The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-23

ana II. W. D6uubIb,
The Health officers of the county had
been invited and there were present: D.
T. Bates of Pownal, Dr. w. s. Phillips
of Arlington (also health officer for Sun
derland and Sandgate), George Smith of
Manchester, Frank H. Mattison of South
SALISBURY, and III. L. -Stillson of Ben
nington (Of the town board and that of
the two villages) Among others, these
were present: DIR. Lyman Rogers, Dr.
j. w. Racette, DR.. j. B. Woodruff, Hon.
VIM. B. Sheldon, G. B. Wall of the
Board of Trustees, Dr. H. c. Day and d.
G. Bart.
The routine business was full, free
and frank discussion of health matters,
either as they came up in connection
with cases over which there was discus
sion, or suggested by those present. In
Manchester, there had been case grow
ing out of the discharge of house sew
er into sluggish stream that ran along
near where dwellings and milking yards
existed, and which it was claimed by
one party constituted a nuisance and
by another to the contrary, The matter
was disposed of to the satisfaction OF all
parties. This led to a somewhat full
discussion of the powers of health Off
GERS in connection with Boards OF Select
men, eX-offiCiO the Boards of Health, of
each town. The State Board pointed out
the ample authority conferred by the
Legislature of 1892. and said the statute
meant Just what it said. The Health
Officer is the executive of such boards.
A POwnal case was considered and lett
with the Secretary of the State Board 10
enforce legal proceedings.
The question as to the jurisdiction of
health officers in old School district,
No. |, of Shaftsbury, now part of
North Bennington Graded school dis
trict, having been raised, it was decided
that the health officer of North Benning-
ton village had no jurisdiction in the
town of SALISBURY. The commission
for the North Bennington Graded school
District. under Act No. 260, Laws OF
1892. was surrendered, and that territory
receded to Health Officer Mattison of
South Salisbury. Act No. 260, afore-
said. provides that all expenses incurred
shall be paid out of the treasury of
North Benn 'ngton vlllage-certainly a
questionable provision, hence well to be
amicably settled as above. SALISBURY
will paw it's own health bills as aforetime
and so will the North village. 1t may
be well to state that North Bennington
village and Graded School district ex-
tend into parts of two towns.
The question as to what constitutes a
quarantine in contagious diseases was
discussed at length. The Bennington
Board were borne out in all their meas
ures TO secure the isolation of families
infected, attendants, ETC., the State
Board laying down the rule even more
stringently than the local board have
hitherto enforced it. Under the law,
the local board have the right to make
regulations. and this applies to SANITARY
measures as we'll as to those of quara-
tine
The question of proper connections
with sewers was talked over. Numer-
GUS examples from experience were
quoted as to traps, when safe or other
wise, and proper ventilation of pipes in
connection with sewers. The result of
this conference, which was participated
in by all present, will probably be the
issuance of rules and regulations in the
near future. One thing was unanimous
ly stated: ventillating pipe of the
same size as the soil pipe and extending
to and above the roof, is essential in any
connection with sewers, and the soil
pipe should also be guarded by a trap,
IN aOulUlOn W Jue traps, GUS ploC0u lu-
side the house. Many connections in
Bennington with cess pools and sewers
are not so guarded, and will have to be
changed.
The meeting was harmonious through
out, and since Tuesday number of
those envited to meet with the Board
have sent regrets at being detained. 1t
would have interested all our people,
and possibly another meeting may be
arranged for next year. The State
Board of Health are doing noble work,
as will be seen by the prOceedings-the
seventh volume Just published. Physi-
clans are, generally, reporting to the To-
cal health officers as the statute directs,
and where such is not the case, prompt
prosecutions of offenders are ordered,
The people, too, are becoming educated,
as they should be, to the necessity of
observing reasonable rules and regula-
tons. The Bennington town officers are
doing good thing this year in publish.
ing in full the rules and regulations of
the State Board, and the disinfectants
recommended, with directions for their
use. Other towns should do likewise.