HH62/1/KIRKCU/47

Transcription

[Page] 46

ailments that may not be directly active causes of death, but are
unquestionably active in reducing the value of life - in debasing, as it
were, the life-currency. Such are chronic tonsillitis, laryngitis, diarrhœa,
dyspepsia, which all find in damp soils a most potent, fostering
condition.
It is at once obvious that, so far as this cause of premature decay
is concerned, the remedy lies in systematic sanitation, in the super-
seding of inadequate by more adequate, in modifying as far as possible
all existing structural defects, in teaching men how best to compromise
with what is unavoidable.
(b.) Origin. - There is nothing in these tables to throw light on
the origin of the diseases concerned.
(c.) Distribution. - Here again the facts are too few to be of much
value by themselves. No one place shows a great preponderance of any
one disease. Thus of 23 deaths in Gatehouse, 2 were from infectious
disease; 2 from respiratory diseases; 3 from heart disease; and 1 from
phthisis. Kirkmabreck parish, which includes Creetown, shows the
same nonpreponderance of any one cause of death. In Minnigaff
parish, 30 deaths occurred; of these 11 were in Creebridge and 12 in
the hamlet of Blackcraig. There needs no other fact to demonstrate
that, from whatever cause, Blackcraig is the most unhealthy spot in
the Western District. The hamlet is inhabited by the poorer classes;
the houses are very defective, and the situation is very exposed. At
an early date I propose to overhaul the whole place in detail.

TABLE I. - COUNTY OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT.
TABULAR STATEMENT of SICKNESS and MORTALITY referred to in the Regulations issued by the Board of Supervision
for Medical Officers of Districts of Counties.
Births and Deaths occurring in the Districts during the Year 1891.

[Table inserted]

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CorrieBuidhe- Moderator, valrsl- Moderator