The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-07
ARE ALL Cases REPORTED
Belief That Physicians Are Not Obey.
ing Rnles About Diphtheria.
NEW LOCAL SANITARY CODE
Meeting to Formulate ono VIII Bc Hold
Thursday Night-Complaints About
Condition OF Luxcrue Street
Madc TO Board Of Health.

Health Officer Allen reported to the
board OF health at it's regular meeting
yesterday that he had visited Priceburg
and found as reported that there was
man there suffering from a case of
small poX. 1t Is however a very light
case of small pox. The health author
tiles of Priceburg are taking proper pre-
cautions to prevent Il spread of the dis
ease and no alarm he says need be felt
here. AS an extra precautiOn II was
decided by the board to have the Sec
retary remind the school board of its
duty in compelling all school children
to be vaccinated.
An item of the secretary's report
caused no little discussion among the
physicians on the board. 1t was the
item setting forth that ten of the four
teen cases of diphtheria reported last
month proved fatal. Doctors Allen.
Paine and Bentley all concluded that
all the diDhtherctic cases were not re-
ported as ten deaths out of fourteen is
a remarkable proportion.
The board also gave "a good portion of
its time to the consideration of the
local sanitary code which is now in
process of adoption. DR.. Allen. to whom
the matter was referred for action at
the last meeting, reported that he in
tends to call a master plumber. an ar
chitect and the building inspector into
consultation next Thursday night for
the purpose of framing the code. The
matter Of appointing a plumbing in
spector was discussed in an informal
way and while the board favored the
idea, 1t did not see its way clear to
proceed to do this at present inasmuch
as the law makes no provision for such
an office in cities of the third class and
consequently no funds are available
for the expenses of the office.
BOOKS FOR REGISTRATION.
The necessary books for the registra-
ton of plumbers, midwives and pro-
fessional nurses have been secured and
these parties will now be called upon
to come forward and secure certih-
cate.
Two complaints were lodged with the
board. One was from property holders
of LuZerne street who complain of q
flooded lot at the corner of Twelfth
street and Luzerne. This results from
the poor grading done on the street
and can only be remedied by an i'm
proved system of sewering. The other
was a complaint from Bromley avenue,
where the sewer was broken between
Lafayette and Price streets by cave
in about six months ago. Although q
new sewer was built over the broken
portion some of the property holders
still have their houses connected with
the broken main and as a consequence
are endangering their health and the
health Of their neighbors. Both cases
were referred to the street commission
er
A. b. Briggs scavenger license was
renewed for another year, as was also
the contract with Kearney Bros. for
supplying coal to the crematory. In
discussing this last item 1t developed
that the crematory supply of coal was
included in the general contract award
ed to the Consumers Ice company at the
beginning of the year and as a question
arose as to whether or not the board
could disregard this contract Mayor
Connell was appealed to for enlighten-
ment. He decided that the board
could make it's own contract.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
The report of Secretary Briggs for the
month of February showed that there
were ninety seven deaths. nine of which
were from violence. This Is twenty
five less than the preceding month and
sixteen less than the corresponding
month of 1895. There were one hun
dred and twenty births, forty-seven be-
ing males and seventy-three females.
Twenty-seven cases of contagious dis
eases were reported and twelve deaths
resulted therefrom. Fourteen of these
cases were diphtheria and ten of the
twelve deaths were from this disease
Superintendent Henry LOTUS report
ed having cremated 1894 barrels of gar
bage and eleven dead animals, with the
use of nineteen tons of coal The Gre
matOry will be shut down for repairs
from tonight until Wednesday night
Food Inspector Thomas reported hav-
ing made 525 official visits and that he
is led to believe that the business men
do their best to comply with the re-
quirements of the law.