MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

To each County Board of Health; and to all whom it may concern.

IN pursuance of the powers vested in me by the Poor Relief (Ireland) Acts, 1838 to 1914, and the enactments amending the same, as adapted by the Adaptation of Enactments Act, 1922 , the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 , and of every County Scheme made under and in pursuance of the said last mentioned Act, I, the Minister for Local Government do, by this my Order, make and prescribe the following rules and regulations with respect to the meetings and proceedings of County Boards of Health, the appointment and duties of officers, and the government and management of County Institutions, that is to say:—

ARTICLE 1.—This Order may be cited as the County Boards of Health (General Regulations) Order, 1924.

ARTICLE 2.—The County Boards of Health (No. 1) Order, 1923, shall, without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder be revoked in so far as its provisions are inconsistent with or are replaced by the provisions of this Order.

ARTICLE 3.—In this Order unless the context otherwise requires:—

The word "Minister" means the Minister for Local Government.

The expression "Board of Health" means a County Board of Health established under or in pursuance of a County Scheme.

The expression "County Scheme" means a scheme for the administration of the relief of the poor made under or in pursuance of the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 .

The word "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Board of Health.

The expression "County Institution" means any Home, Hospital or other Institution provided and maintained under or in pursuance of a County Scheme.

The word "Officer" includes a nurse, assistant or attendant.

The expression "trained nurse" shall, for the purposes of Section 58, Sub-section 2, (a) (ii), of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, and of this Order, mean any person who has resided for not less than two years in a general clinical or other hospital recognised by the Minister, and who after examination, has obtained from such hospital a certificate of proficiency in nursing.

The expression "qualified nurse" shall mean any person who, after examination, has obtained a certificate of proficiency in nursing from any

(1) Public general hospital; or

(2) Workhouse infirmary and fever hospital; or

(3) Nursing institution;

that may be recognised by the Minister as an efficient school for medical and surgical nurses.

The expression "prescribed" means prescribed by the Minister for Local Government.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.

ARTICLE 4.—No member of a Board of Health shall act in virtue of his Office, otherwise than as a member, and at a meeting of the Board of Health, legally assembled, unless where specially authorized to act otherwise than at a meeting of the Board of Health.

ARTICLE 5.—The Board of Health shall hold their Ordinary Meeting on such day or days in each month, and at such time and place as they shall with the approval of the Minister appoint, and may, when they think fit, with the like approval change the day or days, time, and place of such Ordinary Meeting.

ARTICLE 6.—If a quorum be not present at any meeting of the Board of Health, an entry of that fact and of the names of the members present, shall, after the expiration of one hour at least from the time fixed for the commencement of the meeting, be made in the Minute Book by the Secretary who shall report the fact of such failure of attendance to the Minister.

ARTICLE 7.—If a quorum be present at any Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health, the majority of the members present at such meeting may adjourn the same to the day, of the next Ordinary Meeting, or to some other day previous to the day of the next Ordinary Meeting.

ARTICLE 8.—An Extraordinary Meeting of the Board of Health may be summoned to be held at any time, upon the requisition in writing, of any two or more members of the Board, addressed to the Secretary, and no business, other than the business specified in the said requisition shall be transacted at such Extraordinary Meeting: Provided that an Extraordinary Meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary, on being required by the Minister to summon such meeting.

ARTICLE 9.—Notice of every such Extraordinary Meeting and notice of every change in the period, time, or place of holding any Ordinary Meeting, and notice of the adjournment of any Meeting, shall be given in writing by the Secretary to every member of the Board of Health three days at least, if practicable, before the meeting to which such notice relates; but if any case of emergency should arise, requiring that an Extraordinary Meeting of the Board of Health should immediately take place, notice shall nevertheless be given to as many of the members as may be practicable, and they, if a quorum shall assemble at the ordinary place of meeting, shall take such case of emergency into consideration and may make an Order or Orders thereon.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

ARTICLE 10.—At every Meeting, the Chairman, or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman, shall preside; and if at the commencement of any Meeting, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be absent, the members of the Board of Health present shall elect one of themselves to preside at such Meeting as Chairman thereof, until the Chairman or Vice-Chairman (as the case may be) may take the chair. In case the office of Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall be vacant at the commencement of any meeting, such vacancy shall be deemed to be equivalent to the absence of such officer for the purpose of this Article.

ARTICLE 11.—Every question at any Meeting of the Board of Health shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present thereat and voting on the question; and all such votes shall be given openly and not by ballot or in any other secret manner.

ARTICLE 12.—No resolution previously agreed to or adopted by the Board of Health shall be rescinded, altered, or amended (except in pursuance of an order, regulation, or request of the Minister), unless some member of the Board of Health shall have given to the Board fourteen days' notice of a motion to rescind or alter such resolution; and such notice shall be in writing, and shall be forthwith entered on the Minutes by the Secretary, who shall, within seven days after such entry, forward a copy of the same to each member.

Provided always that this regulation shall not extend to any resolution which relates only to the admission into, or the discharge from, a County Institution of a poor person, or to any decision of the Board of Health arising on their examination, approval, or correction of the register of persons assisted.

ARTICLE 13.—At every Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health, the business (including any business which may have been adjourned from a previous meeting) shall be conducted in the following order:—

1.—The Minutes of the last Ordinary Meeting, and of any other Meeting which may have been held since such Ordinary Meeting, shall be read to the Board, and signed by the Chairman presiding at the Meeting at which such minutes are read; and an entry of the same, having been so read, shall be made in the Minutes of the day when read.

2.—They shall examine and approve or correct (if necessary) the Register Book of persons admitted into and assisted in a County Institution; and the Home Assistance Register; and such Register Books, when so examined and approved or corrected, shall be signed by the Chairman, and counter-signed by the Secretary.

3.—They shall receive and consider the Report of the Secretary or other Officer upon the execution of all Orders made by the Board at such previous meeting, or any preceding meeting; and shall give such further directions thereon as may appear necessary.

4.—They shall examine the Secretary's Accounts, the Treasurer's Book of Receipts and Payments, the Accounts and other Books of the Matron or other responsible Officer of any County Institution, the Extra Diet Check Book in respect of each County Institution, the several Home Assistance Officers' Accounts and the Accounts which may be required to be kept by any other Officer of the Board; and shall see that such of them as are required to be authenticated by the Secretary are duly authenticated and signed by him; and they shall thereupon direct such cheques to be drawn on the Treasurer, and such orders to be made on Contractors as may appear necessary to provide for the assistance of the inmates in each County Institution, and by the Home Assistance Officers in their several districts.

