Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1902-12-11
HEALTH BOARD
TALKS SMALL POX

Those present at the Board of
Health meeting Thursday night were
President Sites, Jesse Davis, Charles
b. Bellows, DR.. Jacob G. Streets, Mr..
VIM. H. Ballenger, DR.. J. @. Appel.
gate.
Concerning the proposition to give
the South Jersey Sanitary Association
the sole franchise as scavengers for
five years, President Sites said it
was impossible to have such an ordi.
nance drafted. The law authorized
such contract to be made but for a
single year.
Inspector Bellows said that a repre-
sentative of the company had in
formed him that the concern would
accept one-year franchise, but was
not ready to take up the matter at
this time
In connection with this proposition
a communication was received from
the Real Estate Owners Protective
Association which urged very careful
and conservative action and inferring
that it would be unwise to surrender
this franchise to a single concern.
The comm unication was received and
filed
Mr.. Bellows reported the Isolation
Hospital practically complete, neces-
sary furniture purchased and recon-
mended the purchase of half ton of
coal and some window shades. The
coal was ordered but the shades did
not appeal'to the majority.
Health Inspector Bellows presented
lis monthly report, showing three
nuisances reported and abated There
had been during the month five cases
of diphtheria, one of chicken pox and
five of typhoid fever. The latter
cases were investigated fully, water
and unsanitary conditions were re-
sponsible. The Inspector called at
tention again to the general nuisance
of expectoration upon the sidewalks
and in public places, and urged the
presentation of an ordinance prohibit
ing it. DR.. Sites said that such an
ordinance was in process of construc-
tion.
Two plumbing plans were reported
by Inspector Davis.
President Sites called attention to
the prevalence of smallpox in Lands
township, and felt that the Board
should seriously consider the very
grave probability that there would be
cases here. He wanted the Board to
clearly define it's position in smallpox
cases to the public. He felt that
there was an erroneous impression
extant, and that the public were of
the opinion that the Board of Health
assumed to treat patients afflicted
with smallpox.
DIR. Jacob Streets said that he had
been thinking over this matter, and
he expressed his views as follows:
LEST there be misunderstanding
regarding the attitude of this Board
touching the matter of smallpox it
seems to me advisable. just at this
time when the Isolation Hospital has
been completed, that the Board should
make clear to the public its duties
and responsibilities in such cases.
= There seems to be an impression
in some quarters that in the exercise
of its proper functions as protector of
the health of the public, it should as
sumo all expenses arising out of the
necessary isolation and quarantine of
smallpox thus relieving any person,
who by reason of having contracted
the disease has become menace to
the health of the community, of the
expenses and responsibilities con-
nected with said affiiction and shift
ing off upon the public. for one am
opposed to this view. unless it can be
clearly shown that it is the duty of
the Board
II do not think we are called upon
to provide food, shelter, nurses and
medical attendance in smallpox ,ases
free of expense to the patient, except
in the case of those unable to pay and
then through the regular relief chan
nels as provided by statute. -
Secretary Moore was strongly of the
opinion that the Boards sole duty in
the premises was to protect the public
health. Their functions were to iso-
late and quarantine cases, not treat
them.
The whole matter was very exhaus-
lively discussed, and finally, after
some trouble in getting satisfactory
motion framed, the President was
authorized to appoint committee to
investigate the powers of the Board,
and define them in an early report.
Tho prociIa ~ l.