INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 268, 22 March 1911, Page 5

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

A CHRISTCHURCH CASE. By Telegraph.—Preßa Association. Christchurch, Last Night. A boy five years and a iian old, a son of Charles Talbot, of Walton street, Sydenham, who on the 2nd inst. was an mitted to the infectious Siseasus hospital at Bottle bike suffering from scarlet fever, managed either to escape or to be decoyed away from the institution on Monday last, the 13th inst. The parents of the boy state that the litle fellow arrived home on Monday evening last, having, according to his own statement, walked to town and then got a lift in a cart to Sydenham. The matron at the Bottle Lake hospital, on the other hand, alleges that the boy was allured away, either by the parents or by someone acting for them. On Dr. Finch, district health officer, being seen by a reporter, and asked for information regarding the case, he stated that the position was that if the child was not returned to the Bottlfi Lake hospital by noon to-day the machinery of the law was to take effect. An order had been issued under the Public Health Act calling upon the parents to place the child in the hospital. If this was not complied with, action would be taken under sub-section (d) of section 33 of the Public Health Act, which provides that "every person who wilfully disobeys an order or in any way obstructs or delays the prompt execution thereof is liable to a fine not ex ceeding £10." Dr. Finch added that everything possible was done to persuade the parents 'to allow the child to go to the hospital, and they were tola that by doing so whatever complaints they had against the institution would not be prejudiced. On the reporter visiting the parents' home shortly after noon to-day, he found that the child had not been returned to the hospital, and the parents stated that they had no intention, of sending it back, though they were quito willing to have it kept apart.