SCARLET FEVER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 10

SCARLET FEVER.

RECENT COURT PROCEEDINGS

BOTTLE LAKE SITE.

At tho meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday, the Public Health Committee reported that there were 160 cases of scarlet fever in Bottle Lake Hospital. A summary was submitted of tho recent proceedings in tho Magistrate’s Court, in which four convictions were secured out of live prosecutions. Mr T. D. Boag, chairman of the committee. said that the board had boon rebutted in the recent proceedings, but good would arise out of them. It was proposed to have the regulations revised. Mr 0. Bradley said that it seemed to him that the man with money got off on a technical point, and the poor men who came next, got fined. Mr W. W. Taimer asked if the hoard was satisfied with its own administration. Ho was not getting at anybody. Were they following the right methods? Their inspectors were not men of great medical knowledge. Was it not possible for the board to devise some printed code of rules that could he left at tho house by an inspector? There seemed to be some horribly lax ways in which the inspectors went about their duties. They should have tact and ability to talk to the excited parents of sick children. He had great sympathy with some of the men who g’ot fined, and the man who got off was a very fortunate man.

Mrs Wilson supported the issue of a leaflet. Mr F. Horrell said the Public Health Committee was framing a list of instructions. Mr W. S. Wharton (secretary) said that the instructions would have to be different in every household. No two circumstances were alike. Mr W. H. Cooper said that surely the board’s inspectors had enough brains to give tlie necessary instructions when thev called.

At a later period of the meeting, Mr Cooper asked if the committee had considered whether the site of Bottle Lake was satisfactory. Medical men had expressed the opinion that it was the worst site possible. The matter should be decided before any more money was spent there. Mr Horrell said that he knew nothing against tho site. The Health Department had approved of it, and the children progressed very well. Mr Bradley said that he could not understand Mr Cooper relying on medical opinion. (Laughter.) Mr 11. J. Otlcv said that the appearance of the children was the best proof that the site was excellent for the purpose. The recent epidemic of scarlet fever had been well handled, and the committee deserved tho thanks of the public. (Hear, hear.) Airs Wilson said that the sand made an excellent playground for tho children.

The majority of the members appeared to think that tho site was satisfactory.