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as a little thought will convince you how dangerous it is to the public health
that in my absence, however long or frequent, on holiday or through illness,
there is no medical man to carry on, and the Department is left without a
Director. Every time the Council runs the risk of a great scandal arising.
During the past six months an Assistant M.O.H. could have found ample
employment in dealing with the control of contacts with infectious diseases,
with thousands of which I have had to deal single-handed. My absorption
in this work has prevented me giving adequate time to other important matters
that call for my attention as Head of this Department and the School Medical
Service. As Edmonton grows a larger and more important town, my duties
as administrator become greater, and I have less time for the routine executive
work, which is less responsible and more suitable to a junior medical man of
less experience than I have. This junior M.O.H. could resume Dr. Rock's
work in your bacteriological laboratory, so saving the fees of the Institute in
London. He could act as Medical Adviser at the Maternity and Child. Welfare
Centre, and save the £117 a year paid to Mrs. Outram. So that about £140
would be at hand towards his salary of £400—£500 a year.
[Later note in November, 1920.] Mrs. Outram's salary is £340 4s. 0d.
yearly for two days' work each week, or at the rate of more than £1,000 a
year ! The minimum salary of an Assistant M.O.H. is now £500.
2.—The Men Inspectors.
They should be "warded," as has been the case in progressive districts
for 15 years or more. Messrs. Butland and Winter should have a choice.
Supposing Mr. Butland wishes to have Church Street Ward, and Mr. Winter
Fore Street, Mr. Nixon will undertake Bury Street Ward. For the sanitary
condition of each ward, one of these three would be responsible, and he would
thoroughly know and be known to the inhabitants of his ward. This arrangement
would prevent overlapping, and the possibility (as at present) of all
three calling at one house the same day, or the same week.
You have a special inspector, Mr. Huckle, who should confine his attention
to his special subject, i.e., systematic housing inspection, and not (as now)
have his attention diverted to other matters. Mr. Huckle would then be able
to get on with his work at double the rate he does now.
Another special inspector should arrive with the establishment of a municipal
slaughter-house, where all the animals will be killed in one place, under
the regular supervision of this inspector, who should have had early experience
as a butcher, e.g., Mr. Nixon. Then all private slaughter-houses can be
abolished. The same officer would supervise all places, including costers'
stalls, where meat and other foods are on sale, and dairies and milkshops.
We should soon see the disappearance of bad food, or that of third-rate quality