[Report 1893] / Medical Officer of Health, Cumberland County Council.

  • Cumberland (England). County Council.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1893] / Medical Officer of Health, Cumberland County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/48 (page 33)
    ALSTON (RURAL) No. II or HIGH DISTRICT. Medical Officer of Health - - - E. W. Short. Area in acres 24,000. Population, census 1891, 1,675 ; estimated population to middle of 1893, 1,675. Birth rate 26.86. Death rate 17.91. Zymotic rate 0.59. Death rate from phthisis 1.78, and from respiratory diseases 2.38 per 1,000 of the population ; rate of deaths under one year to 1,000 births, 88.8. There were 30 deaths during the year. Of these, seven were caused directly by influenza, and the death rate from respiratory diseases is probably indirectly influenced by the same cause. The inlantile mortality shows a considerable reduction on the previous year. In Nenthead there were 21 deaths, in Garrigill only nine, the increase in the first-named place being due to the greater virulence of the influenza which prevailed there. Two mild cases of scarlet fever occurred at Nenthead. The source could not be traced. There was one death from puerperal fever there also. Towards the end of the year influenza appeared again. It is the fourth epidemic of this disease since 1890, and the most virulent. Hardly a house escaped. Both Nenthead and Garrigill Schools were closed in consequence. An epidemic of diarrhoea occurred during the summer, due to atmospheric influences. There were three deaths from phthisis, all lead miners, and all above 40. Sanitary Inspection.—Both Nenthead and Garrigill have been frequently inspected. Drains and privies have been visited, minor nuisances removed and neglected middens attended to. The greatest sanitary work of the year has been the laying down of new pipes to the Nenthead and Hillersdon Wells. The water supply to these wells is anything but satisfactory. Sometimes it is scanty, sometimes cut off by blocking of the pipes by roots of trees, and sometimes con- taminated by surface water. Sixty yards of cast iron piping has been laid from Dykeshead to the plantation at Whitehall: from the latter place to Hillersdon Wells, 3-inch sanitary pipes were used. Similar improvements have been made in connection with Nenthead Well.