Infectious Diseases.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 32, 7 February 1901, Page 2

Infectious Diseases.

WANTED TO KNOW—WHO IS

RESPONSIBLE ?

At the meeting of the Hospital Trustees last night, after the other business had been concluded, Mr Macfarlane said that some notice should be taken of the matter that had been discussed at the Borough Council meeting the previous night hi regard to the isolation of a case of scarlet fever that existed in the town.

The Chairman (Mr Nolan) said that it was merely a matter of funds. Many years ago the ward now being used as a nurses’ ward was erected for typhoid fever patients, it being thought that typhoid was a contagious disease, a supposition since disproved. It was found impossible at the distance the building was from the hospital to have patients properly attended to there without an extra staff, and the building remained practically unused for some years until it was removed to its present position adjoining the main building. He quite agreed with the necessity for a building if there was going to be an extensive outbreak of scarlet fever. First they would require the building, and then the staff'.

Mr Harding said it would only be wanted in a case of this sort.

Mr Kennedy: It would have to be a separate staff from the mam Hospital staff.

Mr Macfarlane said he thought it would be better to isolate the particular case. If a building were put up it should be like those erected elsewhere during the plague scare—a building that could be burnt down after after an epidemic was over. Mr Harding was of opinion that fumigation was sufficient after scarlet fever. After some discussion on the point raised, the Chairman said that the case in question was a matter for the Board of Health to deal with.

Mr Kennedy : It has been our policy to refuse to take contagious disease cases here.

Mr Macfarlane : We dare not take them —it would be criminal to have them here.

Mr Harding said they might have a four-roomed cottage in a corner of the grounds for such cases. The Chairman : The Board of Health is the proper body to deal with the matter — they can get money to do it, and wo cannot.

Mr Harding It is a very serious thing to have a case of scarlet fever in the town, alongside the school. Steps were taken to isolate it as much as possible, but the mother of the child was down town yosterday shopping, and other people are going backwards and forwards to the house. I think in a serious case like this there should be moro consideration shown.

Mr Macfarlane: Is it not our place as trustees

The Chairman: It has nothing to do with us. -

Mr Johnston: Wo are tho responsible people—the Borough and County Councils are boths Boards of health. Mr Macfarlane said that it was not in the county. Mr Dewing: We will soon have some more cases if the people arc always shifting about. The Chairman said that there had been scarlatina in the town before.

Mr Macfarlane said that that was very different to scarlet fever, which he said was very often fatal, and ho quoted instances that had occurred during his boyhood.

The Chairman said his impression was that it was the same thing under another name.

Mr Hardmg: Dr Cole told the Mayor and myself that this case was one of tho most pronounced cases he had seen, I think hp ssid in New Zealand.)

The Chairman : I do not for a momeni doubt that this is scarlet fever,

In reply to Mr Dewing, ..Mr Harding said that the patient, a boy, had come from Wellington, and had been in Gisborne about six weeks.

Mr Johnston: The Borough Council last night seemed to think that tho responsibility rested with the Trustees. The Chairman: The Council did not seem to think very much of it—thoy ouly thought of how they could rid themselves of the responsibility. Mr Kennedy: There were five of us there. (Laughter.) Mr Johnston : Better saddle the right horse. If the Council is to attend to the matter, the sooner that is understood the better.

The Chairman : They should understand it. Mr Johnston: Then it is for us to repudiate responsibility. The Chairman: There is no responsibility. Mr Johnston: It would be better to write to the Council and inform them that it has come to our knowledge that they think the responsibility lies with the Trustees, and—if you are sure—it is better to inform them that it does not. The Chairman : lam sure it has nothing to do with the Board; it would bo the same as in the case of plague. We are not a recognised body under the Act for such purposes, Mr Johnston : If you are sure of your ground, I will move in the direction that the secretary be instructed to represent the position to the Council. The Chairman: There is nothing before •us. Mr Macfarlane: Still, the matter has come up.

Mr Johnston: Last night, it was stated at the Council that the matter .vould bo left to the Trustees.

Mr Kennedy: That was when discussing the removal of the building. Mr Johnston: Yes, but if we went away with the impression that the Hospital Trustees were responsible to find a place Mr Harding : I do not think so. The Chairman: That was not my idea. Mr Harding said that the Mayor had said that all that could be done in the way of instructions had been done. He (Mr Harding) was there when the people were told that they would have to get a nurse, who- would not be allowed out of the house, that anyone wanting to leave would have to be fumigated before doing so. But though it was stated that what was wished would be done, the mother, who was nursing the' child, had come out, and there was other communication with the hQifse, The Chairman i That has nothing to do with us Hospital Trustees—the only people who can deal with that are the Board of Health.

Mr Johnston said from the report he had read in that morning’s paper, "the public would get the impression that the Trustees were responsible, and were shirking the duty. The sooner the public were set right in the matter the better. The Chairman: There is no responsibility thrown on us. The only persons who can take steps are the Board of Health.

After further discussion in the same strain, the following resolution was adopted, on the motion of Mr Johnston, seeonded by Mr Kennedy : “ That according to the reports of last night’s Borough Council proceedings, an improssion appears io have been ‘created 'that the Hospital authorities are the proper persons to deal with the present case of scarlet fever. The Secretary, therefore, be instructed to write the Borough Council pointing out that the case is beyond the province of the Hospital Trustees, and should at once receive attention from the local Board of Health, it being the proper body to control such a case. 1 ’"