S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2009, 18 February 1890, Page 3

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

1 l^ eet * n g of the above board was held ;«8t brulay, at wh ch Messrs J .cksrm (chairman), Sinclair, Barker, Quinn and -Ur Hogg «erc present. The chairman stated that there wer.several applications from persons at, Geraldine for children (including boys) to board. The children would be under the supervision of the local ladies committee and some of them would be sent up immediately. A summons had been issued against B. Daly for the treatment of his child in the hospital. He had had interviews with Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald respecting the board’s claim for treatment of the husband at the hospital. (Mrs Tilzgerald possesses property, the husband does not.) Mrs Fitzgerald told a pitiful story of her means, that the property was mortgaged up to the hilt. The husband told a different story, and he would rather believe him than his wife. Mrs Egan, the puerperal fever patient, had recovered and gone home ; the bill for the treatment was a heavy one £45, The board were now overdrawn £205. If one local body, the Arowhenua Town Board, would pay their small contribution of £5, this board would be able to get a government subsidy of £1376. It was a pity they did not pay up as their delay caused the board to pay interest for a heavy overdraft.

In reference to the Fitzgerald case it was stated that the husband, in the presence of a witness, gave his wife £IOO, and she promised to pay as a first chum the hospital account. It was decided to press the claim. Mrs Fish, Mrs Dunlop, and other ladies had found homes for six at Geraldine, and arrangements were being made for sending the children out there next week. A man named Smith, under a sentence of three years for burglary, refused to allow when applied to him to one of his children, a little girl, to be adopted by a reputable person, on the ground that "it would be mean of him to give his child to anyone.” The chairman said Mrs Egan had now gone home, and ho had agreed to give her 15s a week for two weeks.

Mr Moere wrote to the effect that the barracks were used as a poor house, a foundling hospital, a lying-in; hospital. The accomodation was scanty. There was np proper provision for classification, and he doubted whether the bedding and clothing was sufficient. He suggested to appoint a committee to enquire into the whole arrangements and ascertain whether it cannot be placed on a better footing. On tho motion of Mr Quinn, the chairmain, Dr Hogg, end Messrs Moore and Sinclair were appointed the committee suggested. . Accounts amounting to £l5B 14s 61 on hospital account, and £302 4s 6J on charitable aid account were passed for payment.

An exhaustive report was received from Messrs Menson and Marchant on the drainage and ventilation of the hof pita I, and consideration of the report was held over till,next moeting. They recommended some improvement in the drainage.

Mr P. Daly, who has been sued by the brard for the maintenance of his son in the hospital, interviewed the board, and expressed his determination not to pay, on the ground that his son had been badly treated and crippled for life. Drs Hogg ar.d Lawson examined the boy, and held that his injuries had been well attended to.

Mr Daly signified his intention to fight the case out in Court.

Dr Lawson was authorised to get a silver plate fur the skull of the boy named Powell.

Barker gave notice of the following motion ; “That the treatment of puerperal septicaemia cases be conditionally undertaken by this board ; that either part of the fever ward be fitted with the host dii-infecting appliances, and connected by telephone with the suigeon’s room, or that a small cottage be obtained and prepared in a similar manner ; that arrangements bo made with ho-phals having medical students for the services of one when required, and that one of our nurses be theoreticaliy and practically trained to treat tnose ctses* that the medical men of the district be invited to co-operate with the board in t his matter, and to agree to the following, namely : that when a case of puerperal septicaemia occurs in a medical man’s practice he will immediately report it to tho chaiiman and medical staff, who in consultation shall take each case on iis merits acd surroundings, and, wb<re practicable, will relieve the medical man in charge of his responsibility by providing treatment in the special ward or at ihe residence of the patient, the expenses being wholy or in part, according to their circumstances,[guaranteed by the relations, except in cases of known poverty.” The meeting then adjourned.