Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-03-02

A lively discussion on the subject
of placarding for contagious dis
ease cases took place among the
Board of Health commissioners,
physicians and citizens, at a public
meeting held for the purpose last
night in the council chamber at city
hall. Many arguments were present
ed for and against the present sys-
tenn and the result was that COM
mittee of four, composed of two
health commissioners and two ply
sicians, was named to urge the coun-
oil to erect an isolation hospital ad-
5acent to, or in the rear of the pres
ent hospital.
The action last night tends to indi-
cate the elimination of placarding
and the establishment of isolation
promised the health commissioners
that the hospital staff of physicians
would attend to the isolation branch
and that the nurses of the city hospi-
tai would as well. He claimed such
q department would De boon to the
community and 1t would give train
ing to the hospital nurses.
Many interesting phases in the
work Of physicians In the contagious
disease line developed in the discus
sion. The one main objection to the
present form of placarding seemed to
be the unwillingness OF the public
to have contagious disease cases re-
ported thus creating laxity among
physicians in reporting such cases.
In accordance with the state law, the
cases must be reported by the physi-
clans.
DR.. William e. Ramsay stood frm-
ly for the abolition of placarding,
taking the same stand he did ten
years ago, when he voiced his senti-
ments against such system. He
stated that many cases of cRntagion
are reported by physicians in this
city simply because the people affiict-
ed and their families object to pub
ncity.
The meeting started shortly after
o'clock. President Sibley, Com
missioners Henderson, Kaletsch, P,
N Kennedy, A. p. Kennedy, Kreiel-
sheimer; Health Officer Lund and
Deputy Inspectors Frost and Kerr,
were present. Thomas Grieve, who
has rendered his resignation as
health commissioner; DIR. j. G. VIII
son, DR.. William e. Ramsay, DR.. e.
A. Hults, Franz Nielsen, Rev. Will
liam H. Bawden, A. j. Rossi and
Charles Beck were in the audience.
President c. c. Sibley made few
Introductory remarks, giving the
purpose of the meeting and conclud-
ing by Offering the floor to those
wishing to voice opinions. DR.. VIII
ho q
of numerous scarlet fever cases of
late had led to the discussion of the
subject of placarding. Some years
ago he was opposed to placarding. ln
fact, he asserted, that he was not par
ticularly in favor of it now. He ex-
planned how people living in rooms
behind their stores and places of bus
iness, or above the stores with con-
tagion in their family were caused to
suffer by the placard. He intimated
the placing of placard near store
door was the means of driving
away business He told how harm
was caused by people ignoring mild
cases of scarlet fever, simply because
they were opposed to having pla-
card on their door. He illustrated
how, in that manner, cases were Of
ten not reported to physicians and
members of the afflicted family al
lowed to go about. He expressed
himself as not being opposed to the
present system but said 1t was his
opinion that placards are the ruina-
ton of business temporarily in many
cases. He added that he stood
neither for nor against placarding.
DIR. Ramsay next took the floor and
vigorously attacked placarding. He
said he agreed to large extent with
the opinion of DR.. Wilson. He told
of having been opposed to placard-
ing for years and said his opinion
was based chiefly upon his own per-
sonal experience. He referred to the