Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-13

present Mayor Kilduff, Chairman Lawlor, Health Officer Kilmartin, Commissioners Frost and Beach, San- itary Inspector Moses, and Dr Me Donald and Dr Robbins. The two last named gentlemen were requested to hold q conference with the health board for the purpose of comparing notes and i'll this way to ascertain ii anything was being left undone which would help prevent spread of slnail- pox.
 Health Officer Kilmartin and Dr Frost explained the method of treat ment at the isolation hospital and the precautions used at the. places quar- antined, and after hearing what they had to say Dr Mcdonald and Dr Rob- bins agreed that nothing more could be done. Indeed, they thought that probably too much precaution was be- ing resorted to in some cases, notably in the matter of quarantining. They thought that it would not be neces- sary to detain those who are now at the shelter and show no signs of hay- ing contracted the disease much long, CT. They urged the board to impress upon the people the necessity of being yaccinated and also to look out for their general health. Dr Mcdonald laid particular stress upon this point and stated that where ones blood is in good condition the danger of con- tracing maladies is not as great as where the condition is the reverse. He thought it would be well to air this side of the matter thoroughly. Both physicians said that there was no need for the public to be alarmed, but thoMght that every family should use such precautions as are at their dis posal to guard against tue disease. They believed that it is good plan to educate the public up to the need of caring for their own health and how to do it. While they didn't say so the inference was plain that no better medium could be employed to do this than the newspapers.
 None of the parties present thought the situation warranted the closing of places of amusement. The cost of quarantining was discussed and a suggestion offered that money could be saved by confining all quarantined parties who are not afflicted with the disease in the city hall or some other place, but nothing definite was agreed upon.
 Mayor Kilduff called attention to the advisability of being prepared to meet any emergency that might arise and with this end in view suggested that a committee be appointed to add to the isolation hospital, which is now practically filled. He said that there ie,, fr1 ,n al a1r acI I11iI but that the place is cold and damp, the ceilings falling down, and that he did not think it would be right to take any patients there if it could be avoid ed While he did not expect any new cases, still he thought it would be wise to anticipate such things and be prepared to deal with them if the oc- casiOn demanded.
 It was voted to appoint commit tee consisting of Mayor Kilduff and Chairman Lawlor with power to acL relative to the matter of putting an addition to the hospital. The com mittee is at work and will use their best judgment in the premises.
 There is a great deal of confusion in the public schools on account of no provision having been made to vac cinate children whose parents were too poor to pay and in consequence many have been forced to remain at home and are about the streets. Large numbers are calling upon the board of charities to know what can be done for them there. Superintendent Doran says he has no jurisdiction in the premises. This morning group of seven children from the Bank street school applied to MT Doran and Mayor Kilduff, but they could not help them. Two of the children said their father was dead and their mother maintained the family by taking in washing A Democrat reporter asked Mayor Kill duff if anything had been done in this direction. He said nothing that he was aware of. Superintendent Doran was asked if he considered it the duty of the city physician to vac cinate children who cannot raise the money. He said he didn't; that no such thing was considered when the physician was appointed and that it wouldn't be fair to ask him to do it. Asked if he would have any scruples about signing for the physicians sal ary supposing he should not have q case at all during his term of office, MT Doran replied that he should not He said that the city physician was employed to attend to the sick poor and that it was not claimed that chil- dren in the schools who want to be yaccinated are sick. The reporter re- the superintendent that the children had not created this expense and added that so long as ft was being done by order of the city some provis- ion should have been made whereby the children of the poor would not be put to the humiliation of parading their poverty by being obliged to leave their classes in the school rooESA To this the superintendent replied that he was not the proper person to discuss that phase of the question. Under the old system of govern ment," he said, 'the selectmen would have to deal with it, but consolidation has transferred the power to other parties He admitted that there was something wrong, but denied that he was responsible and was not pre- pared to state that he knew where to place the responsibility.
 No doubt the aim of those who are running the schools isto makes as many as possible pay and by this means save the public all they can. That is all right, but you cannot squeeze money