HH62/2/SUTHER/39

Transcription

[Page] 38

If it were possible quickly to disillusionise some of our otherwise
wise enough men on this point, a stumbling block of some magnitude
would be displaced. Others will doubt our figures and say, notwith-
standing their accuracy, there is nothing wrong worse than elsewhere,
and whatever is is right, and has been, and shall be, evermore.
This species of laissez-faire is a great hindrance. In some districts
again not a few receive statements as to the preventability of disease with
disbelief, and allow it to work havoc largely unchecked, heaping up its
dead victims from all ages (especially among infants), whose deaths are
acquiesced in with a "pious resignation" which is only a species of
fatalism. A considerable proportion are convinced that scientific men
have done much in past history to remedy and prevent disease of
certain kinds which once were as rampant and destructive as our
worst disease now is; but there is the abundant desire to postpone
action to the indefinite future (forgetting the copy-book maxim,
"delays are dangerous"), and the firm belief exists that this may be
done with impunity. The lethargic say no to sanitary progress with
an emphasis which betokens a small sense of responsibility where it
is so much required; and there are others who, for pecuniary reasons,
obstruct progress. Their fear of expense is so powerful as to make
them decide not to spend money even though health and life are at
stake. The reasoning is weak and illogical, which leads to the con-
clusion that it does not pay to expend money on sanitary improve-
ments; for disease, and especially preventable disease, is very costly,
much more so, indeed, than its prevention would have been, both to
the friends of the family as well as to the State, which loses a unit of
productive force from a preventable cause. "A young person," says
a great economist, saved from death is more likely to contribute to
the creation of resources than another birth. It is a great loss of
food and labour to begin over again." Who shall count the cost
yearly expended even in our Highlands to do the necessary burial in
customary fashion of people who die of some diseases which could
possibly have been entirely prevented?
At all events, the expenditure of only a fractional amount of the
sum which is customarily spent after preventable death if judiciously
used in eradicating the conditions in our environment which gave
disease a footing or its propagation an encouragement, would be
attended with very great benefit to all concerned.
The diseases of tubercular origin, and those which have been found
by observation and experiment to depend on a specific virus for their
growth, are now looked on as being very largely preventable, and if
"preventable, why not prevented."
Money which is not employed for such a desirable purpose,
though it may seem saved, is only apparently saved, because much
more is used at later stages out of other sources to pay for doing less
valuable work, and which might not be required to be done at all, if
the causes of disease which we already know were hindered from pro-
ducing their effects at the earlier and preventable stages.

[Page] 39

And, moreover, if preventable disease originates or spreads in a
locality which is rising in favour as a health resort, as so many of
our villages are, their good name is destroyed for a long time, and
the stigma so frequently remains for an unreasonably longer time
than there is cause - much to the pecuniary loss of the general
inhabitants. Truly a good name in sanitation is of great value, and not
so easily regained if once it be lost. For interested motives, therefore,
if for no other, people should not grudge money for extending and
maintaining the health and good name of their district.
The necessary taxes for producing healthy conditions, and remov-
ing unhealthy ones, are well invested, and what the ratepayers
should be anxious about is not so much the amounts spent in this
way, but whether they get equivalent benefits for their money.
Indeed, privileges and conveniences, and the necessaries of modern
life are of more value than the money which procures them; and
the capital expended in the preserving or restoring of the conditions
necessary to the health of the people - whether native or imported -
should be looked on by the State, our County Councils, and pro-
prietors, as good investments and wisely spent money. For what
avails every other kind of social or personal benefit, if there is no
health to partake of them ?

A PRACTICAL PROGRAMME.
Finally, in obedience to the request that I should give an account
of the "measures which should be adopted for the improvement of the
sanitary state of the county," I beg to make the following recom-
mendations, which are only the practical application of the principles
enunciated in the foregoing part of this report, and which must
sooner or later be carried into effect if there is to be a radical remedy
of the insanitary state of this county:-
I. As a means of shelter, and for their powers in modifying a
climate - not to speak of their enhancing the value and natural
beauty of our village districts - trees and shrubs should be more
largely planted where required; and to this object recommendation
and encouragement should be given by those who have the power.
II. Water must be supplied of improved quality and amount, and
with every convenience for distribution either by water-districts or
private arrangement in the following places - Embo, Stoer, Durness,
Melness, Portskerray-and-MeIvich (combined). An improvement is
to be desired in Golspie (higher parts), Bonar, Lairg (part of), Scourie,
Skerray, Doll, and Loth (Railway Station), and an extension of
existing Brora supply to Dalchalm and Badnellan. The Helmsdale
supply needs better filtering at intake. Each case and place must
be considered as to its merits or necessities, and I would respect-
fully recommend a speedy attention to the requirements of the
above-mentioned places.