATER.

[table inserted]

The above analytical results demonstrate that the waters No. 1, 2,
3, and 7 contain a large amount of saline matter in solution, are
decidedly hard, and are grossly contaminated with the products of the
decomposition of putrescent organic matter of the nature of sewage or
animal manure. These waters should not be employed for any
domestic purposes; they are dangerous waters.
Nos. 4 and 5 are slightly contaminated, and are undesirable for
domestic supply.
No. 6 is also considerably contaminated; I would recommend that
this water be not employed for drinking or cooking purposes.

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It will be seen that not one of these waters was considered by the
analyst as above suspicion, and at this time the inhabitants of Strath-
miglo are using water for domestic use, which chemical analysis has
shown to be unfit for any dietetic purpose.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES MADE DURING
TENURE OF OFFICE.

The information regarding the general sanitary condition of the
District has been obtained by my own personal observation, and there-
fore is the result of general enquiries made since my appointment. A
subject of special enquiry was the sanitary condition of the salmon
bothies on the Tay in Cupar District, as there was reason to believe
that there was necessity for this. All these bothies were inspected,
and the result was to show that in nearly every case overcrowding
existed to a great extent, and nearly all were most insufficiently sup-
plied with water. The effects of overcrowding were found to be
aggravated from the fact that while the rooms in which the men were
house were used for cooking and sleeping in, they were also used for
storing nets, over-alls, and the various kinds of tackle needed by salmon
fishers. The result of this enquiry has been that arrangements were
commenced for providing water supply for these bothies, where this
was defective, and outhouses for the purposes of a store. Before these
bothies were again occupied they will be measured, and a fair allowance
of cubic space allowed for each person, and if this is encroached on,
any overcrowding will be dealt with, as provided under the Public
Health Act.
The sanitary arrangements of schools have been specially enquired
into, as far as opportunity has occurred. The duty is a most im-
portant one, and demands more attention than has been given to it.
In a school overcrowding to a large extent occurs, and the provisions
for heating and ventilation are not generally so arranged that the one
can be efficiently carried on without interfering with the other, and the
usual result is that ventilation is seriously interfered with. Under those
circumstances of overcrowding and defective ventilation the children's
health becomes deteriorated, and they in consequence are rendered
more susceptible to other injurious influences, such as an impure
water supply, defective drainage, or defective closet arrangements.
On making enquiries as to the water supply and closet arrange-
ments of schools, in many cases serious defects were found, and these
were pointed out to the various school boards, who were responsible.
The advice given was not in all cases well received, but I hope that
school boards and others in authority will consider that it is the duty
of the Public Health Department to enquire into all conditions which
affect the health of the community. School boards and teachers can do
a great deal to help the cause of sanitation in inculcating the doctrine
of cleanliness, as exemplified by school premises being in as sanitary a
state as possible, whereas any defect or laxity will have a prejudicial
effect on the minds of children, which will never be effaced.