HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 203, 16 January 1913, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETINO. Tlio Tarunaki Hospital and Charitable -it Hoard met yesterday, .Mr. 1). If. MeUonald, in tin- absence of the chairman, Oilier members ]>re.s<'iit wore: Messrs (!. AV. Browne. W. Cutfield, M. J: Mcl'eynolds, D, McAllum. -T. I.». Ilill, J. Drown mid A. 11. Ilaleombe. IXCLEWOOD SEPTIC TANKS. The Board's inspector submitted a ropy of a report, made at the request of the high-wood' Borough Council, on the condition of the septic tanks at Inglewond. On the occasion of all his visits to the tanks, including his latest inspection, he had found every part of the tanks working in a most satisfactory manner. The inlets info the tanks were in good order and working satisfactorily. and the automatic Hushing syphons and clumbers were doing all that was required. The aerating and distributing pipe* were clean and ill good order, as were also the filter beds, which showed not the lea.st sign of sewer sickness. No smell was noticeable on any part of the works, and in his opinion the town of lnglewood was i.o be congratulated upon the possession of such satisfactory and efficient out-fall works for dealing with its sewage. (IKNERAL. The Audit Office, wrote pointing out that the balance-sheet of the Board for the year ending March. 15)12, disclosed the fact (hat the hank overdraft exceeded by £430 0s 4d the limit imposed by section 57 of the Act. As this was tantamount to illegal borrowing, lie would be glad to hear at an early date that tlie Board had taken the steps necessary to comply with the terms of the statute. —Members contended that the fault lav with the Olovernmerit in keeping the Board waiting several months for subsidy, running into £SOO odd, and in expecting it to commence work in connection with the new hospital out of current revenue. The Treasury forwarded special subsidy to the amount of £545 4s on account of the P.roo'mc bequest, together with ordinary subsidy'to the amount of £370 8s Id.' Accounts amounting to £052 9s 10d were passed for payment. THE HOSPITAL. In a report covering the operations of the Hospital during December, the mediea! superintendent (Dr. E. Walker) stated that 43 patients bad been admitted to the institution and 20 discharged. There had been four deaths, leaving 41 patients remaining in the Hospital. Twentv-five operations had been performed. At present the Hospital was full, and as three nurses had been detailed for annexe and isolation duty, the strain on the staff had been a heavy one. Xurse Sinclair had been secured for relieving duty and extra probationers called. Two of the nursing staff would be off duty for an indefinite period. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

The acting-matron (Miss E. Harris) reported tliat during the month just ended- the discipline at the Old People's Home had been very good and the supplies satisfactory. There had been four admissions and two departures, leaving in the Home .six women and 33 men. INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The Board's inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) reported that during the past month one case of diphtheria, three cases of scarlet fever and two cases of phthisis were notified in the district. He hud enquired into these cases and also thoroughly disinfected the premises affected. He and also made very careful and exhaustive enquiries into the recent outbreak of ptomaine poisoning in New Plymouth and reported upon the same to the PnlClic Health Department.