5.—They shall consider and decide upon, and give the necessary directions respecting all provisional admissions into each County Institution since the last Ordinary Meeting of the Board.

6.—They shall take into consideration the Minutes or Report of any Committee duly appointed under the County Scheme and they shall further consider all applications for admission to any county institution or for home assistance, and the particulars recorded in regard to each case in the Application and Report Book of each Home Assistance Officer, and shall decide whether any, and if so, what assistance or further assistance should be granted in each particular case; and the decision of the Board shall be forthwith recorded in the said Books, to be authorized by the signature or initials of the presiding Chairman in the columns respectively provided for that purpose.

7.—They shall consider the Report of the Matron or other responsible Officer of each County Institution, and order the discharge of such persons as appear to be no longer in need of assistance in such County Institution.

8.—They shall examine the Reports of the several Officers, and the Report of the Visiting Committee (if any), of each County Institution, and make such orders thereon respectively as may appear to them fitting and expedient.

9.—They shall take into consideration all letters addressed by the Minister to the presiding Chairman, or to the Secretary, and all other correspondence relating to the business of the Board; and the receipt and substance of such letters or communications, with such directions as the Board may give thereon, shall be recorded on the Minutes.

10.—They shall give all needful directions concerning the management and discipline of every County Institution, and the providing of furniture and stores, and other articles therefor.

11.—They shall proceed to examine and select from amongst the candidates presenting themselves before them, competent persons to fill any vacancy or vacancies that may exist amongst the Officers, whom the Board is legally empowered to appoint, due notice having been previously given of such election, as hereinafter provided.

12.—They shall transact any business connected with the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor in the County, or area to which the County Scheme relates and consider any resolution proposed by any member of the Board, relating to the business of the Board, but not having immediate reference to the business previously under their consideration, due notice having been given thereof, if necessary, as hereinbefore provided in Article 12; and the business so transacted and the Board's decision on such proposed resolution shall be recorded on the Minutes of their proceedings.

13.—The Presiding Chairman shall receive and shall cause to be read aloud by the Secretary, and entered upon the Minutes, any notice for the election of any Officer, whom the Board are empowered to appoint, or any notice of any resolution relating to the business of the Board intended to be proposed at any future meeting thereof.

14.—They shall transact any business arising under the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, 1851.

No matter or question shall be brought forward at the Meeting until all the business of the Meeting comprised in the foregoing order of proceeding shall first have been disposed of.

The Board of Health may, with the consent of the Minister previously obtained, make a rule in regard to the order of their proceedings, different from that hereinbefore laid down; and any such rule shall, when approved by the Minister, have the same effect as the order contained in this Article and shall not be rescinded or altered by the Board without fourteen days' notice, nor without the consent of the Minister.

When it shall appear to them necessary, the members present at any meeting of the Board of Health may, with the concurrence of all the members present, depart, at such meeting from the order of the proceedings hereinbefore laid down, or laid down in their general rule on the subject.

CONTRACTS.

ARTICLE 14.—All Contracts to be entered into on behalf of the County, relating to the maintenance, clothing, lodging, employment, or assistance of the poor, or for any other purpose relating to, or connected with, the general management of the poor, shall be made and entered into by the Board of Health.

ARTICLE 15.—The Board of Health shall, unless where otherwise authorised by law, require sealed Tenders to be made in the prescribed form for the supply of all provisions, fuel, clothing, furniture or other goods, or materials, the consumption of which may be estimated, one month with another, to exceed ten pounds per month, and also of all furniture, or materials, or other articles, the cost of which may be reasonably estimated to exceed twenty pounds in a single sum.

ARTICLE 16.—Any work or repairs to be executed in a County Institution, or the premises connected therewith, or any fittings to be put up therein, which shall respectively be reasonably estimated to exceed the cost of fifty pounds in one sum, shall be contracted for by the Board of Health on sealed Tenders in the manner prescribed in Articles 14 and 15.

ARTICLE 17.—Notice of the nature and conditions of the Contract to be entered into, of the last day and hour on which Tenders will be received, and the day on which the Tenders will be opened shall be given in some newspaper circulating in the County, and in such other manner as the Board of Health may direct, not less than ten days previous to the last day on which such tender shall be received: and no tender shall be opened by the Secretary, or any member of the Board or other person, before the day specified in such notice, or otherwise than at a meeting of the said Board.

ARTICLE 18.—When any Tender shall be accepted, the party making the Tender shall in pursuance of these regulations, enter into a Contract in writing, with the Board of Health, containing the terms, conditions, and stipulations mutually agreed upon; and whenever the Board shall deem it advisable, the party contracting shall, in like manner, find one more surety or sureties who shall enter into a bond in such penalty as the Board shall think fit, conditioned for the due performance of the Contract.

ARTICLE 19.—The Contracts shall be in such form as the Minister may, from time to time, prescribe or approve, if any form shall have been prescribed or approved for that purpose by him.

ARTICLE 20.—Provided always, that if from the peculiar nature of any furniture, provisions, goods, materials, or fittings to be supplied, or of any work or repairs to be executed, it shall appear to the Board of Health desirable that a specific person or persons be employed to supply or execute the same, or that they should be purchased without requiring sealed Tenders, as hereinbefore directed, it shall be lawful for the Board, with the consent of the Minister first had and obtained, to enter into a contract with such person or persons as may be deemed best qualified to supply or execute the same, and to require such sureties and securities as are specified in Article 18, or to purchase such furniture, provisions, goods, materials, or fittings, in such other manner as the Minister may direct or sanction.

THE REPAIR, UPKEEP AND INSURANCE OF COUNTY INSTITUTIONS.

ARTICLE 21.—The Board of Health shall once at least in every year and as often as may be necessary for cleanliness, cause all the rooms, wards, offices and privies of or belonging to any County Institution to be thoroughly cleaned and painted or limewashed and the cesspools to be emptied.

ARTICLE 22.—The Board of Health shall keep in good and substantial repair the premises constituting any County Institution, and shall from time to time remedy without delay any such defect in the repair of such institution, its drainage warmth or ventilation, or in the furniture or fixtures thereof, as may tend to injure the health of the inmates.

