Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1906-08-08
Board Of Health in Lengthy and lint
pOrtant Session COnfers About
Medical Inspection in Schools.
HEALTH CODE IN EFFECT AUG. IS

At the meeting of the Board of
Health last night, matters of vital inn
portance to the city's welfare were
brought to the notice of the com
missioners by the new inspector, DR..
G. w. Fithian.
The inspector does not think that
sufficient help is now employed by
the board at present, nor that the
sanitary regulations of the city are
properly enforced. At the time of the
appointing of the new inspector, the
board give him to understand that
they would give him plenty to do. On
the other hand the conditions have
been reversed, and at present the
members have many new matters to
consider that have never before been
brought before them.
Some time ago Dr.. Fithian wrote
letter to DR.. Mitchell, secretary of
the state board, telling them of the
conditions existing here, and in re-
ply DR.. Hunt was sent to confer with
the local inspector in regard to a
medical inspection of the school chill
dren of the city, which was acted on
last night by the board, who really
have no authority in the matter, 9th
er than recommending it to the Board
of Education. Commissioners St
John, Parr and Quick were appointed
to meet the school board, together
with Inspector Fithian, and to rec
ommend to them the medical inspec-
tion.
Over twenty cases of contagious
diseases were reported last month,
and the state board declares that
there are more here than in any 9TH
er part of the state. Last year there
were in this city 166 cases of diph-
liberia and 81 cases of scarlet fever.
These figures, says the inspector
show that at least IL or Is pa
tients are subject to quarantine all
the time. Infection spreads among
school children rapidly, and DR.. Filth
ian claims that many children are
out on the street, and also in the
o1hOOl lOOIiio bCIOlt tIlC SCI ltlo ttl (
out of their throats, which subjects
the other children to dangers that
can only be overcome by an inspec-
ton system.
Private house quarantining should
also be enforced, declares Dr.. Fitlian,
and strict measures taken to confiGe
the disease to the infected patient.
A letter which Inspector Fithian
wanted to show the board from the
state commission, did not arrive un-
til this morning. 1t was sent in re-
spone to a request of the local in
spector The letter is as follows:
Trenton, Aug. Z, 1906.
"To the Board of Health, Perth Am
boy, n. j.
"Gentlemen:-A report just re-
ceived from one of the inspectors OF
this board shows that the prevalence
of diphtheria in Perth Amboy de-
mands energetic treatment to arrest
its spread, and we find that addition
al inspection service is urgently need
ed In dealing with this disease it is
essential that isolation of patients
shall be effectually maintained, and
to accomplish this purpose, it is nee
essary that at least one additional in
spector shall be furnished by the
board in order that each case may bt
closely watched, and that violations
of quarantine restrictions shall b'
promptly reported to the health off
Ger. 1t is also essential in prevent
ing the spread of this disease that The
health officer shall have accurate in
formation in regard to each case, in
dicating its true character. This car
only be obtained by the examination
of specimens from the throats of pa
tients, and we advise that in the cast
of all persons who are placed unde
quarantine restrictions a specimen
from the throat shall be forwarded
to the state laboratory of hygiene fo
the purpose of verifying the clinica
diagnosis. Before the discharge o
patients from isolation restriction
two negative reports should be re
ceived from the state laboratory o
Hygiene, after the examinations o
specimens from the throats of thos'
who are believed to be convalescen
from the disease. In many cases i
is impossible, particularly in dealing
with tenement house dwellers, to sat
isfactorily isolate persons suffering
with diphtheria in the home of tn
patient, and we strongly advise thu
establishment by your city of a suit
able isolation hospital, to which pa
tients affected with diphtheria ma,