Waterbury Democrat., 1902-04-08
BOARD OF HEALTH
Considering the Bills and the Stamping
 Out of Epidemic.


 A special meeting of the board of health was held yesterday afternoon in order that a committee from the board of finance might confer with the board in regard to the practice of economy in the smallpox epidemic. Every member of the board was present. The com mittee from the board of finance con- sisted of Mayor Kilduf, Comptroller Russell and Commissioner Lord. The first speaker was Mayor Kilduff, who said: 'The board of finance is of the opinion that economy might be prac- ticea, among other things in medical attendance. On account of the num- Der of cases at the isolation hospital it would seem desirable to have resi- dent physician there. It would be much better to give a fixed salary to the physician. The fee system is un- satisfactory. It is not an economical way for the city to do business. The board of finance has no fault to lind with the board of health for the man. her in which they tended to the small pox epidemic. The smallpox epidemic has been well managed. But, how ever, there is too much expense. The board of finance thinks that the ex- penses can be made much less. I. my self, feel that the expense is much too heavy. Some physician might be ob- tained to remain at the hospital and stay there until the epidemic is over. The health officer could look after the cases in the city. The board of health must consider that there are other de- partments incurring expenses. We all feel that when the smallpox expenses are $S,000 or 5000 a month something must give way''
 Commissioner Lord said It was q se- r1ous affair in the way of money. q believe, and the city attorney looks at 1t in the same light, that money cannot De transferred from one taxation dis trict to another The entire smallpox expense must be paid by the first tax ation district. It looks like a special tax. The people are hollering about the taxes now. Expenses must ba cut down. Commissioner Lord later re- marked that some persons could not see why, when We have q city and town physician, who are receiving good salaries, they should pay q dollar for vaccination. Why couldn't these physi- clans do it for nothing. if the people were too poor to pay? President Law Tor replied that only 2 cents is now being charged. Asked as to what sug- gestions the committee would like to ! make, Mayor Kilduff replied: First. the board of finance would suggest to the board of health that it would be more economical to hire q resident physician at the isolation hospital See ondly, to make a contract with the health officer to look after cases in the city outside of the pest hospital'' 1 Dr kilmartin then spoke. lie stated the number of cases of smallpox now l in the city and where they are situated. He said resident physician at the pest hospital would have to sacrifice many things. Furthermore, the hos pital would have to be renovated at considerable expense to make it suita- ble for q physician. There was no comparison between vaccinating d per- son in m office and outside. Much l travelling must be done from house to house in different sections of the city. T put in my bill not for an amount of money which I was sure was properly due me for duty done, but for what I thought the city would be willing to pay. I think that $3,000 would be q fair salary for the work I have per- formed during the past five weeks. It means great deal to be the smallpox 1 physician. He must sacrifice his per. sonal liberty. No person wants him. He is handicapped in every way. After the epidemic is over his practice is ruined. It is six months before lie reaches a plain again where he is self. supporting. The board voted to pay me $lO0 q week for taking care of Dia. mond. As the salary system was not liked by some officials 1 began the fee system when new cases broke out. Ii is hard on physician or any profes- sional man to sign q contract to be bought like metal''
 Mayor Kilduff said that pr Kilmar tin took the wrong stand It is no in. dignity for q physician to sign q con tract It is done everywhere through out the country. When physicians are engaged as city or health officers they are not bought like metal''
 pr Kilmartin said that he. had prac ticed economy in every way and had tried to keep the expenses as low q: possible
 Would you suggest way of bury ing those who die from smallpox?. was asked by Dr kilmartin. who said: ..I IS not pleasant task. Two prominen1 undertakers refused to bury Coffev ar any price, while another would do il for about $S00''
 The city would not pay $500" said Mayor Kilduff.
 President Lawlor said that the heayi est part Of the expense in tha smallpoS epidemic is now over, and Health Off cer hilmartin said that he did not ey pect many more new cases.
 Commissioner Lord asked inc healtI officer if he thought that there woult De fresh outbreak of smallpox in thi, city next fall. The reply was: "It j, something very difficult to answer. W, have been trying to stamp it out of ex lstence forever in this city. The duar antlne of houses has been longer thar in other eities''
 Commissioners Lord asked the healtf officer if he would not be willing tt take good salary from ns,w until Jan nary l to take care of the snallpo, cases. the present cases and any new cases Dr Kilmartin replied that tL. proposition was very reasonable one