TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1917, Page 6

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. " The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was licld yesterday. Present: Mr. J. 11. Hill (acting-chairman), Mrs. E. Dockrill, E. Maxwell, M. J. Meßeynolds, D. McAllum, <i. V. Tate, and J>. H. Mac Donald, leave of absence was granted to Mr. E. Gilrnour. DEATH OF CHAIRMAN. The acting-chairman said that before the ordinary business of the meeting was proceeded with he desired to refer to the passing away of their chairman, the late Mr. C. M. Lop per. He moved: "That the Taranaki District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board expresses its deepest sympathy with Mrs. Lepper in her recent very sad bereavement, and that a letter of condolence be sent to her with ft copy of this resolution. And that this Board place on record the late Mr. Lepper's very long and faithful service us secretary, chairman, and member, extending over a great many years." The motion was carried in silence, all standing. MEMBER RESIGNS.

On the minutes being read Mr. McCallum questioned ihe accuracy of tho paragraph relating to the letter from the doctors tendering their resignations. He contended that the resolution, or amendment, said to have been carried was put and lost before he left the room. If the minutes were correct it must have been put again after his departure, which was contrary to all the rules of public business. Mr. Maxwell said his recollection was that when the amendment was put all the members did not vote, and lie had pointed out that they were required to do so. He therefore demanded a division. and it was then and before the division was taken and the amendment was carried that Mr. MoAllum left the room. There was no doubt the proceedings were in a muddle at the time, but it was very late and some of the members were anxious to get away. .Mr. McAllum said his clear recollection was that the amendment was declared lost. Had it not been the chairman would not have proceeded to put Mr. Gilmour's original motion. Things were so muddled that he would not continue as a member of the board. The chairman referred to the hostile attitude adopted by Mr. McAllum towards him during the whole of the previous meeting, lie (Miy Jlill) did not pretend to be a perfectly efficient chairman by any means, hut he had not Bought the 'position, although he had done his best.

On the motion for the confirmation of the minutes being put, Mr. McAllum voted in the negative and left the meeting, stating, in reply to the aeting-ehair-ttian, that he would send along his resisnation in writing at a later stage. The secretary, on being referred to, said Mr. Maxwell's explanation of the position at last meeting was correct. Mr. McAllum was in the room though not seated at the table when the division was demanded but left before it was taken. The minutes were then formally confirmed. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

Dr. Walker repotted that during August lis patients had been admitted to the hospital, SO discharged and five had died, 111! patients remaining. The highest number for one day bad been 1-1 and the daily average 1n.1.1. The number of operations had been 57. lh" month just closed had been the heaviest in the history of the hospital, five records having been established. With one more ab-ent on holiday and five oil duty through illness the stall had been heavily taxed throughout the month, but had re-ponded finely and the situation was now in hand. The isolation block had eleven eases of scarlet fever and ' Tariki" had to accommodate seven, in addition to the nurse on duty. Three cases of dipntheria had to be nursed, with the usual precautions, in the main building. Nurse I'etchctt had given complete satisfaction in her probationary period as charge nurse, lie therefore recommended her appointment to the varant sistership. Miss Maclean, assistant inspector of hospitals, paid her statutory visit to the institution on September 8.

The report, was adopted and Nurse Petebett appointed as recommended.

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The matron of the Old People's Home reported that everything had progressed j favorably at the institution, the supplies had been good and the discipline excellent. There" had been two admissions, and the inmates now numbered 40, namely -40 men and six females. The report was adopted. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The house steward reported upon !he month's work at the hospital, and .-■trongly recommended the appointment it) relieve the present heavy strain on M,ie male staff, the work in the new hospital being much greater than in the ■ ■ d one. Numerous repairs and altera't, ms had been carried out. The inside .-if the annexe and shelters were in a i ~ry bad state and should immedtaeh be painted, lie hoped the board would i ~oon provide an incinerator. The report was adopted, and it was ' decided (1) to instruct the board' 9 arj chiteet to prepare plans and specifications for an incinerator; and (2) to invite applications for the position of night porter. FARM COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The farm committee (Messrs J. R. Hill and G. V. Tate) reported that 12001bs of milk \v:i- i.i'iiijr sent to ttie hospital weekly, hut this was much short of requirements, as from SOlbs to OOlbs of I milk had to ho bought daily. This was due to a large extent to the fact that no provision had been made for growing winter feed, but the manager was doing his best under existing circumstances. It should be borne in mind that there was only about from 20 to 30 acres in • tass, vet the farm was carrying 17 cows, live fa'lves and two horses. The report detailed the work done during the month, and stated ihat the manager had a good :trea of the garden in cabbages, canlillowers, peas, beans, and other garden stuffs which were coming along very nicely. Mr. Tate suggested that it be advisable, considering ihe limited area of farm, for the board not to breed i *edigiree stock. At* tlie piesent time „ c ,\ v -"milk was bein} used to feed pedi„reo Cjives in order to give them a good start l't be better ' he t,loU oht. for tile boa.*<l to have an ordinary herd of heavy milder*. even it the but.cvfat test was nal «" at P reMnt ' Tl>» report was

HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The health inspector (Mr. A. li. Kendall) reported that during the past month 27 cases of infectious disease were notified in the district, being four cases of scarlet fever, fourteen of diphtheria, five of typhoid fever, three of tuberculosis and one of erysipelas. Of these there occurred in the Taranaki County five cases of diphtheria. there were three cases of scarlet fever, three of typhoid fever, two of tuberculosis and one, or erysipelas in New Plymouth. There was one case of scarlet fever at Waitara, one case of tuberculosis at To Kiri in the Egmonfc county, two cases of typhoid fever in the Clifton County and one case of tuberculosis at Ureriui. The svhoie of the cases had been visited and all possible steps taken to prevent the spread of infection The prompt meaeures taken in the matter of the scarlet fever outbreak had been successful in preventing the spread of ihe disease in the schools. The report was adopted. GENERAL, ' On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to write off the books of the board accounts amounting to £779 ss, charged against patients who were members of the nursing staff and recruits undergoing treatment to Tender them fit for military service. The medical superintendent notified his approval of the board's decision to extend the annual leave of nurses from a fortnight to three weeks.