Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-03
BOARD OF HEALTH
Health Officer Hoadley Explained Ne eessity of Tuberculosis Ordinance.

cessity of Tuberculosis Ordinance.
 All the members of the board of public health were present at the reg uIar monthly meeting yesterday after noon. Besides Commissioners Frost, Cross. Conway and Finn there were present Sanitary Inspector Moses, Milk Inspector Keeley and County Health Officer Hoadley. Commissioner Cross presided and Assistant City Clerk Net tIeton acted as clerk.
 After the minutes of the last meet ing had been approved, the regular monthly reports of the sanitary inspec- tor and milk inspector were read and approved. Sanitary Inspector Moses report was as follows: Contagious diseases, scarlet fever 6. diphtheria ID. membraneous croop l, measles 2, whooping cough 2. typhoid fever ,, houses fumigated, diphtheria and croup 1OS. tuberculosis 1; houses pla- carded. scarlet fever 6. diphtheria and crouD 10: dead animals removed, cats q: inspection of water closets ID, sink pipes 16. surface drains 5, surface clos cts 61, cesspools 1. stables G, yards IS, ordered cleaned, surface closets 2S, stables 4, yards 34; ordered abolished, cesspOOls 6. surface drains ;.
 Commissioner Cross made the re mark that the number of diphtheria eases was rather large. Chairman Frost said it was for Waterbury.
 The monthly report of Milk Inspec- tor Eeeley was submitted as follows: Inspection of dairies. COW sheds H, barn yards II. water II. feed II, cans ITS, milk coolers fl. stables ventilated Al: inspection of stores and vehicles, stores inspected 27, vehicles inspected n. measures ordered cleaned 3, barn yards ordered cleaned 3. cans ordered cleaned l; number of samples of milk examined fl, number of standard 4, amount paid for samples SIPS.
 After various bills had been read and payment recommended, County Health Officer Hoadley was introduced 10 the board by Chairman Frost. His presence before the board was to lay before them the necessity of passing an ordinance relating to cases of tu- berculOsis. His remarks on this Sub- ject were highly interesting, the more so as the local board of health has considered this important subject of tuberculosis in the past. County Com missioner Hoadley stated that his pur- pose in appearing before the board was to inform that honorable body of the present status of tuberculosis throughout the state. Last June the local board of health recommended to the board of aldermen the passage Of law making it necessary for phy- sicians to report all cases of tubercu- lOSis- This recommendation was sent back to the board of health with q request that it make such an ordin- ance- 4 committee was appointed Tor that purpose, but its action was delayed till the committee could see what the the situation was throughout the state. The matter of reporting tuberculosis has become subject of considerable discussion among physi- clans. During last summer the mat fer took shape when the town health officers throughout the state voted tliat physicians should report tuberculosis 1O the county health officer just the same as typhoid fever, scarlet fever and other contagious diseases. At first some officers of the state board of health opposed the recommendation, but at length they saw its real value. The county health officer continued by stating that consumption was the cause Of S0 per cent of the deaths in the state as compared with scarlet or ty- phOid fever. It is becoming danger ous, as it spreads where there is no hereditary tuberculosis. This increase in c0nsumptive people is due to people coming in contact with germs of con sumption in the house. on the street and in public buildings. The speaker stated that he knew of q case in New Haven where in one tenement q death from pulmonary troubles oc- cured in each of five families who moved into the tenement after q per son had died of consumption in it. He can see where physicians may feel rather 1oath in reporting such cases. Physicians in towns state that they do not feel it entirely proper to report eases Of old fashioned consumption with which the people live for years. If report of these cases were made, life would be made miserable for the patients, as they would be summed. It has been said that physicians would not cooperate with the town boards Of health; that they give hope to those ill with pulmonary trouble; they do not tell them they are incurable until the very lasr. owing to the fact that they do not wish to discourage them. The doctors have now taken it up and at the last meeting of the New Haven County Medical society. q system of reporting tuberculosis was stated \ committee was appointed to try to es- fablish tuberculosis hospital where 1ncipient cases may be cured. The speaker was delegated to the city boards of health to urge upon them the adoption of an ordinance to con- frOl tuberculosis. He correspondel with Dr Frost and to his great pleas ure found that something had already been done in this city regarding the matter. County Commissioner Hoad- ley further remarked that the cases of tuberculosis are by far the greater among the poorer classes of people where families of 6. s and 10 persons occupy 2 or t3 rooms. If Waterbury should pass such an ordinance as the county health officer recommended, it would be the first city in Connecticut fo do so. New Haven, Hartford. Bridgeport and Stamford now have such an ordinance under consideration. The speaker concluded his speech with