There were many factors that were made increasingly difficult in Alberta during the 1930s, however, health was not one of them. In the “Annual report of the Department of Public Health, Province of Alberta, 1933” it states: “The favourable health conditions experienced during the last three years have been maintained in 1933, so that 1933 takes rank as one of the most satisfactory years in the history of the Province. No serious outbreaks of acute communicable diseases occurred during the year, with the exception of an outbreak of Whooping Cough.” (page 10)

In 1932 there was 665 cases of Whooping Cough reported in the province, whereas there were 1,830 in 1933. (page 20) Whooping cough is most serious when present in children and would often necessitate a doctors visit. This is just one example of a sickness that would make medical attention necessary and it is a reality that people living on farms would have a more difficult time accessing that aid than those living in urban centres.

Bibliography:

Government of Alberta. Annual Report of the Department of Public Health, Province of Alberta: 1933. Edmonton, AB: Queen's Printer, 1933, 10.