HH62/2/SELKIR/11

Transcription

[page] 10

The inspector next gives the patient's nurse a printed set
of rules for her guidance in the use of disinfectants, and
explains them, and, if necessary, supplies a bottle of carbolic
acid gratis. He makes several calls to see whether his direc-
tions are being carried out, and when the medical attendant
is satisfied that recovery is complete, he disinfects the sick-
room by means of burning sulphur, in the ordinary manner,
and, by having clothes boiled, and furniture, etc., washed with
a strong solution of carbolic acid, and mattresses burned, he
does that he can to render the house safe.
This process, however, is not very satisfactory, and dis-
infection can never be thoroughly carried out until we have
a suitable disinfecting apparatus. The cheaper varieties are
not very trustworthy, but possibly the County Council could
obtain the use of a really efficient machine by entering into
an arrangement with one of the neighboring burghs, and at
a moderate cost.
The necessity for hospital accommodation is perhaps a matter
for discussion, but there cannot be two opinions as to the
need of such an apparatus as I have referred to.
During the last five months of the year there were 13 cases
of infectious disease, 12 of enteric fever and 1 of scarlet fever.
In July four cases of enteric fever occurred at Philiphaugh,
and one case in November. The cause of the first four cases
was probably the defective condition of the house drain.
Rats had made a large hole in the sink waste pipe, and the drain
below being unventilated, a serious escape of sewer gas must
have existed for some time. New drains were laid and the
waste pipes disconnected, and disease should not again come
from the same cause.
A case near Selkirk and another near Ashkirk were in
houses of which the drains were in an unsatisfactory con-
dition. In other three cases of enteric fever and in the case
of scarlet fever, there was reason to think that the disease
was contracted elsewhere or that the infection was brought
from a neighbouring town. It is satisfactory to be able to
add that all the patients recovered.

[page] 11

Factory and Workshop Act.
No action was taken under the above Act, there being no
bakehouses in the county.

Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act.
There are a considerable number of dairies in the county,
and as soon as byelaws, now under consideration, are in
force, a number of cases must be dealt with. Many byres
are undrained and dirty, and some of the dairymen have
no suitable place in which to put the milk previous to sale
It is almost unnecessary to point out, as the fact must be known
to every one, that persons consuming fouled milk are not
unlikely to contract an infectious disease. More than a
hundred epidemics have been traced to the use of contami-
nated milk.

Food and Drugs Act.
This Act is administered by Inspector Nicole, of the County
Police. I am informed that during the year eight samples
were analysed, and that they were all found to be unadul-
terated.

Rivers Pollution Act.
No action has been taken by the County Council under
this Act.

General Sanitation.
It is perhaps rather soon to commence writing on the
general sanitation of the county. The impression I have
formed in the short time I have been at work, is that the
county is a fairly healthy one, and the inhabitants may con-
gratulate themselves on the fact that no radical changes are
necessary to render it one of the healthiest districts in
Scotland.
In two directions, however, some improvement may easily
be effected. The important subject of a pure water supply
requires attention, and in the ensuing summer I hope to have