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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Edmonton.
March 31st, 1905.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Edmonton Urban District Council.
Gentlemen,
In accordance with my statutory duty I have the honour to
present my second Annual Report on the health and sanitary
circumstances of Edmonton.
As judged by the death rate, the general health of the district may
be considered satisfactory, and had it not been for the large number
of deaths amongst young children, due to an exceptionally severe
epidemic of summer diarrhoea that occurred during the 3rd quarter
of the year, our mortality figure, so lessened, would have indicated
circumstances of a much more favourable nature. As it is, our
death rate is below that of London and the country generally, and
it compares favourably with most of the metropolitan boroughs
whose social conditions are comparable with ours.
The question of the excessive mortality amongst young children,
is dealt with in a special report on the epidemic above alluded to,
which will be found appended.
The hospital schemes which are now under your consideration,
and embrace the provision of permanent and increased accommodation
for the ordinary infectious diseases, for small-pox, and, to
some extent, for phthisis, will when carried through, place this
district in a much improved position for dealing with these diseases.
In view of the growing importance of Edmonton, from a sanitary
standpoint, the Council have decided that the Medical Officer of
Health shall in future be required to devote his whole time to
public health work and to the duties of his office. The new arrangement
is one that cannot fail to greatly facilitate the sanitary
administration of the district.
In conclusion I wish to express to the Sanitary Committee and to
the Council my appreciation of the support they have always
accorded to public health work. I wish also to thank Mr. Butland
and the staff of my department for the whole-hearted assistance
they have on all occasions given me.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
A. W. J. MacFADDEN,
Medical Officer of Health.