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29
Small-Pox. A satisfactory feature of the infectious returns for the year
is the absence of small-pox from amongst them; since 1904 the district has
enjoyed a complete immunity from this disease. An epidemic of this dreadful
disease is overdue, and judging from the returns of the Vaccination Officer there
are many Edmonton children unprotected from infection and sure to die, if
attacked. There were no deaths from chicken pox.
Vaccination. The following table of vaccination returns has been
kindly supplied by Mr. Lowman, the Vaccination Officer.

In 1907 there were only 72 certificates granted to parents who alleged they had conscientious
objection to vaccination, but there were 573 this year. This large increase of
persons unprotected from smallpox will gratify no one but an anti-vaccinationist.
Scarlet Fever. 281 cases were notified, giving an attack rate of 4.03
per thousand. 351, 420 and 211 cases were notified in 1914-13-12. There were
8 deaths, giving a death-rate of 0.11 per thousand of the population. Besides, 3
cases were notified from the Edmonton Infirmary, who were not Edmonton
residents, but were treated in our Hospital. One case was doubly notified, and
1 case of infection was mixed with whooping cough.
There were also 20 Belgians notified.
Secondary cases numbered 37 out of 281.
There were 7 cases notified where subsequent observation did not confirm
the diagnosis ; they are not included in the above figures.
Return cases—See section on " Hospitals."
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup. I received notifications of
96 cases during the year, compared with T48, 131 and 136 in 1914-13-12, and
they represent an attack rate of 1.37 per thousand of the population. There
were 8 deaths, giving a death-rate of 0.11 per thousand of the population; the
same as scarlet fever.
There was 1 duplicate notification. 5 of the cases were secondary ones. 4
cases occurred amongst the Belgians.