Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-02-14
ENTIRE HEALTH B0.
STAFF IS RENAMED
John Hanson, Jr. Made Clerk Of
Board at Meeting Last Night
Health Officers Report
Brings Out Startling Fact.

partment with the exception of one
plumbing inspector were reappointed
at meeting of the Health Board last
night. John Kerr, who has been
plumbing inspector connected with the
department for nine years, was not re-
appointed. Applications and COM
plants from several plum bers were re-
ceived, and other routine matters at
tended to, including the monthly re-
port of the health officer.
Claiming that the low appropriation
that had been given them by the Board
of Aldermen, to carry on their work,
caused a necessary reduction in op-
Grating expenses, three members of
the board voting blank, while two
members voted for the retention of the
inspector.
The health officer, William ].
Willsey, was reappointed for a term
of three years at a salary of $1,000
year. Thomas Wilhelm, food and
sanitary inspector, was reappointed
for three years with an increase in
salary from $50 q month to $1,000
year. Carl Hegstrom was reappoint-
ed analyst and sanitary inspector for
| a term of three years at $50 month,
| and John Wodder was appointed
plumbing inspector for three years
at salary of 500 a month, a raise Of
| ten dollars per month.
The voting was done by ballot, and
| all were appointed unanimously with
, the exception of Wodder, who re-
ceived only four votes. On the vot-
| ing for Kerr, two of the commission
ers voted for his retention while
three voted blanks
| City Clerk John Hanson, Jr., who
| has succeeded Wilbur LaRoe, Sr., as
city official, was appointed clerk of
the board at salary of $500 year,
| L a1n
| ton was unanimous.
Richard ]. Calvin, Arthur Jorgen-
son and Antonio Pucci were warned
against doing work in this city with
out the necessary permits. and were
allowed to go with the warning, hav-
ing been summoned TO appear bss-
Law ~ lzast, Inc. OF New York.
made appIicat1oh Tor bIumbihg
license to enable them TO do work on
the new building for the Perth Ann /!
boy Savings Institution. Their appH- /
cation will take the usual course.
Collections to the amount of |.
s402.s5 were reported. with bills
to about $500 paid.
Health Officers Report
Startling conditions in tuberculosis
matters in this city were brought to
he attention of the health board in
he monthly report for January of
Health officer William j. Willsey,
presented to the board at their meet
ng held last night. A recommenda-
ion that a hospital for patients be
provided in this city for those una
ole to go to the White Haven or Glen
Gardner sanitariums was embodied
also.
The portion of the report dealing
with the tuberculosis situation fol-
ows:
Mr.. President and Members of the
Board.
"Gentlemen:-The following is a !
report of the work of the board for {
he past month: II
Contagious Diseases l(
You will note that the increase in :
he total number of cases of contag- ,
GUS diseases reported by physicians ,
Turing the past month, over the /
number reported for the same period
n 1916, is partly due to the spread +
If tuberculosis. Il
THE prevention of tuberculosis is
one of our most diff '
,ult problems. Physicians inform |
is that there are at least five unre-
ported or undiscovered cases to each
case and it is safe to say
hat at least fifty per cent. of these
Eases are menace to the communi-
y. IutIt are now OIl ItCOluf III IulS |
,ity, 100 cases of tuberculosis. Null
iply this by five and we have 500
Eases, 500 persons suffering from a
oathsome, incurable disease, fifty
Der cent. or ESQ of which are active
persons engaged in every line o:
work.
These people must work, for the ma
ority of them have others dependent
IN them or have insufficient funds to
i've on without. Finally the disease
overcomes these people and what
happens? The doctor is called, finds
| house full of children, and knowing
he danger of the constant exposure,
advises immediate hospital treatment.
He is told that they can not afford, it,
lie then advises them to apply to the f
reeholders through the Board of \
Health, for admission to the White
haven sanitarium at White Haven, ! t
Pa. They object. 1t is too far. The Il
amily cannot visit him. Finally, how S
ver, with the assistance of the tu- [
'erculosis nurse she succeeds in per- h
uading about half of these patients a
o go to some sanitarium, where the o
isease, if not too far advanced, is
rrested and they, again, become safe {
nd useful members of society. t
The other fifty per cent for reasons, e
ONE of which 1 have mentioned, re- t
use, or are unable to stand the strain I
f the journey to a hopsital unattend- t
d and in many cases, it is almost in
uman to suggest such course. Con- c
equently, they remain at home, a e
lenace to the family and possibly to t
he community, if they are engaged in V