Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-07-24
DOCTORS DISAGREE.

The state Board OF Health CHfticises
she Local Board and the latter Re
tallates-Rules for DiAinfecting In
Contagious Diseases.
The board of health after long wait sue
ceeded In getting quorum last evening and
enjoyed an unusually lively meeting. DR..
Lindsley and DR.. Williston, both former
health officers, and Professor Brewer, for
many years member of the board, were
present. The unusual excitement was occa-
stoned by lengthy communication from the
State board of health in which that board,
after stating its duty of advising local boards
delivered itself of long criticism of the cir
culars recently issued by the local board
containing rules to be followed for disinfect-
ing in cases of contagious diseases. The
substance Of the matter WAS that the
State board fears the local board has simpli-
fed the matter of disinfecting too much and
that the circulars issuing from the health
board of the largest city in the State might
be dangerous, in that other places and the
people would follow them with too great
confidence.
DIR. Lindsey. secretary of the State board,
In explaining the communication referred to
the dislike Of the board to criticise and said
that a. this was the FIRST time the State board
had done anything Of the kind 1t had not
acted hastily, but after careful oonsidera-
ton of the subject. The board felt that the
matter was OF good deal of consequence.
As secretary he had sent copies of the circu-
lar to the members of the board and the re-
suit was the communication that had been
read.
The doctor entered into a discussion of
contagious diseases, In which he said that the
contagion was living germ and that the dis
infectant Ia an agent that will destroy the
germ, and this destruction must be a
sure one. The State board were unanimous
that the rules issued by the local board were
not sufficient to accomplish the object The
rules seem to be loose and carelessly drawn
and the real Importance of the subject not
Understood. The board felt that such loose
instructions were liable to be dangerous In
their action.
Prof. Brewer thought the local board had
simplihed the matter too much. The merit
Of simplicity is carried too far. He cited
several cases In which he thought the rules
would not apply. The New Haven board
took up the cudgels in its own behalf.
DIR. Winchell remarked that what had been
| said on infectious diseases had made people
very cautious. Where Eve years ago they
paid little heed to the matter, they are very
careful now. The circular was largely In
Il
little criticised warmly the rules promulgated
by the State board on the subject and claim.
cd that they were not practical, that no ply
sieian could carry them out. He defended
the action of the local board In q general way
and asked that the communication be laid on
the table In order to give the members of the
board time to reply carefully to the criticism.
He remarked that he knew of no greater AL
thority on the subject in this country than T.
Mitchell Prudden of New York. To this DR..
Lindsey assented. Thereupon DR.. Doolittle
read letter from Mr.. Prudden in which the
latter said that the bulletins issued by the
New Haven board were the best ever issued
| In this country.
A lively discussion followed in which the
doctors disagreed, one man saying that a GER
tain thing had been proven ard another say
| ing II had not. The COURIER reporter was
fearful lest he should have to step In and de-
eide the matter since the doctors disagreed.
The discussion was waxing warm when the
representatives of the State board thought
they had stayed long enough and hastily
Withdrew.
The board voted to withhold the distribu-
ton Of the circulars for the present and laid
the communication on the table. Some rou-
tine business was transacted.