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There were no duplicate notifications. Eleven of the cases were secondary
ones. One case occurred amongst the Belgians.
Besides, two cases were notified from the Edmonton Infirmary who were
not Edmonton residents, but were treated in our hospital.
Return Cases.—See section on "Hospitals."
There were six cases notified where subsequent observation did not
confirm the diagnosis; they are not included in the above figures.
During March the diphtheria was of a severe type, accompanied by a high
death rate. In September, an outbreak at Silver Street Infants' Department
had to be taken in hand by myself—in the absence of Dr. Rock on war
service. I paid two visits and twice examined the whole of the class affected,
about 57 boys and girls, and swabbed all suspicious noses and (or) throats;
of these, from the first visit, two were found to give positive results and two
from the second visit. The outbreak then ceased.
A little delay apparently occurred in notifying a case in September, and
much consideration was given by the Sanitary Committee for the next three
months to the conduct of the medical practitioner concerned.
Antitoxin in curative doses of 4,000 units and preventive doses of 1,000
units is supplied free to the practitioners any time during the day or night,
either from the Town Hall, or when this is closed, our fire-stations.
Enteric Fever.—Seventeen cases were notified, as against 8, 3, and 12
in 1913-12-11. This is equal to an attack rate of 0.24 per thousand of the
population. These cases occurred in 14 houses and 13 streets. One case
occurred in 13 houses; four cases occurred in one house. Sixteen cases were
removed to our hospital—an isolation percentage of 94.12. The one not
removed, an Edmonton resident, died in the Infirmary. There were four
deaths, giving a fatality of 23.52 per cent. of the cases notified, and a death-rate
of 0.06 per thousand of the population.
There were three secondary cases. There were no cases amongst the
Belgians.
Moreover, one patient was notified as, but found not to be, suffering from
enteric fever; it is therefore not included in the above figures.
Diet.—Careful enquiries were made into every case reported, except the
"foreigners," with a view to ascertaining the source of infection. Owing to
the fact that enteric fever is invariably conveyed by the mouth, and in most