Daily Republican., 1881-07-13
CITY COUNCILS REFUSAL
TO ALLOW THE HEALTH BOARD
TO MAvETHE HOSPITAL,
Meeting OF Both Council and the
Board Of Health Last Even.
ing-Busines Done.

To the President and members Of Cit,
| Council:
GENTLEMEN-The special COMMITTEES
to whom was referred the communica
tion OF the Board of Health requesting
Council to authorize the use of the City
Hospital building for the accommoda
tion Of small pox patients, respectfully
report adversely thereon.
Your committee, however, would re-
spectfnlly recommend that the BOARD
OF Health be authorized and urged tt
adopt any measures they deem neces
sary, regardless of expense, to prevent
the spread of the contagion and to es.
tablish and enforce police regulations
erect temporary hospital accommoda
tions, If desirable. Respectfully,
JOSEPH X. ADAMS,
JAMES CARMICHAEL,
MERRIs TAYLOR,
w. II. BLAKE.
Mr.. Rodney of the committee was not
present and the following letter from
him was read:
WILMINGTON, DEL, July 12, 1881.
Mr. Joseph X. Adams, of select Com.
mittee on Health of the City.
DEAR SIR-1 am unfortunately com.
PEELED to go to New York this morning
and will consequently be absent from
the meeting of the Committee which |
have called tor this afternoon, and from
the meeting of the Council this evening:
and therefore write this to You, the next
member named on the committee, after
myself, to give to you and the other
members OF the committee the result
of the conclusion | have reached in re.
gardto the subject committed to our care
After thinking over the subject very
carefully l believe it will be best to
grant the request of the Board of Health
and allow them the use ofthe City Hos
pital for their patients, they of course,
taking every precaution for the protec.
ton of the neighborhood. My reasons
for this conclusion are best given by
the Board of Health themselves.
If Coancil would NOT do this an effort
should be made to obtain Scheutzen
park for the use of the Board of Health,
and if this cannot be done, emporary
barracks are the last resort, although |
believe they will fail to accomplish the
desired end. Ifbarracks are erected the
board should do it themselves.
Whatever may be done in regard to a
hospital, | most strongly recommend
the abolition OF the yellow flag system
now in force. My reasons for this are
many and will readily occur to any one
who will consider the matter carefully;
but my time is too short to give them at
length.
| would recommend as absolutely
necessary that strong special force be
organized to take charge of all build
ings where smallpox exists, and to
guard such buildings night and day to
prevent the inmates of such buildings
from iptermingling with their fellow
citizens while there is danger of them
spreading the contagion. The inmates
of infected buildings should be attend
Ell by responsible physician, even if
the corporation has to pay Tor their at
and their wants should be
supplied by agents of the Board of
Health, so as to render unnecessary
their intermingling with people outside
of their houses.
would also recommend that all peo.
sons who have been vaccinated with
bovine virus be advised to be vaccinated
with reliable vaccine matter.
have thus briefly sketched the views
| would advocate if | should be present
this evening, believing them to be the
best steps that can be taken, and which,
| trust, will be carried out. Should the
committee agree to the leading feature
of the above, please add my name to
the teport, and if they do not so agree,
or should seriously differ from my
views, please present the letter to
Council this evening as a minority re-
port. Very truly yours,
&. A. RODNEY, chairman.
a numerously signed remonstrance
against using the City Hospital for
was presented. The names
aggregated nearly 1000.
Mr.. Adams now moved the adoption
of the special committees report. 1t
was carried with only one dissenting
vote and Council adjourned.
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD
OF HEALTH AND THE BUSINESS DONE.
While Council was engaged as stated
above, the Board of Health in the
Mayors office was in regular session.
A few minutes after the city Solons ad-
journed copy of the report Of the
special committee on hospital was laid
before the Board. After listening t.
the report OF the executive officers upon
the Board proceeded to con-
slider this action part of Council.
DIR. Draper moved that the report of
, h. M m MT
the minutes. In doing SO he said
that all the Board could do was to
90 on and do it's best, and that he hoped
it would be under control in a short
time. 1t was evident that Councils
action was ID great disappointment to
the Board, and was regarded by them
az an unwise course.
DR.. Draper called attention to the
of cess pools The Odor-
less IINcavating folks were disregarding |
the orders of the Board in not promptly |
to those cases complained Of
md referred to them. He moved that
he men engaged in that business be
to meet the Board at its next |
Adopted.
Or. Bush stated that the present con-
lition of the city made a temporary
Increase in the force of executive Off
,ers necessary, and asked whether the
Board was willing to take action look
ng to secure All additional man at pres
mt or waitanother week. 1t was stated |
hat authority from City Council was
and the matter was laid over
or u week.
DR.. Draper moved that City Council
DC requested to appoint one assistant to
zach OF the vaccine physicians, for the
lext two months, the same to be under
he instructions Of the Board of Health.
The following bills were ordered to be
lrawn upon the treasurer: Adams u
3ro., 50 80; James O'Toole, executive