Correspondence.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 1451, 22 June 1876, Page 3

Correspondence.

MEDICAL MEN AND INFECTIOUS .', DISEASES. . . - : : .;..• TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMABU HBRAID. ; Sib, — If' I am not again trespassing too ~ much upon your space, will you. kindly. insert » the enclosed extract from a- "Meeting of; the National Association for the Promotion '* of Social Science," Adelphi, London, nt which- • a paper was read by JJr Alfred Carpenter,-.- - "On t,ht» right of the Stuto to obtain early information of the appearance of epidemic or - infectious diseases ma. given district?" As tho subject is v matter of eitreme importance to all communities, I need uot apologise for , its insertion. You will permit me to add I "! have only by this morniug's post received it •-,% from Home. . . ., ; I am, &c., ■ -r. T. O. Eatner, M.D., • : Chairman, Teinuka Board of Health. . .- Temuka, Juno 21, 1876. ■ . ■;■ P.B. — I need not say that Dr Hammond's .' letter is my reason for troubling you with the ! above-named extract, and one worthy of my ■ professional bretlir'ens* consideration. ••.-"■ .- - T. O. R. r

"MEDICAL MBIT AND LyFEOriOOS • ' Diseases. ■ .'■..■■■: "At a meeting of the National Asso •iation ' for tlio promotion of Social Science, held last evening nt the Society's rooms, Adam-street, Adelphi, a paper was read by Dr Allred Carpenter on ' Tho right- of the' State to. obtain ) early information of the appearance of 1 epi- : domic or infectious discuses m a given district;' the principal point, elected for discussion bein;; embodied m tho appended query, 'Ought, tho tuedieal attendant io bo tlio m- ' former ?' The chair was taken by Dr B. W. • Richardson, EVR.S., who opened the proceedings with a lew intro luct^ry roiiiarks having .. referenco to . the bri-'iti of: tho paper, wliich,- i lie said, had been Suggested by a debute'afc tho ! last Social Science meeting at; Brighton on tho subject of thedosirability of compulsory coin--munication 'of cases of 'infectious discuses occurring m lodging- houses, &c.,ut wateringplaces. Dr Carpenter then proceeded to r. ad his paper. With regard to the legitimate ri^ht of the G-overnni nt. to become cognisant of the atato of an -infected house, there ' • could, the niithor held, b'ii no doubt. Neither : : inns there any reason why our Legislature i should n>t take tho same stops with regard to a single infected, household us m tho easo ; of v whole district. The desirability had been su'gges cd of passing a legislative enact- ■ nicnt r ndering it compulsory lor Lhb medical men at once to communicate with the medical -i officer of.tho. district on meeting wjth a case- :; of. infectious disease. There "were' sdverul ob- ••> j'ectiuns that might' bo brought forward in' opposition i to tho adoption ;of euoh a stop!: ' For':instancc,'there would be ; a tendency to ■■■ injure that.feeling of 'trust' and I confidence- '„-- existing between tha- ■ doctor nnd.tho'.putient. It had 'lilgii \bden pointed out 'that the roqui- ■ ■;■• silo ■ information .might' bc»- supplied' by non-i- - ; professional: pirraons, such its members i of. tho . ■„ household wheroiu the Odspi might' occur/ say- r. the head of the house ; for tliothno being. - < probably r the' most satisfactory > way out^of . the difficulty would-be : to render 'it ;incum-. i beut : upon tho • head of tho' : household'! .'; : to make ■immediate import- of orory case ofc. ■ ; disease to the -medical' 1 officer 'of health, 1 leaving it in'tho power of the lattor to rdquiro" ■.: &ny. necessary information with fogard to tho ■ • case Irom the family insdiculattendant. "£\\b ..- hitter would thus be 'relieved from ' any obli- ;■■ galion or public responsibility except' the >■'■ aiiswering of reasonable questions put by. tho ■•■•[ medicaLofficer, for which ho (tlio attendant) ! •-< should receive a Buituble fee: ; Dr Carpenter ■■ ■'; having resumed his seat, Mr Adam Scott •. read a letter andreportfrom Dr Egeling, Ohiof ■ ! Medicar Officer -of . Health. ■to the •■: Dutch, t Grovernrneiit; -detailing tho mode of dealing .-.- with infectious : diseases adopted by the^Logis- 0.l luturo m; Holland, i A prolonged' discussion.': ' ensued; m tho course of which thd; view's of--Dr Carpenter were both supported and bori- . t troverted. Mr' James Harvey ;as a fopresen- ~ tutivo of the'Hamj)stead To3try,:a^drD^vLo^d^■>li as;amedlcaLof^oer•of•h'oult!i for Ihaidistriet,: : : referred to the important sanitary questions • r • which had»-rocently. agitated ■ the— looalifryy— <=» speaking warmly m. favor, of.the adoption of.a , system of. universal compulsory registration b £■ disease. Tho meeting concluded with tho usual compliments to the author aud to : tiio chiiirinan."- -.."' — .-, [■ ■, -.'••., ,•■•-,.•■■■ •-,'•'.