Medical Officer of Health reports, 1891 - Nairnshire

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HH62/2/NAIRN/1 21 NAIRN, January 29th 1892. To the COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF NAIRN. GENTLEMEN, In conformity with the Regulations of the Board of Supervision, dated May 1st 1890, issued in virtue of the Authority conferred by Sect. 53. (1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, I herewith beg to present to you my Report for 1891, drawn up on the lines laid down in Sect. I. of those Regulations. I have the honour to be GENTLEMEN, Your obedient Servant, JAMES A. CAMERON, Medical Officer of Health.
HH62/2/NAIRN/3 NAIRNSHIRE. Report by Medical Officer of Health. Population at last Census - April 1891, -- 5070 Population estimated to middle of 1891, -- 5066 Area in Acres, -- about 114,000 Population. - During the last decade the population has decreased, especially in the upper part of the district. The alterations, which have been recently made on the County and Parish Boundaries have made it difficult for me to ascertain the exact area, and in the case of Croy Parish, the population, owing to the boundary having been again altered. [table inserted] 1. GENERAL SANITARY STATE. The general sanitary state of a district depends on several conditions. The Geology, Meteorology, and Physical Con- formation have all a certain effect, but what we have principally to deal with are, what one might term, artificial conditions arising from the density of the population and their occupations - the diseases most commonly met with,
HH62/2/NAIRN/5 [page] 4 and how far their incidence may be obviated by hygienic measures in connection with improved house accommodation, water supply, drainage, &c. Generally speaking the sanitary condition of this District should be good. The soil as a rule is light and porous. The rainfall is small. The population is sparse and employed principally in agriculture. Only one Village, Auldearn, (Population 364), and two or three smaller hamlets exist in the County. The character of the house accommodation has been improved of late years, though a good deal yet remains to be done, especially as regards improved sanitary surroundings for the §dwellings. The sanitary state of a District is usually judged of indirectly by its vital statistics - the Birth and Death Rates - and directly by personal observation and investigation. For the former purpose the Annual Returns of the Registrar- General furnish certain data, and for last year I have received Returns from the District Registrars, but such data are in themselves insufficient, because there may be a great deal of sickness and few deaths. The Infectious Disease (Notification) Act 1889, which was adopted in the County last May, and came into force on the 1st of July gives information as to the existence of Zymotic Disease, and through its operation further light is thrown on the sanitary state of a District. We know that certain of those diseases are more prone to occur where insanitary conditions exist, and that all of them spread more rapidly under similar conditions. Judged by the Death Rate alone (17.37 per 1000) the condition of the District, taking its natural advantages into consideration, is not what it might be. The Death Rate for one year, however, is not a fair test, and it is necessary to [page] 5 have observations over a series of years. I have compared the Birth and Death Rates for 1891, with the average rate for the previous five years in the following table. [table inserted] From this table it will be seen that the Death Rate for 1891 is above the mean of the previous five years. Another point to be taken into consideration is the decrease of population above referred to. There is reason to believe that is has been principally due to the migration from the country of young adults, leaving a population mainly com- posed of persons at the two extremes of life, amongst whom the Death Rate is naturally much higher than at middle life. Of the 88 deaths registered during 1891, 43 (almost 50%) were those of persons aged 60 years and upwards. The Birth Rate is low, viz. 22.5 per 1000, which may help to confirm the idea above expressed as to the age constitution of the population. (It is below the mean of the last five years.) This point will be cleared up when the complete returns of the last census are issued. Judged from the incidence of Zymotic Disease, and especially from the absence of those diseases more commonly associated with insanitary surroundings, the sanitary state of the District is good. Owing to the Sanitary Inspector having only entered on his duties in the end of November, any systematic enquiry
