View report page

8
"Give me leave
To speak my mind, and I will through and through
Cleanse the foul body of th' infected world,
If they will patiently receive my medicine."
" As you Like it "—Shakespeare.
To the Chairman and Members of the
EDMONTON URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
Gentlemen—
I herewith present you with my tenth Annual Report on the health and
sanitary circumstances of Edmonton. It refers to the year 1915.
The well-known "economy" circular of the Local Government Board,
dated 4th August, 1915, has deeply impressed the minds of councillors in many
places; its tenets have been received and adopted to an extent never contemplated
(I venture to think) by the Board.
The instructions of the Board, which (as usual) reached every M.O.H. in
December, were not framed in a pamphlet but indited on one page of foolscap.
This was a practical example of the desire that my report should be shortened
this time as much as possible. This wish, as you will see, I have endeavoured
to carry out, and I believe it coincides with your wish too. This report is
therefore confined mainly to a hare "record of what has taken place during the
year 1915," though it may lose thereby much of its comparative value with the
reports of past and future years.
Besides, the depletion of my staff owing to the great war, which since
August 4th, 1914, has increased both in intensity and area, would have
rendered it impossible to prepare an annual report on the usual lines, as my
department, as now constituted, is not equal to dealing adequately with the
current duties, much less to entering up fully the records of work done.
The Home Office, too, did not issue their usual forms, "or propose to
tabulate the usual statistics dealing with your Medical Officer's work under the
Factory and Workshops Acts."
In the article on "Measles" I refer to the necessity of your Medical
Officer having a motor-car at his disposal, in order that he may make better
use of his valuable time, and especially to enable him to take a more active
part in visiting tubercular persons at their homes, and cases of measles who
are not under the care of a medical man. This is a matter of great importance
now, when there are so few left to cope with the work of my Department,
which has been increased and not diminished by war conditions. After the
war, if not before, I hope the Council will see their way to accede to my
request.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
SIDNEY C. LAWRENCE,
7th June, 1916. Medical Officer of Health