ARTICLE 23.—The Board of Health shall insure and keep insured the premises of any County Institution against any loss or damage by fire, for such a sum as shall be reasonably sufficient to cover any probable loss in such manner as the Board shall determine.

APPOINTMENT OF PAID OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 24.—(a) The Board of Health shall, subject to the approval of the Minister, appoint such officers as the Minister may from time to time direct or approve to perform such duties as may be specified by the Minister, and in particular shall appoint fit persons to perform respectively the duties specified by the rules and regulations in force from time to time to be the duties of the following officers:—

1. Secretary of the Board of Health.

2. Matron of the County Home.

3. Medical Officer of the County Home.

4. Porter of the County Home.

5. Matron of the County Hospital.

6. Medical Officer and Surgeon of the County Hospital.

7. Midwife of the County Home or Hospital,

and shall appoint such and so many assistants to the last mentioned officers as the Board shall, with the consent of the Minister, deem necessary for the efficient discharge of their duties.

Provided that the Board of Health shall, subject to the approval of the Minister:—

(1) Where expedient appoint the same person to perform the duties of Medical Officer of the County Home and Medical Officer and Surgeon of the County Hospital.

(2) Where necessary appoint a duly qualified registered dentist in actual practice as Surgeon Dentist of the County Hospital, and an Ophthalmic Surgeon of the County Hospital who shall respectively perform such duties as may from time to time be specified by the Minister in relation to such offices.

(3) Where children are maintained in any County Institution appoint a Schoolmaster or Schoolmistress, who shall perform the duties which may from time to time be specified in relation to such office.

(b) The Board of Health shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Minister, a Banking Company to perform the duties of treasurer of the Board, as specified by the rules and regulations of the Minister in force at the time.

(c) The Board of Health shall, subject to the approval of the Minister in each case, appoint such and so many qualified nurses to assist the Matron of the County Home and the Matron of the County Hospital respectively in the performance of their duties, and generally in the nursing and care of the sick in the County Home and County Hospital, and also such and so many wardsmaids and attendants, for the discharge of menial duties in the County Home and County Hospital, as the Minister shall from time to time think necessary.

(d) If in any emergency it appears to the medical officer of the County Home or County Hospital that the employment of one or more temporary nurses or wardsmaids or attendants is requisite for the proper treatment of any patient or patients in the County Home or County Hospital and if he informs the matron of the County Home or County Hospital in writing accordingly, it shall be the duty of the matron to engage a fit person or persons to act as such until the next meeting of the Board of Health, and the Board shall pay to any person so engaged such remuneration and expenses as the Minister may approve or direct. When communicating with the matron, the medical officer shall at the same time report fully in writing the facts of the case to the Board of Health.

(e) In any case in which under Article 24 (c) the appointment of a nurse, wardsmaid, or attendant is required temporarily, owing to an increase in the number of patients or for any other reason, the Board of Health shall, subject to the approval of the Minister, stipulate (notwithstanding the provisions of Article 45 hereof as to continuance in office) that any persons whose services are so required temporarily shall hold office for such term and at such remuneration as shall be directed or approved of by the Minister.

(f) Whenever, in the course of his professional treatment of the inmates of any county institution, a case arises which in the opinion of the medical officer of such institution necessitates his obtaining the assistance of another medical practitioner, the medical officer shall, if the circumstances of the case admit of such delay, apply to the Board of Health for authority to obtain the assistance of any duly qualified medical practitioner. If, however, the circumstances be so urgent as to render it necessary to obtain the requisite assistance before the next following meeting of the Board of Health, the Medical Officer shall apply in wri ing to the Matron or other responsible officer of such institution to obtain the services of the nearest available duly qualified medical practitioner; and it shall thereupon be the duty of the Matron or other responsible officer of such institution to obtain such assistance and to report the circumstances to the Board of Health at their next following meeting.

(g) If the Medical Officer of any County Institution be temporarily incapacitated by illness or other cause from performing his duties, he shall immediately, if practicable, communicate the fact to the Matron or other responsible officer of such institution, who shall thereupon employ some duly qualified medical practitioner to discharge the duties of the Medical Officer during such temporary incapacity, but not for any longer period than until the next meeting of the Board of Health, when the Matron or other responsible officer of such institution shall report the circumstances to them, and, if the necessity still exists, the Board of Health shall either continue such employment or make such other arrangements as they shall deem fit for the discharge of the Medical Officer's duties during his temporary incapacity.

(h) No person shall be appointed to the office of Medical Officer, matron, midwife, nurse, or porter, under this Order, who will not agree to give one month's notice previous to resigning the office, or to forfeit one month's amount of salary, to be deducted as liquidated damages from the amount of salary due at the time of such resignation.

ABOLITION OF OFFICE.

ARTICLE 25.—The Board of Health may, subject to the approval of the Minister declare any office to be abolished, within the meaning of Section 2 (a) of the Union Officers (Ireland) Act, 1885.

MODE OF APPOINTMENT.

ARTICLE 26.—Every officer to be appointed under this Order shall be appointed by a majority of the members present and voting at any Meeting of the Board of Health in the manner directed in Article 11; and every such appointment shall, as soon as the same shall have been made, be reported to the Minister by the Secretary.

ARTICLE 27.—Subject to the provisions of this Order, no person shall be appointed to any office under this Order unless he satisfies the Minister, either by examination or otherwise as the Minister shall think fit, that he possesses the necessary qualifications for such office.

ARTICLE 28.—(a) No appointment of any officer shall be made under this Order, unless notice that such appointment will be made shall have been given and entered on the Minutes at the Ordinary Meeting of the Board next preceding the Meeting at which appointment shall be made, and unless an advertisement giving notice of such appointment shall by the direction of the Board of Health, entered on their Minutes, have appeared in some public paper, at least seven days before the day on which such appointment shall be made.

(b) Such advertisement shall in the case of the appointment of the Medical Officer and Surgeon of the County Hospital be in such form as the Minister shall approve.

(c) This regulation shall not apply to the appointment of any person who may, subject to the approval of the Minister, be employed temporarily to act as an officer.

ARTICLE 29.—In the case of the appointment of any person in pursuance of Article 24 (c) of this Order, the Minister may dispense with the provisions of Article 28 of this Order, and the said provisions shall thereupon not apply to such appointment.