HH62/2/NAIRN/7 [page] 6 into the water supply, drainage, and sanitary surroundings of insolated dwellings has not taken place. The villages of Auldearn, Cawdor, and Ferness, are well supplied with water. Some nuisances, from the position of ashpits and pig styes, the manner in which they are kept, and the want of drainage, exist in the first named village. 2. - GENERAL AND SPECIAL INQUIRIES. I have visited and examined into the state of the villages and the district generally. The only matter to which my attention was specially directed was a nuisance arising from stagnant water in the village of Auldearn owing to want of drainage. The matter is presently under consideration by the County Surveyor, and will shortly, I hope, be put to rights. 3. - ADVICE, CERTIFICATES, OFFENSIVE TRADES, &c. My advice has not been sought upon any particular point, except with regard to Hospital Accommodation for Infectious Diseases, neither have I had to grant any certificates. There are no offensive trades carried on within the district. 4. - INSPECTION OF BAKEHOUSES. There are two bakehouses situated within the district, both of which I have visited and found to be well kept and suitable for that purpose - the owners thereof complying with the regulations as to limewashing, &c. 5. - HOSPITALS. The Local Authority possess no hospital of their own for the reception of Infectious Diseases. Such cases have hitherto [page] 7 been treated in the Nairn Town and County Hospital, which was built some 45 years ago, principally, I believe, for the reception and treatment of such cases, though it has been largely used as a General Hospital. Two or three years ago a wing was added specially for the reception of cases of infectious disease. The Local Authority of the Burgh recently approached the District Council to know if they would unite with them in contributing to the furnishing of this new wing, and negotiations are now pending between the Local Authori- ties of the Burgh and County and the Directors of the Hospital. In my opinion, the present site is somewhat confined. The enclosing wall (in close proximity on one side) and the trees which surround the enclosure tend to prevent that free circulation of air, and access of light so necessary for such buildings. The building itself is low. It contains two wards. Each ward was intended for the reception of four patients, but that would only allow of between 600 and 700 cubic feet of air space per bed. I suggested that never more than two patients be admitted to each ward. The access to the second ward is inconvenient. This ward has no means of cross ventilation, and the opening of an additional window for this purpose would be an advantage. The nurse's room is situated at one end of the building. Should the negotiations between the Hospital Directors and the Local Authorities be carried to an amicable conclusion, the accommodation thus placed at their disposal, will, I fear, be insufficient except as a temporary arrangement. 6. - INFECTIOUS DISEASE. Since the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act came in force in the district on the 1st July last, only nine cases of Infectious Disease have been notified, viz:- One case of Mem-
HH62/2/NAIRN/9 [page] 8 branous Croup in Croy Parish, and eight cases of Scarlatina - 2 in Auldearn Parish, and six in Nairn (Landward.) On inquiry I found that these 8 cases affecting 4 familes were traceable to infection contracted at school in the Burgh of Nairn, where some cases had shortly before occurred. COUNTY OF NAIRN. - NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE. JULY 1ST, TO DECEMBER 31ST, 1891. [table inserted] The Local Authority of the Burgh are, I am glad to hear, about to adopt the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act. From the Registrars' Returns I learn that Whooping Cough has existed in the Parishes of Auldearn and Cawdor causing two deaths - one in each parish. These are the only two deaths due to the zymotic class of disease which have been registered in the county during 1891 (= .394 per 1000 of population.) One death was registered in Cawdor as due to Erysipelas, and one in Croy as caused by Influenza. [page] 9 7. - CAUSES, ORIGIN, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DISEASE. The tabular statement annexed hereto shows the distribution of the various diseases, which have proved fatal according to parishes, and the age at death. As to the cause and origin of those diseases I don't feel myself in a position to speak, but I would beg to draw attention to the number of uncertified deaths, which have been registered - 22 out of a total of 88 or 25%. I can't close this paragraph without thanking the Registrars for the courtesy and kindness they have shown to me in furnishing the Returns which have enabled me to compile the annexed table and in giving me whatever information they could. 8. - The tabular statement of sickness and mortality, as required by the Board of Supervision, is enclosed on the form furnished to me. I regret that the information in my possession does not enable me to fill up the columns for acre- age, and density of population as accurately as I would have liked - indeed it is only an approximation, but I trust to be able to do so correctly on a future occasion.
HH62/2/NAIRN/11 COUNTY OF NAIRN. I. - BIRTHS AND DEATHS OCCURRING IN THE COUNTY OF NAIRN DURING THE YEAR 1891. [table inserted] II. - DENSITY OF POPULATION, BIRTH RATE, INFANTILE, AND OTHER DEATH RATES. [table inserted]