The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-18
PUBLIC
AMENDMENT TO HEALTH
BOARD RULES.
Would Isolate tuberculosis Patients
Who Endanger 0thers-0pening
of Verona Hospital.

Compulsory isolation Cor those afflicted
with consumption and who do not take
precautionary methods to insure against
the spread of the disease, was the chief
topic discussed at last nights meeting Of
the Board of Health. The sanitary COM
mittee was given authority to draw up
a resolution or an amendment to the rules
of the board providing for close confine-
nent for consumptives who disregard the
health Of others, as is now done in small
pox cases. The opening of the new hos
pital in Verona, where it is proposed to
house victims of the disease, also came up
for considerable discussion.
The question of the opening Of the new
hospital at Verona was first discussed by
President Herman c. H. Herold, chairman
of the special committee. Permission had
| been obtained, he said, from the
City Home trustees during a re
cent conference with the latter body
at the Mayors office, for the use Of a
road leading to the new hospital building.
The road runs up the long hill near the
City Home buildings. 1t will not be neccs-
sary, DR.. Herold said, for patients on the
way to the hospitals to pass over the City
Home grounds. Then the question of what
repairs and improvements In the building
were necessary was raised. Health Officer
David D. Chanller said, according to in
spectors sent there to look over the build
ing, there was not a great deal to do. DIR.
Herold said plumbing, sewage, cleaning
and general repairs would have to be made.
The report of the inspectors showed many
things had to be done.
"Wait until you get the bills. said Com
missioner Rutan.
Charles Halgring, one of the inspectors,
was called before the board by Health
Officer CbaLdler and questioned at some
Ian 9th Ho nnnld nnf mt an n9fl-
mate ON the cost cf all the work,
but said the plumbing would cost
about 800. There were defective boilers,
cracked walls, a leak in the roof, the floors
we're defective and needed repairing. The
problem of pumping up the water to two
tanks near the building also had to be
met. 1t was eventually decided to leave
the matter to the special committee, and
they will probably enlist the aid of an
engineer in getting the building in proper
condition. The sanitary system needs Inn
provement. Work will probably be started
at once.
DR.. wrightson said that some steps
should be taken to control consumptyes
when they endanger the lives OF
others by expectorating on the street,
and other habits. They had no right to
endanger the lives of others. They were
Just as bad, he said, as persons spreading
the bubonic plague. and while thte board
he thought might never exercise the right
it should have, the power to place them
In an institution such as the board was
going to open, it was time to act, he said.
Dr.. Disbrow said the matter could be
adjusted by inserting consumption in the
list Of contagious diseases, so that per-
sons who are afflicted with the disease
may be isolated or removed to a hospital.
The sanitary committee was given charge
Of the matter and will probably take some
steps to prevent expectorating.
Commissioner Dobbins said there were
but few breeding places for mosquitoes
In the city and those of the pests that
came here must be from other places.
According to the reports presented there
were 459 deaths reported for the month of
August, a death rate of 1886 per 1000.
Infectious diseases reported during August
were diphtheria. forty, a decrease Of seven
teen from July; scarlet fever, twenty-three,
decrease nine from July; typhoid fever,
thirty-five, decease ten from July; small
pox, five, increase five over July, epidemic
meningitis, two. decrease seven from July.
On the recommendation of the sanitary
committee the alcoholic clinic at the city
dispensary was discontinued.
Speaking OF the death rate of 1886, Health
officer Chandler said it was low, but might
be increased before the end of the year.
Fatal cases brought to local hospitals
from outside places we're figured in the
rate, he said, and helped to increase it.