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Dr. Sturdee reports that the disease, prevalent during the year 1925
in the Joint Hospital district, was of a comparatively severe type, which
demanded prompt and adequate treatment from the outset. Of 198 cases
admitted to the Isolation Hospital during the seven months from April to
October last, 31 died, and it is significant that whereas there was only one
death among 26 patients from the Chase Farm Residential School, of the
Guardians of the Edmonton Union, there were 30 deaths among the 172
patients from private houses. Dr. Sturdee adduces evidence to show that
the infection of both these classes was of the same origin and the only
essential difference between them appeared to be that, of the 26 school
cases, 19 who presented clinical symptons were given antitoxin approximately
one day after onset of the illness and before admission to Hospital,
whereas to 21 cases only from private houses was antitoxin given before
admission, and the delay in giving it varied from 1 to 6 or more days.
After admission to Hospital, the patients had every care and consideration.
The Report again seems to emphasise the need for prompt and
adequate treatment of diphtheria with antitoxin, and the Minister
appreciates the fact that provision is made by the Edmonton Urban
District Council for the gratuitous supply to medical practitioners of antitoxin
in necessitous cases, and that steps are being taken by the Joint
Hospital Board to improve the ambulance service and so expedite the
removal of patients to Hospital.
He can but regret that the efforts of the Council in this direction
appear to have been to some extent neutralised by the frequency of delay
on the part of parents in calling in medical aid, and that more use is not
made by medical practitioners in the district of the facilities already
referred to.
I am to add that the Minister concurs entirely in the action taken by
the Medical Officer of Health of the Urban District on the 19th October
last, and it is suggested that the observations set out herein should be
brought to the notice of medical practitioners in the Urban District as
opportunity offers.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
F. F. Marchbank.
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