HH62/1/INVERN/25

Transcription

[page] 24

matters are even worse now, I believe, than in 1889 - besides
being a nuisance under Section 16 of Public Health Act. For the
sake of decency this scandal ought to be dealt with, and a new
burial ground opened with as little delay as possible. Other
burial grounds in the parish are also overcrowded, particularly
the church-yard at Scarrista, and the Cathedral burial ground at
Rodel. I would suggest that two new burial grounds should be
provided when Luskentyre is closed - one, say, at Shillibost or
Nisibost, on the Borve side of the Luskentyre Sands, and another
in the neighbourhood of Tarbert for North Harris."
I was much struck with the very great hardships that the
people who live in the townships along the east coast of Harris
are subjected to owing to the want of roads, and I asked Dr
Stewart, who is only too well aware of the difficulties and dangers,
to state his views. He writes of the townships on the east coast
of the South Harris estate from Tarbert to Rodel. "Some of these
townships are five and six miles distant from the main road,
and the people undergo great hardships and injury to health,
particularly in winter, in having to walk that distance over
wet and boggy moors. I am confident that this is a chief
cause of the many chest affections from which the people suffer,
and especially colds and more serious diseases from which school
children suffer. Apart from the injustice of assessing the crofters
of these townships for road rates, they suffer far more through
sickness. As an instance of the beneficial effect of roads on
public health, I would draw attention to the Island of Scalpay.
I know from personal experience that some years ago this town-
ship was the most unhealthy in the whole parish, whereas from
the date of which roads were opened through the Island there
has not been one-third the amount of sickness (though this town-
ship is the most congested one in Harris), for now they can walk
to their homes from one end of the Island to another dry-shod."
The mortality in the registration district of North Harris has
been three times heavier that the average of the last fourteen
years. Dr Stewart states that the District Committee have
taken no steps to improve the sanitation of the townships.
He says this is a matter that must be faced at an early date.
"Many of the townships use water for culinary purposes which,
without doubt, is greatly contaminated. The houses and their
surroundings are in a most insanitary condition, but the first and
the foremost step for the District Committee to take is to compel
the people to provide byres for their cattle, instead of having them
sheltered as at present in their dwelling-houses." I consider that
from a public health point of view the Harris District is the
most important in the county. The state of matters found
in the Bays of South Harris must be remedied. I have on
several occasions during last year visited the district and
made careful enquiries, and as a result of information received
I am satisfied that the District Committee cannot solve the
difficulties unless they receive external aid. The people are

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extremely industrious; they try to eke out a scanty subsistence
by weaving Harris tweeds; but now, as many so called Harris
tweeds are made outside Harris, prices have fallen, and this
industry is languishing. I would desire most strongly to draw the
attention of the County Council to the very serious state of matters
existing in South Harris.
The remote island of St Kilda is an interesting portion
of this district. Population according to 1891 census was
71 - 32 males and 39 females. This is exactly the same as
it was in year 1871. The most striking feature of the death
returns of this island is the great mortality among infants.
From year 1882 to 1891 inclusive there were 28 deaths; of these
15 were of infants under 15 days of age, and of these 15, 12 were
due to lockjaw.

TECHNCAL EDUCATION.
I may be permitted to refer to this subject, although, per-
haps, it will be thought to be outside my province. Still, when
it is considered how intimately health and prosperity are associ-
ated one with the other, it may not be considered out of place for
your Officer of Health to refer to a matter which, if judiciously
carried out, will greatly increase the prosperity of the County. I
observe that it is proposed to distribute the money set apart for
this purpose among school teachers and school children. While
there are undoubtedly within the county many teachers capable
of giving able lectures on the most difficult technical subjects, I
question much if the benefit to be derived by children from such
courses of instruction will be either great or lasting. I venture
to suggest that much greater benefit would accrue to this
County if the County Council, instead of handing the money
over to School Boards, would appoint special teachers who would
devote their whole time to these special subjects, and give,
say, six weeks' courses of instruction in the various centres of the
County, not only to school children, but also to all members of the
community who might desire to benefit by this instruction.
Dyspepsia is one of the most common ailments in the Highlands.
The cause of its prevalence is well known. Bad cooking and
errors of diet are the great factors in the production of this
disease. It causes much misery and unhappiness, making
the unfortunate victims a terror to themselves and to all
about them. If a teacher of cookery was appointed by the
County Council to give practical instruction on this subject,
I consider that the result would be most beneficial to the com-
munity. If funds permitted, another teacher might be ap-
pointed to teach dairy and laundry work. I find that it is
stated in census returns for 1881 that there were at that time
in the County of Inverness 2470 female domestic servants, and
1605 female farm servants. To such the instruction I suggest
would be of much benefit, and through them to the rest of com-