The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-21
BRANCH HOSPITAL
Mayor ElIert Wants One
Established.
DR.. LONG AND INSPECTORS.
A Proposition to Establish Bacteri-
illogical Inspector for Examin-
ing Diphtheria Cases.
The Board of Health held an interesting

The Board of Health held an interesting
session yesterday morning.
There were present delegation Of ply
sicians representing the Polytechnic, and
they asked that the board establish an
official bacterioIogist, whose duty it would
| be TO scientifically investigate all cases OF
doubtful diphtheris.
DR.. w. f. McNutt said that it was
very difficult matter to determine whether
case was one of diptheria or not.
scientific examination of the case was
necessary with the microscope and other
instruments. This was the only true way
of diagnoZing a case and the only one
which could be relied on. He said that the
Polytechnic of the University of California
had laboratory containing all the instru-
ments necessary to make such bacteria
logical examinations The appointment of
such an official would cause many families
TO avoid much trouble. worry and expense,
| besides having their houses iumlgated and
a flaming notice posted on the door,
DR.. Regens burger of the board called on
| Health Officer Keeney aud asked him what
! proportion of cases reported at the Health
! Office as diphtheria turned out 10 be
merely aggravated cases OF sore throat
! DR.. Keeney replied that fully 60 per cent
| were not diphtheri
| DR.. McNntt continued and said that all
those doubtful cases could have been
easily decided and the parents of children
/ saved worry ana trouble II the Sputum
of the child sick had been examined by
bacteriologist. DIR. McNutt thought that
| the compensation of the proposed official
| should be fixed at So for each case.
Mayor Ellert objected to any such man
ner of remuneration for the reason that an
official might ring In 200 examinations as
we'll as five. If anV pay was 10 be given 1t
/ should he some fixed salary
DR.. Stallard, representing the Polytechnic,
said that the families If sick children sup
posed to have the diphtheria would will
/ ngly pay the So to become certain whether
their children mad the disease or no and
| avoid worry ana the subsequent fumiga-
| ton of the house.
| Mayor Ebert strongly opposed that sug-
| gestiOn. II am not in favor of levyng
any such tax on the people. said he. IF
any cOmpen satiOn is TO be given TO this
! proposed official the DOR should not be
called upon TO pay him. Some definj tt
! fixed salary should be determined on pay
able by the city,"
! Dr. Long wanted to 60 right along with
! the proposition and appoint the bacieriolo-
gst at once, leaving the salary to be fixed
hereafter.
Mayor Ebert said that was no way to do
| public business The proposal was a new
one and needed consideration and invest-
CATION. A his suggestion the matter was
made the subject of special consideration
next Wednesday morning.
Mayor Ebert called the attention of the
! board 10 the necessity of eSta hliShing a
| branch Receiving Hospital at some locality
near the business portion of the town.
He said the majority of accidents hap
pened on the water trent and ia the bust
ness center. The time consumed In taking
the patient from the water front to the
Receiving Hospital was dangerous TO life
and the Mayor cited the case of Captain
| Teviotdale, which occurred several days
/ ago
The Mavor said the surgeons of >As Re
ceiving Hospital had informed him tfTat
the captains life could have been saved if
| he had been properly attended TO in time
Mayor Eilert believed that branch of the
| Receiving Hospital could be established
on the water front at small expense and
! great benefit.
All the members of the board agreed
with The Mayor, and n resolution was passed
recommending the Board of SuperV isOrS t
make some provision for the esta bliShment
OF branch hospital in the neighborhoo
| of Mission and East streets.
| Quarantine Officer LaWler said that many
lives IN drowning cases would be save0 If
such hospital would be established.
Dr. Regensburger was appointed as a
committee to wait on the Board of Super
vsors in regard to the matter.
bulauce system IF the city, and said the
wagons were only designed to conduct
criminals TO prsou.
DIR. Bucknall said he thought it would be
good thing to instruct policemen ass gned
to patrol agon duty so that they could
attend to cases OF emergency.
DR.. Regensburger replied that he had
instructed them and given them written
rules, bnt that the policemen did not profit
by them. He said he did not have such
confidence iG the intelligence of police
men. The proper man to have on an am
bulance was a surgeon.
Mrs. A. Moore obtained permission to
address the board, and asked that the
Board OF Health take some action in
instrurting the children Of the city on
sanitation. She said il could be done
| through the Board of Education. Her
| claim was that children could reach the
parents more than the laws.
DIR. Long favored the proposition and
| delivered bitter attack on the Health In
sDectors, saying that they did not hunt for
nuiSances. but waited until they were re-
| ported at the Board of Health and then
went out and Investigated them. His idea
was that the Inspectors should examine
every house In their respective districts
and make reports. Heidi no. believe that
single Inspector put himself out of the
way to discover nuisance.
DIR. Keeney, the Health Officer was
called on, and said that the board never
ad a more efficient corps of Inspectors
than at present. Their districts were very
large and they had considerable work 10 do.
| The whole trouble was there were only six
| Inspectors TO cover the whole city.
The board decided TO make a formal
| investigation into the suspension of DR..
| Smith. an inferno of the Receiving Hos
pital, by Police Surgeon Somers about
mouth ago.
Milk Inspector Willard wrote a letter to
the board stating that he accep pied the
position and would perform whatever
work might be assigned 10 him.