Annual report of the Department of Public Health, Province of Alberta.

  • Alberta. Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1952]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Department of Public Health, Province of Alberta. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    152/284 (page 150)
    PROVINICAL TRAINING SCHOOL, RED DEER L. J. le Vann, M.D., Medical Superintendent In Residence, Admissions, Discharges, Deaths. The total population increased from 395 to 425 during the year 67 certified defective children were admitted, which included 23 male and 44 female. 54 of these were first admissions, 12 were re¬ admissions, and two were transferred from the Provincial Mental Hospital, Ponoka. During the year there were 27 discharges, principally via job placements, and one was transferred to the Provincial Mental Hospital. The death rate has fallen both actually and proportionately. There were 9 deaths, 5 male and 4 female. Applications for Admission. There were fewer applications this year than last year, a total of 74 applications were received. The majority of these have tended to be of the long term custodial type of patient. The waiting list of children requiring admission now numbers 407. This represents an actual decrease of 36 applications. With the near completion of two new dormitories it will be possible to further reduce this waiting list by 152 potential admissions. Eugenics Board Visits, Sterilizations etc. There were no cases presented to the Eugenics Board at this School during the year, but seven cases were presented at the Provincial Mental Hospital and were passed clear by the Board for Eugenics operation. During the year six sterilization operations were carried out, 4 on females and 2 on males. Staff Changes and Activities. Dr. L. J. le Vann returned to resume his previous office of Medical Superintendent at this School in October, and Mr. A. W. Fraser was appointed Deputy Superintendent. On 1st, October 1952, Mr. A. P. Martin was appointed Social Worker to replace Mr. G. E. Trasov, who resigned to accept work at the Bowden Institute. The staff situation has been very good, and there has been no difficulty in filling required personnel appointments. Health of Trainees and Staff. The overall health picture at the School has been fairly good. Towards the end of the year there was a sporadic outbreak of Scarlet Fever which was effectively checked by means of mass immunization of all trainess and staff with penicillin. However, there has been an outbreak of Infectious Hepatitis which it has not been possible to control as effectively, despite rigorous quarantine measures, and both patients and staff have been affected by this complaint. The situation is at present under study in an effort to determine the source, and the possible prophylactic measures which might be employed to localize this disease. As a routine precedure all new staff members and all new patients have chest X-rays immediately upon employment and admission respectively, to minmize any spread of Pulmonary Tuberculosis at this School and to ensure its early detection.