ARTICLE 30.—The Board of Health may, upon the occurrence of a vacancy in any office without any advertisement giving notice of the appointment, appoint a person to fill such office by transferring thereto with the consent of the Minister, a permanent officer in the service of the Board.

Provided always that notice in writing of the proposal to make such transfer shall have been given and entered on the Minutes at the Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health next preceding the Meeting at which the transfer is to be made, and that the Secretary shall within seven days after such entry have forwarded a copy of the same to each member of the Board of Health.

TRANSFER OF OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 31.—The Board of Health may where circumstances render it expedient with the approval of the Minister, transfer any nurse, wardsmaid or attendant appointed by them from one County Institution to another or from one part of the County to another, and may require such officer so transferred to perform similar duties in such other County Institution or other part of the County.

QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 32.—Subject to the provisions of this Order, no person shall, without the consent of the Minister previously obtained, be appointed to or hold any office under this Order who shall not have reached the age of twenty-one years.

ARTICLE 33.—No person shall unless the Minister otherwise approves or directs, be appointed to the office of Medical Officer and Surgeon of the County Hospital, who shall not undertake to devote his whole time to the duties of his office; and not to engage in private practice otherwise than as consulting surgeon in surgical cases within the County.

ARTICLE 34.—(1) No person shall be appointed to the office of Matron of the County Home or County Hospital who shall not have reached the age of thirty years.

(2) Every person appointed to the office of Matron of the County Home or County Hospital shall be a trained nurse within the meaning of Article 3 hereof.

ARTICLE 35.—The qualifications of the Medical Officer of the County Home shall be as follows:—

He shall be a medical practitioner duly registered under the Medical Act of 1886, after the 30th day of June, 1887, or entitled to practice, in pursuance of the qualifications possessed by him before the said 30th day of June, 1887, in medicine, surgery, and midwifery, and registered in respect of such qualifications under the Medical Acts and having been engaged in the regular practice of his profession for a period of at least three years preceding his appointment.

Provided that this regulation shall not apply to any person who shall at any time previously to his appointment as medical officer of a County Home have held office in any Union, either as medical officer of a Workhouse or medical officer of a Dispensary District having been duly qualified for such office at such previous time.

ARTICLE 36.—The qualifications of the Medical Officer and Surgeon of a County Hospital shall be as follows:—

He shall be a medical practitioner duly registered under the Medical Act of 1886 after the 30th day of June, 1887, or entitled to practise, in pursuance of the qualifications possessed by him before the said 30th day of June, 1887, in medicine, surgery, and midwifery, and registered in respect of such qualifications under the Medical Acts and having been engaged in the regular practice of his profession for a period of at least three years preceding his appointment, and shall have obtained a certificate from a visiting surgeon of a Clinical Hospital recognised by the Minister that he has had at least one year's practical experience in surgical work, including the performance of major operations, and shall also have a practical knowledge of X-ray technique.

ARTICLE 37.—The qualifications of a midwife of the County Home or County Hospital shall be as follows:—

Such person shall be certified under the Midwives (Ireland) Act, 1918, otherwise than in pursuance of Clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the said Act.

SALARIES OF THE OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 38.—The Board of Health shall pay to the several officers including temporary officers appointed to or holding any office or employment under this Order, such salaries or remuneration as the Minister may, from time to time, direct or approve. If no such remuneration or salary be expressly assigned to the Treasurer, the payment for the service of such Treasurer shall be deemed to be the profit arising from the use of money from time to time left in his hands.

ARTICLE 39.—The Board of Health shall pay to the medical practitioner employed to assist, or to temporarily discharge the duties of, the Medical Officer such reasonable remuneration for his services as the Minister shall approve or direct.

ARTICLE 40.—The Board of Health shall make no deduction from the salary of the Medical Officer in respect of any payment made by them under Article 39 of this Order, unless with the approval of the Minister previously had and obtained.

ARTICLE 41.—The salary of every officer, appointed to or holding any office or employment under this Order, shall, subject to the regulations contained in this Order, and to the obligation to account to the auditor, be payable up to the day on which he ceases to hold such office or employment, and no longer; but no officer having been suspended by the Board of Health, in pursuance of Article 46, and who shall without the previous removal of such suspension be dismissed by the Minister, or by the Board of Health, shall be entitled to any salary from the date of such suspension.

ARTICLE 42.—No officer appointed by the Board of Health shall be entitled to demand, receive or accept any fee or payment from any person in receipt of assistance.

SECURITY OF OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 43.—The Board of Health shall require every person appointed, or to be hereafter appointed to the offices of Secretary or Matron of a County Institution, and every officer employed in a County Institution in any office of trust, and every assistance officer and also (if the Minister direct) any banking company appointed to perform the duties of the office of treasurer of the Board of Health to give a Bond in such penal sum as the Board shall think fit, with two sufficient sureties, not being members of the Board of Health nor persons holding office under the Board under this Order, conditioned for the due and faithful performance of the duties of the office; and shall, from time to time, call upon such officers to supply a fresh surety in place of any such surety who may die, or become a member of the Board of Health, or accept office under the Board under this Order, or become bankrupt or insolvent, or be released from his obligation; and every such officer shall give immediate notice to the Board of Health of the death, insolvency, or bankruptcy of either of his sureties, and shall when required by the Board in pursuance of the above regulation, supply a fresh surety in the place of any surety previously supplied by him.

Provided that it shall be lawful for the Board with the sanction of the Minister to accept as security in lieu of or in addition to the security above referred to, the Guarantee Bond of any company, association, or society approved by the Minister.

ARTICLE 44.—The Board of Health shall provide for the safe custody of all Bonds given in pursuance of the Regulations of the Minister and so always that no Bond given by any person shall remain in the custody of such person himself: and the Board shall, once in every year (that is to say, at the Audit next after the 25th day of March), cause every person having the custody of Bonds given by any officer of the Board, or by any contractor for supplies, to produce such Bonds to the auditor for his inspection; and the fact of such inspection and any defects apparent in the said Bonds, shall be reported by the auditor to the Board of Health.

CONTINUANCE IN OFFICE AND SUSPENSION OF OFFICERS. EMPLOYMENT OF SUBSTITUTES.

