BOARD OF HEALTH.

Kumara Times, Issue 1606, 19 November 1881, Page 2

BOARD OF HEALTH.

A meeting of the Board of Health was held on Monday last; present— His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Messrs Pollock, Dove, Barnett, Burger, and Wylde. A letter from the County Clerk was read, as follows : To the Town Clerk, Borough of Kumara. In reference to your telegram re reported ease of diphtheria in Scetrini’s family. I have referred the mattter to the County Chairman. It is, however, a mistake to suppose that a medical man’s services, at the expense of the County, are available, except in cases of absolute poverty. Scetrini s is not such a case; and no doubt he will provide the necessary attendance at his own cost, as indeed he appears to have already done. No doubt the medical men already called in will have given all necessary directions and taken the required precautions. I have asked Mr Kerr, the County Health Officer, to visit Scetrini’s premises, and to see that disinfectants, <£c;, are provided and used. _ . H. R. Rae. County Chairman s Office, Hokitika, November 12th, 1881. The Mayor reported that he had placed a man in charge of Scetrini’s premises ; also that the County Chairman had placed a man to relieve the other one. Also that he had agreed for this Board to pay half the cost of sending for Dr. Rossetti. It was moved by Mr Pollock and seconded by Mr Burger “ That Drs. Clarke and Porter be requested to visit the Scetrini family at once, and report to the Board.”— Carried. Mr Barnett moved and Mr Barger seconded made by the Mayor, as reported above, be confirmed by the Board.”—Carried. The meeting was then adjourned till evening. At 8 p.m. the Board resumed; present—The Mayor, and Messrs Campbell, Burger, Pollock, and Dove. Reports were received from Drs. Clarke and Porter in reference to the reported casesof diphtheria, as follow To the Kumara Board op Health. Gentlemen—At the request of your Board, I visited Scetrini’s children this evening, in consultation with Dr. Porter and after very careful examination of the three found ill, I have to report that the eldest child, aged 10 years, was found to be recovering from an attack of acute tonsillitis. The two other children, aged respectively seven years and three years, were suffering from ordinary sore throats. In neither case could I detect the slight- : est symptom of diphtheria. ° I am, gentlemen, Your obedient servant, W. Hughes Clarke, M.R.C.S., England; L.S.A., London. Kumara, Nov. 14, 1881.

To the Kumara Board op Hearth. Gentlemen—At the request of your Board, X visited .Scetrini’s children in consultation with Hr. Clarke ) and after a careful examinatidii of the three children; I find that Ro§e, aged 10 years, the eldest, is weak aild debilitated with slight enlargement of the right tonsil (the "remains of. quinsy and., abscess of right tonsil). Christina, aged seven years, the second, has slight sore throat and some enlargement of tonsils. Lucy, aged five years, has slight sore throat. All three children are doing well} And haTe no membrane or any sign or symptom of diphtheria whatever. I am, gentlemen, Your obedient servant, T. S. Porter; Kumara, Nov. 14, 1881. On tide motion of Mr Burger, seconded by Mr Campbell the reports were re l ceived. The meeting was then adjourned till the report cff Dr. Rossetti could be read. Last evening (Friday) the Board reassembled, when there were present the Mayor and Messrs Aiidersdn, Horne* Campbell, Bdrgef, arid Seddon. The minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed. The report of Dr. Rossetti to the County Chairman was read, as follows: To E. J. SErinotf. Esq.. Chairtriari of tile County Council,' Kumara; Sir—ln pursuance of instructions received from you on Tuesday evening, thd 15th inst., I have visited to-day Scetrini’s children, numbering four, at Kumara, and I have the honor to report as follows: I fqqnd them iri bed ifi the sanie room,’ the eldest girl, Rose, of 10 years, has been 13 days sick, and, owing to the length of her illness, it was difficult at first to decide what the nature of her complaint was j but on a minute examination I noticed the following characteristic facts, viz. : the redness of the posterior part of the’ throat had assumed a dusky hue, stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, and part of the fluid coming back through the nostrils, which shewed undoubtedly that the qhild had been suffering from a diphtheria affection. In the. other childreri I found redness and swelling, more or less, of fauces and tonsils (which may be seeri in ordinary sore throat), but I could not trace any symptoms of diphtheria, which no doubt was the' result of their being medically treated in time.—l remain, &c., Francis Rossetti. Hokitika, Nov. 10th,188i: Mr Seddon moved, and Mr Campbell seconded —“ That Scetrini’s family be isolated for a fevfr days longer.”—Carried. This terminated the meeting ot the' Board.