HH62/1/FIFE/39

Transcription

[page] 38

occupancy, and I trust that attempts will be made to put these in a
satisfactory state, without recourse being needed to the application of
the Housing of the Working Classes Act.
A synopsis of the general sanitary condition of the various villages
and hamlets in the District is appended to this Report, for convenience
of reference.

GENERAL AND SPECIAL ENQUIRIES MADE SINCE
APPOINTMENT.
The systematic inspection of the whole District I have considered
a most important duty, as without this it is quite impossible to ascertain
what are the conditions injurious to health; and, accordingly, I have
visited every village and hamlet within the District, and made careful
enquiry into their conditions of water supply, drainage, and house
accommodation. It would be out of place to give a full account of all
these visits, as they are recorded in my District Journal; and as the
reports given on water supply and drainage are founded on personal
visitations of the places referred to, they will sufficiently indicate the
extent of my general enquiries. As regards special enquiries, these have
been made in connection with infectious cases that have been notified,
where the circumstances indicated sanitary defects. At St David's a
case of enteric fever required special attention, from the fact that a
while ago there was a serious outbreak in this neighbourhood, attributed
to polluted drinking water. At Gowkhall, in Dunfermline parish, a
slight outbreak of enteric fever occurred, and enquiry made into the
circumstances showed that there was every indication of a polluted
water supply existing there, as well as want of drainage and accumula-
tions of offensive matters in near proximity to houses. The condition
of the water supply of Torryburn has been the subject of special
enquiries and very numerous visits, and apparently the question is as
near solution as ever.
To secure a suitable site for the proposed Isolation Hospital has
been the subject of special enquiries and frequent visits to various sites
in the vicinity of Dunfermline, and several have been found, which
appear to meet the requirements which I have indicated in my reports
on Hospital accommodation for the District. In special cases I have
visited dairies with the inspector; and with more time than I have had,
I shall devote further attention to these very important inspections.
Special attention has been given to the sanitary state of schools
and their environments, and this duty will receive more attention, when
better opportunity occurs, as the subject is of importance, not only
from the necessities of the case itself, but from the educational effect it
is hoped it may have in directing the attention of teachers and scholars
to hygiene as a subject for instruction.

GENERAL STATEMENT AS TO ADVICE, CERTIFICATES,
OFFENSIVE TRADES, SANITARY CONDITION OF
FACTORIES AND WORKSHOP.
The fact that I have not given any certificates will indicate that,
so far, sanitary administration in the District has been working

[page] 39

smoothly, and that no legal action has been necessary. Advice has
been given as to water supply in the District generally, the adoption
of the Notification of Infectious Diseases Act, on Hospital Accommo-
dation for the District, and on a proposed Hospital for H.M.S.
"Caledonia" at Queensferry, on regulations for common lodging-
houses, slaughter-houses, and for printed handbills pointing out the
meaning of "Nuisances" under the Public Health Act, and the
penalties which may be incurred by the authors of nuisances. No com-
plaints have been made to me regarding the sanitary condition of factories
or workshops, and hence no action has been taken.

INSPECTION OF BAKEHOUSES.
All bakehouses, as far as known to me, have been inspected by
me; and while no very defective conditions have been observed, the
general state of cleanliness is not of a very high order. In two cases,
there were very serious insanitary conditions, requiring interference,
arising from the too close proximity of a manure heap to the bakehouse
in one case, and in the other from very foul accumulations, also close
to the bakehouse. The first case was satisfactorily dealt with, and the
other is now being arranged, although the occupier of the bakehouse at
first declined to do anything to improve matters.
In order that occupiers of bakehouses may not plead ignorance as
to the Regulations in force, printed copies have been sent to them, show-
ing the powers Local Authorities have under the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1878, to enforce cleanliness, ventilation, and other sanitary con-
ditions of bakehouses. In my opinion, powers are required by Local
Authorities to make regulations, which would give reasonable guarantee
that the important article of diet, bread, was prepared and presented for
sale in a pure state. The premises of a baker should be registered, just
as anyone who sells milk must be registered.

SUPERVISION OF HOSPITALS.
There is no Hospital at present in Dunfermline District under the
District Committee, and my action in this respect has been confined
to reporting on the necessity of Hospital Accommodation. Two
separate reports have been submitted to the District Committee. In
the first report I dealt with the powers Local Authorities had, under
the Public Health Act, to provide hospitals, ambulances, and means
for disinfecting, and of the necessity that there was in the District for a
thoroughly equipped hospital, sufficient to treat any cases of infectious
disease that might occur in the District. The report also suggested
that, on the grounds of economy and good management, a Combination
Hospital for the District and Burghs should be constructed at some
central situation; and also dwelt generally with the various requirements
of a site for an hospital. It was also suggested that before a permanent
hospital could be erected a considerable time must elapse; and to pro-
vide for any emergency, a temporary hospital should be secured. It
was decided that a Doecker's Hospital should be procured; and the
necessary sanction of the Standing Joint Committee of the County