ARTICLE 45.—The officers and assistants mentioned in Article 24 (a) hereof, and also any "trained nurse," or "qualified nurse," appointed heretofore or hereunder, shall, subject to the provisions of Article 24 (e), of Article 25 and Article 46 of this Order, continue to hold their offices respectively until they respectively die, or resign, or be removed by the Minister; and every wardsmaid and paid attendant may be dismissed by the Board of Health without the consent of the Minister, and every such death, resignation, or dismissal, and the reason of such dismissal shall be reported to the Minister.

ARTICLE 46.—The Board of Health may, at their discretion, suspend from the discharge of his duties any officer except the secretary, chaplain, or treasurer, and shall forthwith report such suspension, together with the cause thereof, to the Minister, and if the Minister shall remove such suspension, such officer shall remain and continue to discharge his duties; but if the Minister shall decide not to remove such suspension, the Board of Health may, on being informed of such decision of the Minister, dismiss such Officer.

ARTICLE 47.—If any Officer appointed to or holding any Office under this Order, be at any time prevented by sickness or accident, or other sufficient reason, from the performance of his duties, the Board of Health may appoint a fit person to act as his temporary substitute, and may, subject to the approval of the Minister, pay him a reasonable compensation for his services; and every such appointment shall be reported to the Minister by the Secretary as soon as the same shall have been made.

Provided always that except under the provisions of this Article, or with the special permission of the Minister, first had and obtained on the application of the Board of Health, every Officer shall perform his several duties in person, and shall, on no account, entrust the same to a deputy.

ARTICLE 48.—No Officer, who may have been dismissed by any Order of the Minister or by the Board of Health, shall, after such dismissal, remain upon the premises of any county institution, or enter therein for the purpose of interfering with the management of such institution, unless the Minister shall consent to his subsequent appointment to an office in such institution.

ANNUAL VACATION AND SICK LEAVE.

ARTICLE 49.—The Board of Health may, with the consent of the Minister, grant an annual vacation to any permanent officer on such conditions and for such period as the Minister shall approve.

ARTICLE 50.—The Board of Health may, with the approval of the Minister, grant sick leave to any Officer appointed to or holding any permanent office under this Order who is temporarily incapacitated by illness or accident from the performance of his duties, subject to the following general conditions:—

(i.) Continuous sick leave on full salary shall not be granted for any period longer than six months. At the expiration of such six months, if the officer is still unfit for duty, he may be allowed salary at not more than half the ordinary rate, and that for a further period not exceeding six months. After twelve months' continuous sick leave no Officer shall be paid any salary, but he may, in special circumstances, with the consent of the Minister, be permitted to retain his position without salary for a further period not exceeding six months, upon the expiration of which time, if unable to resume duty, he shall submit his resignation to the Board of Health.

(ii.) Cases of repeated, but not continuous, sick leave amounting in the aggregate to upwards of twelve months during any period of eighteen months shall be reported specially to the Minister, who shall decide what, if any, payment should be made in respect of salary during sick leave.

(iii.) Prolonged sick leave, allowed under the conditions specified in paragraphs (i.) and (ii.) above, shall only be granted in a case where a reasonable hope is entertained that the Officer will be able to resume the discharge of his duty.

Provided that the Minister may as a condition of approving of the granting of sick leave to any Officer require such Officer to submit himself to an independent medical examination.

ARTICLE 51.—The Vice-Chairman, or some Member of the Board of Health to be appointed by the Board, may perform any of the duties assigned to the Secretary until any vacancy in the office shall have been filled, or until a substitute be appointed in the case of the Secretary's absence through sickness, accident, or other sufficient reason, as provided for in Article 47.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

ARTICLE 52.—The duties of the Secretary of the Board of Health shall be:—

No. l.—To attend all Meetings of the Board of Health; to keep punctually Minutes of the proceedings at every Meeting, and to record therein all the particulars which are required by this or any other Order of the Minister to be so recorded; to enter the said Minutes in a Book, and to submit the same, so entered, to the presiding Chairman at the succeeding Meeting, to be authenticated by the signature of such Chairman, as a true record of the proceedings of the Board; and also, if required by the Board of Health to attend and assist in the proceedings of all Committees appointed by the Board, and to act as Secretary to such Committees.

No. 2.—To provide at the cost of the County, all Forms or Books of Accounts, Minutes, or other Books, as required of him by the Regulations of the Minister, or relating to the business of the Board of Health, and to keep the same, together with all Bills or Accounts, Letters, or other documents, relating to the business of the Board, in a place of safe keeping; to have custody of the keys by which access to such Books and Documents is obtained; and from time to time to produce all such Books, Documents, and Vouchers for the same together with the Bonds of any Officers or Contractors which may be in his custody, to the Auditor, at such place and time, and in such manner, as may be required by such Auditor, or by the Regulations of the Minister in force at the time.

No. 3.—To peruse and conduct the correspondence of the Board of Health according to their directions; and to preserve the same, and all Orders of the Minister, and letters received, together with copies of all letters sent by direction of the Board.

No. 4.—To receive all requisitions of Members of the Board of Health for Extraordinary Meetings, and to summon such Meetings accordingly as well as Extraordinary Meetings which he may be required by the Minister to convene, and to prepare, sign, and send all notices required to be given to the Members of the Board, by any Order of the Minister.

No. 5.—To produce at each ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health the Ledger Account of the Board, together with such other Accounts as he is required to keep, and also the Treasurer's Book of Receipts and Payments, and to submit the same to the Board for their examination; such examination to be attested by the signature or initials of the presiding Chairman.

No. 6.—Previously to each ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health, to examine the Books and Accounts required to be kept by the Matron or other responsible Officer of each county institution; and to ascertain the correctness of the entries made in such Books, and to authenticate the same, if accurate, by his initials, and to report any inaccuracies which he may find in such Accounts to the Board of Health, and generally to report on the working of the institution, and record such report on the Minutes of their proceedings.

No. 7.—To prepare for signature by the Board of Health all orders for payments lawfully drawn on the Treasurer of the Board, and all orders lawfully made on Contractors or other Tradesmen, and to record in the Minutes of proceedings of the Board the amount of each order on the Treasurer, and the name of the person in whose favour it has been drawn by the Board, and all orders given in favour of the Matron or other responsible Officer of each county institution and the Home Assistance Officers.

