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I am pleased to be able to say that the co-ordination of work in the
three sections of my Department is working very smoothly and gives quite
good results. There is no doubt that this work can be greatly facilitated
by a more complete combination, not only of the controlling element, but in
the form of a more complete unity of clerical and professional staff. The
separation of the medical staff of the Maternity and Child Welfare and School
Medical Services under present administration cannot be of any further use.
The Board of Education is emphasising the necessity of the School Medical
staff being responsible for the "under five" section of the community. We
have no doubt that this is a sound policy and obviates a large number of the
defects which at present are found in the "entrants" class of School Medical
children. The control and unification of clerical duties associated with these
services cannot be much longer denied, in fact it would improve all the
services if the members of the School Medical and Maternity and Child Welfare
Departments were composed of one and the same personnel. On account of
the unification of the services, a separate authority over the same members
of the staff has proved in a few instances embarrassing, and it is to be hoped
that such circumstances would be dealt with by the Staff Committee in the
ensuing year.
An endeavour is being made in regard to housing to perpetuate in a
small degree the requirements of the Housing Act, 1936, i.e., a number of
houses are being inspected in order to ascertain whether overcrowding has
occurred since the investigation under the Housing Act, 1935. In this connection
it is of interest to note that the circumstances associated with housing
change rapidly over a short period of time within,the district, inasmuch as
some houses, known to comply with the provisions of the Act when inspected,
are now overcrowded. It is with pleasure that we can say Edmonton is
entirely free from anything like slum property, but there is a good number
of houses still of the border line type, some of which fall below the standard
of what should be required for working class people to-day. We can also
say that the circumstances in some conditions which are adverse are being
slowly remedied from year to year. During the year 1937 we were happily
free from serious incidence of infectious disease. Diphtheria especially seems
to have fallen in recent years to a very low level, whilst Scarlet FeveV occurs
more often than we should desire, although the type of disease appears to be
of a very mild character. Measles was fairly prevalent and although it caused
quite a number of exclusions from school only one death resulted from this
disease.
A few sporadic cases of Enteric Fever occurred during the early part of
the year, but during the latter part we were entirely free.
A very disturbing attack of Dysentery occurred towards the end of the
year, which did not confine itself to one section of the population ; no deaths
occurred, but at the time it caused a good deal of anxiety on account of the
presence of Typhoid Fever in other areas. There was a high incidence of
Influenza, chiefly among the aged, with a consequent increase of the death
rate in this group.
The Birth Rate (15.69) is still high, though slightly lower than last year.
The Death Rate (9.74) is slightly higher than last year, but this figure
is creditable in view of the continued increase in population.
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