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" Temporamutantur, nos et mutamur in illis."
Town Hall,
Edmonton, N 9.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Edmonton Urban District Council.
Gentlemen,
I herewith present you with my eleventh Annual Report on the health
and sanitary circumstances of Edmonton. It refers to the year 1916.
The School Medical Clerk, John Farrar, who was acting for
Harold Dyer, enlisted in November, 1915. In February I again advised
that this important post be filled by the appointment of a man over military
age, a disabled soldier or sailor, or by a woman, as the statistical and other
work is much in arrears, thus interfering with the preparation of the
Annual and other Reports. In May I drew attention to this once more,
but without result, so the place is still vacant.
On December 31st, 1916, owing to absence on war service, the following
posts in my department were unfilled, and to them no temporary appointments
have been made :—
1. Assistant and Deputy M.O.H.
2. Third Male Inspector (Housing).
3. Junior Woman Inspector (and School Nurse).
.4. School Medical Clerk.
On that date Mr. Huckle was the only man of military age still here and
not at the front. I have not detained him.
Apart from the question of economy, the depletion of my staff owing to
the great war, which, since August 4th, 1914, has increased both in intensity
and area, renders it impossible for me 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.
I beg to draw your special attention to the articles on " Maternity and
Child Welfare" and "The Measles Epidemic."
Councillor S. J. Sanders has terminated a. three years' tenure of office
as Chairman of the Sanitary Committee, during which time our relations
were most harmonious; for his courtesy and his stalwart support of the
maternity and child welfare movement, I tender him my sincere thanks.
To my staff, and the heads of other departments, I am much indebted, and
herewith gratefully acknowledge their help.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
SIDNEY C. LAWRENCE,
Medical Officer of Health.
12th June, 1917.