No. 8.—To communicate all orders and directions of the Minister, or of the Board of Health, to the Officers or other persons to whom they may be addressed; and so far as may be requisite, to give instructions for the prompt and correct execution of all such orders and directions, and to examine and report on such execution, or on any neglect or failure therein which may come to his knowledge.

No. 9.—To prepare immediately after the ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health, a copy of the Minutes of such Meeting, and of every Meeting held since the last ordinary Meeting, and punctually to transmit the same to the Office of the Minister.

No. 10.—To prepare and transmit all answers or returns, as to any question or matter connected with, or relating to, the administration of the laws for the relief of the Poor in the County, or to any other business of the Board, which the Minister or any Inspector may lawfully require from the Board of Health or from himself.

No. 11.—To prepare all written Contracts and Agreements to be entered into by any parties with the Board of Health, and to see that the same are duly executed; and to prepare all Bonds or other Securities to be given by any of the Officers and to see that the same are duly executed by such Officers and their Sureties, and that they are, from time to time, renewed, as occasion may require; and in case of the failure of any such persons duly to complete such Bonds or Securities, to give notice to the Board, and record the fact on the Minutes of their proceedings.

No. 12.—To observe and execute all lawful orders and directions of the Board of Health applicable to his office.

DUTIES OF THE MATRON OF A COUNTY HOME.

ARTICLE 53.—The following shall be the duties of the Matron of a County Home:—

No. 1.—To admit into the County Home poor persons in obedience to any order under Article 61, and to report to the Board of Health the admission of any poor person to the County Home otherwise than in pursuance of an Order of the Board of Health, and to take the directions of the Board of Health with respect to such person.

No. 2.—To register the name and religious persuasion of every poor person upon his admission, and to cause every poor person upon admission to be searched, cleansed, and clothed, and to be examined by the Medical Officer and to be placed in the ward appropriated to the class to which he appears to belong.

No. 3.—To enforce industry, order, punctuality and cleanliness and observance of the several rules herein contained by the inmates of the Home, and by the several Officers, nurses, assistants and attendants therein employed.

No. 4.—To see that prayers are read to the inmates before breakfast and after supper every day, at which all the inmates must attend, excepting those who are incapacitated through sickness, infirmity, or infancy, and those who object to such attendance on account of their religious principles; and to the inmates making such declaration the Matron shall if practicable cause prayers to be read by some one of their own religious persuasion.

No. 5.—To provide for and enforce the employment of adult inmates in such duties as they may be capable of performing, and to allow none who are capable of employment to be idle at any time.

No. 6.—To pay particular attention to the moral conduct and orderly behaviour of the female inmates and children, and to see that they are clean and decent in their dress and persons.

No. 7.—To report to the Board of Health, from time to time, the names of such children as may be fit to be sent to employment or to be boarded out, and to take necessary steps for carrying into effect the directions of the Board of Health thereon.

No. 8.—To cause the inmates to be inspected every day, and their names to be called over before breakfast every day, and see that each individual is clean and in a proper state.

No. 9.—To visit the sleeping wards of the inmates at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of every day, and to see that such wards have been all duly cleansed and properly ventilated.

No. 10.—To visit all the sleeping wards every night at or before nine o'clock, and to see that all the inmates are in bed, and that all fires and lights are extinguished.

No. 11.—To receive from the Porter the keys of the entrance to the Home at nine o'clock every night and to deliver them to him again at six o'clock every morning, or at such other times as may be fixed by the Board of Health, with the approval of the Minister.

No. 12.—To see that the meals of the inmates are properly dressed and served, and to superintend the distribution thereof.

No. 13.—To see that the dining halls, tables and seats are cleansed after each meal.

No. 14.—To send for the Medical Officer of the County Home in case any inmate is taken ill, or becomes insane, and to take care that all sick and insane inmates are duly visited by the Medical Officer, and are provided with such medicines and attendance, diet, and other necessaries, as the Medical Officer shall in writing direct, and to apprise the nearest relation in the Home of the sickness of any inmate, and in the case of dangerous sickness to send for the Chaplain or other licensed Minister of the persuasion of the inmate, as well for any relative or friend of such inmate, resident within a reasonable distance, whom he may desire to see.

No. 15.—To give immediate information of the death of any inmate of the Home to the Medical Officer, and to the nearest relations of the deceased who may be known to her, and who may reside within a reasonable distance; and if the body be not removed within a reasonable time, to provide for the interment thereof.

No. 16.—To take charge of the clothes, and other articles, if any, of such deceased inmate and deliver an inventory thereof to the next meeting of the Board of Health, who shall give the necessary directions respecting the same.

No. 17.—To see that all inmates are properly clothed, and that their clothes are kept in proper repair.

No. 18.—To superintend and give the necessary directions for making and mending the linen and clothing supplied to inmates and to take care that such clothing be marked with the name of the Home.

No. 19.—To see that every inmate of the Home has clean linen once a week, and that all the beds be kept in a clean and wholesome state.

No. 20.—To take charge of the clothing, linen and stockings for the use of the inmates, and the other linen in use in the Home, and to apply the same to such purposes as shall be authorised or approved by the Board of Health, and to no other.

No. 21.—To superintend and give the necessary directions concerning the washing, drying, and getting up of the linen, stockings and blankets, and to see that the same be not dried in the sleeping wards or in the sick wards.

No. 22.—To take care, with the assistance of the nurses, of the children and sick inmates, and to provide the proper diet for the children and sick inmates; and to furnish them with such changes of clothes and linen as may be necessary.

No. 23.—To make a requisition for such articles as she deems to be necessary, in a Requirement Book to be provided for the purpose; such Book, when signed by her, to be laid before the Board of Health at their next ordinary Meeting.

No. 24.—To receive all provisions and other articles purchased or procured for the use of the Home, and before placing them in store, to weigh the same, and examine and compare them with the bills of parcels or invoices severally relating thereto; and after having proved the accuracy of such bills or invoices, to authenticate the same with her signature and submit them to the Secretary without delay; to return all articles condemned by the Medical Officer and require them to be replaced by articles of approved quality.

No. 25.—To receive and take charge of all provisions, clothing, linen, and other articles, belonging to the Home, or confided to her care by the Board of Health, and issue the same to such persons as may be required; and such articles shall be applied to such purposes as shall be authorised or approved by the Board of Health, and to no other.

