Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-03-14
DEATH INCREASE
C0MPELS ACTION
Health Officer Points Out In
crease in Death of Infants
and Increase in Number of
Tuberculosis Cases Here.

Startling increases in infant death
rate and in the number of new tubef-
culosis cases in this city were the
subjects for considerable discussion
at the monthly meeting of the Board
of Health held last night. The report
of the health officer in regard to the
two subjects led to the discussion OF
what are considered two of the most
serious menaces at present of the
matters which pertain to the health
department.
There have been twenty-seVen cases
of tuberculosis reported in the past
two months, fifteen in January and
twelve in February. There are prob
ably many more cases unreported, In
sofar as the number of reported cases
is often a small minority of the actual
cases developed.
What are we going to do about
it ?" was the question propounded in
the report of the health officer. The
board, after a liberal discussion OF the
question, delayed action for two weeks
until their next meeting. They Will
endeavor to so work their plans as to
bring about the erection or estab-
lishment of a county tuberculosis nos
pital.
Need More Nurses.
In the month of February there
were fifty deaths from all causes, four
of which were of non-residents, glVlng
the city a death rate of 1916 per
1000 population. The death rate for
the same month last year was 1850.
There were three deaths here from
tuberculosis and eight from pneumo-
MIA. The record shows that twenty
| two or forty eight per cent OF the to-
| tai deaths that occurred during the
month were of infapt1Rder one yea
L. =
| W. j. Wi1Isey sag Z.
Now. I am firmly convinced that at
least one-half of these babies could
have been saved, that we know how
to do 1t, and that it can be done for
comparatively small sum of money.
What are We going to do about it?"
In connection with the query the
report spoke of the work being done
| by the public health nurse in the pub,
lie schools to prevent the spread OF
contagious diseases by carriers and
undiscovered cases. The records show
a marked decrease in disease among
children, demonstrating the value of
the work and fully justifying the ex-
| penditure of money for the cause.
But in order to do this we have
been compelled to give up our infant
| welfare work with the result pre-
viously mentioned" The report ask
ed whether the work is to be contin-
z, ued and the infants neglected, or is
the work to be discontinued and the
! infant work carried on.
| The health officer asks If another
nurse cannot be appointed for the in
fant welfare work. The work of the
! school inspection is one for the pre-
4 vention of morbidity, whereas the
infant welfare work is one to reduce
mortality.
I The board went into the matter
| but took action only on the appoint
ment of a committee to appeal to the
Board of Education to appoint theiI
own nurses to do the school work, al
/ lowing the Board of Health to have
J, their nurse fr the infant work. The
committee which win confer with the
Board of Education is composed OF
Health Officer Willsey Commissioners
Dilts, Pets, Rostkowski and President
Dinesen.
There were fourteen cases of
diphtheria reported in February five
of scarlet fever, twelve of tubercu-
losis and eight of measles.
There were sixty-five inspections
made by the food Inspector. and the
nurse made four sick visits, eighty
school inspections, 104 contagious
disease visits, and 2O2 diphtheris
cultures taken.
There were twenty-seven permit.
issued for plumbing work during The
month of February and 1875 inspec
tions made of the work being done
Thirty inspections were made of al
legged nuisances, eleven of which
were genuine: 139 reinspections o.
privy nuisances were made, and elev-
en- were abated.
The bacteriologist made 246 exam
nations of cultures, ETC., and sixty
five examinations of food and water