HRM Archives City of Halifax Engineering and Works plan E-6-543 

In 1890, City of Halifax staff, perhaps on behalf of the Board of Health, marked the location of cases of diphtheria in orange and blue on this plan.  The 1891 Report of the City Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas Trenaman, indicates that there were 192 deaths from diphtheria in 1890 - the leading cause of death that year.  Infectious diseases have always been a serious public health issue; the City of Halifax operated an Infectious Diseases Hospital beside Rockhead, the City Prison, in the North End.

The City of Halifax created similar maps locating typhoid cases during the outbreak of 1913-1914.

The base map on which staff marked the locations of diphtheria, is a print from a wood-cut done by xylographer C.H. Flowerelling.  Before establishing its own mapping service, now HRM's Geographic Information Systems and Services, the City used published maps for its mapping needs.  Note that the lines of radius indicate distance from the Post Office  (P.O.).  

This map is one of over 12,000 plans filed with City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department.  The Municipal Archives is refining a database of these plans so that it will eventually be searchable by the public.  Even now the public can view these plans at the Archives.

HRM Archives gratefully acknowledges financial support of the Government of Canada through Library and Archives Canada, and from Nova Scotia's Tourism, Culture and Heritage Provincial Archival Development Program, through Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.