No. 26.—To submit to the Secretary for production at each ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health an estimate of such provisions and other articles as are required for the use of the Home for the ensuing month, and to execute the directions of the Board of Health thereon.

No. 27.—To obtain the order in writing of the Board of Health duly entered in the Order Book provided for that purpose, and signed by the Chairman before purchasing or procuring any articles for the use of the Home, or ordering any alterations or repairs of the furniture or other articles belonging thereto.

No. 28.—To take stock of the provisions, clothing, linen, and other articles belonging to the Home once, at the least, in every half year, that is to say, on the 25th day of March and the 29th day of September, respectively, in the presence of two members of the Board of Health, to be named a Subcommittee for this special purpose, and the Secretary to the Board of Health.

No. 29.—To keep all Books of Accounts, which she is, or hereafter may be, by any order of the Minister, directed and required to keep; and to allow the same to be constantly open to the inspection of any member of the Board of Health, and to submit the same to the Secretary for production if required at each ordinary Meeting of the Board of Health.

No. 30.—To keep a Book to be called "The Matron's Journal"; to enter therein any important occurrence in the Home; and to cause such Book, or a copy of any relevant extract therefrom to be laid before the Board of Health at every ordinary Meeting.

No. 31.—To take care that the wards, rooms, larder, kitchen, and all other offices of the Home, and all the utensils and furniture thereof, be kept clean and in good order, and as often as any defect in the same, or in the state of the Home, shall occur, to report the same in her Journal and cause the same to be communicated to the Board of Health at their next ordinary meeting.

No. 32.—To inform the Visiting Committee, if any, and the Board of Health of the state of the Home in every Department, and to report in her Journal to the Board of Health at their next ordinary meeting any negligence or other misconduct on the part of any of the subordinate officers or servants of the establishment, and to offer suggestions to the Board of Health for the correction of abuses in the management of the Home, and generally to observe and fulfil all lawful orders and directions of the Board of Health suitable to her office.

DUTIES OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE COUNTY HOME.

ARTICLE 54.—The Duties of the Medical Officer of the County Home shall be:—

No. 1.—To attend at the Home daily, and not later than twelve o'clock at noon, and also when sent for by the Matron or Porter of the Home in cases of sudden illness, accident, or other emergency—and at all such other times as the state of the inmates may render necessary.

No. 2.—To examine the state of poor persons admitted into the Home; and to examine the state of sick inmates of the Home and of any inmate of unsound mind.

No. 3.—To give all necessary directions as to the diet, classification, and treatment of the sick inmates of the Home, and of the inmates (if any) of unsound mind at the Home; and to report to the Board of Health any inmate of unsound mind whom he may deem to be dangerous.

No. 4.—To give all necessary directions as to the diet of such children as may be in the Home, and to vaccinate such of the children as may require vaccination.

No. 5.—To report in writing to the Board of Health any defect in the diet, drainage, ventilation, warmth or other arrangements of the Home.

No. 6.—To keep all books which he may be required to keep by any order or direction of the Minister.

No. 7.—To give to the Board of Health when required any reasonable information respecting the case of any inmate who has been under his care, and to attend the Meetings of the Board when requested by them to do so.

DUTIES OF NURSES OF THE COUNTY HOME AND THE COUNTY HOSPITAL.

ARTICLE 55.—The duties of the nurses in the County Home and County Hospital shall be as follows:—

No. 1.—Day Nurses shall be in their wards punctually at 7 a.m., and shall remain on duty until 9 p.m.

No. 2.—All Nurses shall wear uniform always in the wards, and shall be clean and tidy in their habits.

No. 3.—Nurses shall not visit any wards except those in which they are on duty.

No. 4.—Every Day Nurse shall leave a written report for the Night Nurse each night; and shall receive a report from the night nurse each morning.

No. 5.—No washing of any kind shall be done in the wards, nor shall any sewing or work of any kind be done for the nurses by the patients.

No. 6.—Every nurse shall be responsible to the Matron for the order and cleanliness of the wards, bathrooms, and closets under her control, and for the conduct of the wards under her charge and the patients therein.

No. 7.—No poultices shall be applied, or dressings done by any cleaner or patient, or any food be given out except by a nurse. Each nurse shall be present at the giving out of her patient's food, and all medicines and stimulants shall be given by the nurse.

No. 8.—Nurses shall assist personally in the washing of helpless patients, and at the making of the beds of those patients who are unable to make their own; and shall see that each bed in their wards is stripped frequently.

No. 9.—Day nurses shall see that their wards are in perfect order by 9 o'clock every morning, and that the wards are left orderly for the night nurse.

No. 10.—Any want of clothing, or requisite of any kind, shall be reported to the Matron at once, and every nurse shall count the soiled ward linen every week to the Matron before it is sent to the laundry.

No. 11.—Day nurses, subject to the supervision of the Matron, shall see that the night nurses are provided sufficiently with coals, candles and everything required for the patients.

No. 12.—On the death of a patient the nurse in charge shall make all suitable arrangements with respect to the body of the deceased.

No. 13.—Screens shall be placed round the beds of dying patients, and shall be used in all cases where there is any risk of exposure. No patient shall be taken out of bed to have the bed made without being wrapped up in a blanket.

No. 14.—No nurse shall change her time, or remain off duty without leave.

No. 15.—No nurse shall give her pass key to any patient for any purpose, and store doors shall be kept locked, except when a nurse is there.

No. 16.—The night nurses shall come on duty at 9 p.m., and remain on duty until 7 a.m. next morning, and they shall ensure that a light is kept in each ward; that all provisions and medicines ordered for administration during the night are duly given; that the wards are kept at a proper temperature; and that the Matron is called to any case in which her presence is necessary.

No. 17.—The nurses shall obey all other lawful rules and directions which the Medical Officer, with the approval of the Board of Health, shall prescribe.

Provided always that the provisions contained in this Article may, with the approval of the Minister, be altered from time to time by the Board of Health acting on the advice of the Medical Officer, and the particulars of such alterations shall be duly recorded on the minutes of their proceedings.

DUTIES OF THE PORTER OF THE COUNTY HOME.

ARTICLE 56.—The following shall be the duties of Porter of the County Home:—

No. 1.—To keep the gate and to prevent any person not being an Officer of the Home, or of the Board of Health, or one of the Inspectors of the Ministry of Local Government, or any person authorised by law, or by the Minister or the Board of Health, from entering into, or going out of the Home without the leave of the Matron.

