The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-09
TO DECIDE ON MEANS
OF DlSINFECTlON
SPECIAL CoMMITTEEAPPoINT
BY BOARD OF CONTROL.

BY BOARD OF CONTROL.
Communication from Health oficers
Read Announcing the Closing Of
Schools Nos. l6, 2l and 33-Dis-
cussion as to Best Means of Disin.
fection, Mr.. Langan Favoring
Plumbing Inspectors Plan and Mr..
Barker the Formaldehyde Gas
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS New Cases.
The board Of control at last evenings
meeting thoroughly discussed the pres
ent epidemic of contagious disease pre-
railing In this city and the proper
method Of fumigating and disinfecting
the various buildings which are or will
be closed.
Two communications were read, one
from Health Officer Allen. announcing
that he had closed schools No. 81, SO and
16, and another from Superintendent
Howell. recommending that the board
employ extra men to properly enforce
the existing laws regarding the quar-
antine Of infected houses.
Mr.. Jennings expressed himself as
thinking that, though the closing of
the schools might succeed in stopping
public clamor, 1t was nevertheless an
unsafe plan to follow, inasmuch as II
allowed the children an opportunity to
run around in the infected neighbor-
hoods all day long. rendering them
more liable to contagion.
Mr. Langan said he didn't believe in
the method of fumigating by formal
dehyde gas adopted by the board OF
health and thought the plan suggested
by Plumbing Inspector O'Malley. of in
Producing disinfectant by means ct
the ventilating ducts. to be the bes.
one. BY introducing this method the
janitors could disinfect the building
themselves. whereas $25 building is
now paid by the board Of health. Mr..
Barker said that the system of disin-
fection by formaldehyde gas was AS
thorough a one as could be devised.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
On motion of MIR. Langan, a commit
tee was appointed. consisting of Prof.
Welles. professor of chemistry at the
High school: Health officer Allen.
Architect Davis. Engineer Harris and
Plumbing Inspector O'Malley, to adopt
means of fumigating the buildings
closed. The communications bearing
on the matter were referred to this
committee.
Health Officer Allen yesterday closed
schools Nos. 16, q and 33, as forecasted
in yesterday mornings Tribune. and
the work of disnfection will be COM
menced today. The formaldehyde gas
method will probably be used for the
present
This method is a very ingenious one
and is probably about as effectual as
anything yet discovered for the pur-
pose of disinfection. The machine
used for generating the gas Is Oper-
ated by man, who obviously could
not work 1t in the infected room IT.
| self. A small tube for conveying the
gas is accordingly slipped through
the keyhOle of the closed door of the
| room and the machine Is operated
| from the next room. About twenty
minutes escape of the gas Is sufficient
| to kill all disease germs existing in a
medium sized room.
There were twenty-five cases OF
| diphtheria and scarlet fever yesterday
reported to the secretary Of the board
| of health.
POWERS OF THE BOARD.
| Much has been said recently about
what the board of health ought and
| ought not do In such an emergency as
| cOnfrOnts the city at this time. but
few people have any exact knowledge
about the powers Of that body.
| We quote the following from the act
OF 1887. under which boards of health
in cities of the third class in this state
are now operating:
The councils of any city of the fourth
fifth, sixth or seventh class shall have
power by ordinance to create a board OF
health as herein provided, with the pow
ers and duties herein enumerated.
The said board shall cors sist OF mem
bers, who shall serve without compensa
tiOn and none Of whom shall be member:
of councils. At least two of their mum
ber shall be reputable physicians of no
less than five years experience in thu
practice of their profession. The boart
shal! be appointed by districts to be iiXet
by councils, representing as equally al
|
serve for the term of five years from thu
first Monday of April succeeding thei
appointment. The mayor shall nomi
nate. and by and with the consent of tn
select council appoint the members o
said board. and shall in like manner re
move any or all of them for official mis-
conduct or neglect of duty. and I'LL al
vacancies. for the unexpired term. A
the first appointment the mayor shal
designate one of the members to serv
for one year one to serve for two years
one to serve for three years, one to serv
for four years, one to serve for five year
and thereafter one member of said boar
shall be appointed annually for the tern
of five wears.
WHAT 1T CAN DO.
The said board of health shall hav
power, and it shall be their duty to max
and enforce all needful rules and regu
lations to prevent the introduction AN
spread of infectious or contagious dis
cases, by the regulation of intercours
with infected places, by the arrest, sep
aration and treatment of infected person
and persons who shall have been expose
to any infectious or contagious disease
and by abating and removing all nui
sances which they shall deem prejudicia
to the public health; to enforce vaccina
tion, to mark infected houses or place.
to prescribe rules for the constructio
and maintainance of house drains. vast
and soil pipes, and cess pools and to max
all such other regulations as they sha
. deem necessary for the preservation {
the public health.
They shall also have power. with tt
consent OF the councils. In case Of tn
prevalence Or apprehended prevalence {
any contagious or infectious diseas
within the city, to establish one or MOI
hospitals, and to make provisions an