No. 2.—To keep a book in which he shall enter the name and business of every Officer or other person who shall go into the Home, and the name of every Officer or other person who shall go out thereof, together with the time of such Officer's or person's going in or out.

No. 3.—To receive all poor persons who apply for admission with a proper order as directed in Article 61, or under circumstances of sudden and urgent necessity and transfer them to the charge of the Matron.

No. 4.—To take charge of the clothes of each poor person admitted to the Home and to deposit them when cleansed, in a place appropriated for the purpose, having affixed to them a list of the articles and the name of the person to whom they belong.

No. 5.—To examine all parcels and goods before they are received into the Home and prevent the admission of any intoxicating liquors or other articles contrary to law, or to any of the regulations herein contained.

No. 6.—To search or cause to be searched every inmate entering or leaving the Home whom he may suspect to have possession of any intoxicating liquor or other prohibited articles, and to require any other person entering the Home, whom he may suspect of attempting to bring into the Home any intoxicating liquors or other prohibited articles to satisfy him to the contrary before he shall permit such person to be admitted.

No. 7.—To examine all parcels taken by any inmate out of the Home, and to prevent the unlawful removal of any article from the premises.

No. 8.—To lock all the outer doors, and take the keys to the Matron at nine o'clock every night, and to receive them back from her every morning at six o'clock, or at such hours as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Health, and approved of by the Minister, and if any application for admission to the Home be made after the keys shall have been so taken to the Matron, to apprise the Matron forthwith of such application.

No. 9.—To assist the Matron in preserving order, and in enforcing obedience and due subordination in the Home.

No. 10.—To perform such other duties as the Matron shall assign to him.

No. 11.—To inform the Matron of all things affecting the security, order, and interest of the Home, and to obey all lawful directions of the Matron and of the Board of Health.

DUTIES OF THE MATRON OF THE COUNTY HOSPITAL.

ARTICLE 57.—The duties of the Matron of the County Hospital shall be as follows:—

No. 1.—To admit patients into the Hospital in accordance with the terms of Article 61, and to bring under the special notice of the Medical Officer every patient as soon as possible after admission, and to report to the Board of Health the admission of a patient admitted otherwise than in pursuance of an order of the Board of Health, and to take the directions of the Board of Health with respect to such patient.

No. 2.—To aid the Medical Officer in enforcing order, punctuality, cleanliness and the due observation of the prescribed rules by the patients in the Hospital, and by the several Officers, nurses, assistants and attendants therein employed.

No. 3.—To see that every patient in the Hospital has clean linen at least once a week, and that all the wards, beds and bedding are kept in a clean and wholesome state.

No. 4.—To superintend and give the necessary directions concerning the washing, drying and getting up of the linen stockings and blankets, and to see that the same be not dried in any ward occupied by any of the patients.

No. 5.—To superintend and give the necessary directions for mending the clothing supplied to the patients, and to take care that all such clothing be marked with the name of the Hospital.

No. 6.—To make a requisition for such articles as she deems to be necessary, in a book to be provided for the purpose—such book when signed by the Secretary to be laid by him before the Board of Health at their next ordinary meeting; and order such articles as may be authorized by the Board of Health and to be accountable for those articles.

No. 7.—To receive all provisions and other articles purchased or procured for the use of the Hospital, and before placing them in store to weigh the same, and examine and compare them with the bills of parcels or invoices severally relating thereto; to return all articles condemned by the Medical Officer and require the same to be replaced by articles of approved quality; and after having proved the accuracy of the bills or invoices, to authenticate same with her signature, and submit them to the Secretary without delay.

No. 8.—To receive and take charge of all provisions, clothing, linen, and other articles belonging to the Hospital, or confided to her care by the Board of Health, and issue the same to the Cook, or other person as may be required; and such articles shall be applied to such purposes as may be authorised or approved of by the Board of Health and to no other.

No. 9.—To visit the wards of the Hospital before 11 o'clock in the forenoon of each day, and to see that such wards have been all duly cleansed and properly ventilated.

No. 10.—To superintend the cooking, and to see that the meals of the patients are duly provided, cooked, dressed and served, and to superintend the distribution thereof.

No. 11.—To visit all the wards of the Hospital at or before nine o'clock every night.

No. 12.—To see that the entrance to the Hospital is locked at 10 o'clock every night and is opened at 7 o'clock every morning, or at such hours as shall, from time to time, be fixed by the Board of Health with the approval of the Minister.

No. 13.—To send for the Medical Officer in case any patient requires immediate attendance; and to take care that all the sick are provided with such medicines and attendance, diet, and other necessaries, as the Medical Officer shall in writing direct; and in the case of dangerous sickness to send a written order for the chaplain or other licensed minister of the denomination of the patient, as well as for any relative or friend of such patient resident within a reasonable distance, whom he may desire to see.

No. 14.—To give immediate information of the death of any patient in the Hospital to the Medical Officer, and to the nearest relatives of the deceased that may be known to her, and who may reside within a reasonable distance; and if the body be not removed within a reasonable time to take steps for the interment thereof.

No. 15.—To take charge of the clothes and other articles belonging to each patient, and given into her charge on his admission to the Hospital, and to deposit them in a place provided for the purpose, having affixed to them a list of the several articles and the name of the patient whose property they are; and in the case of a deceased patient to deliver an inventory thereof to the Board of Health at their next meeting, who shall give the necessary directions respecting the same.

No. 16.—To keep a book to be called "The Matron's Journal"; to enter therein every important occurrence in the Hospital, and to cause such book to be laid before the Board of Health at every ordinary Meeting.

No. 17.—To take all precautions necessary to guard against the introduction of any spirituous or fermented liquors, or other articles which may be forbidden by the Board of Health or the Medical Officer.

No. 18.—To superintend the female servants or other persons employed in the domestic departments, or not immediately connected with the care of the patients; to enforce amongst them order, punctuality and cleanliness; and subject in each case to the control of the Medical Officer, to exercise a general supervision and control over the nurses at the Hospital as when on duty in the wards and when off duty, and over the sick in the several wards therein.

No. 19.—To take care that the wards, rooms, larder, kitchen, and all other offices of the Hospital, and all the utensils and furniture thereof, be kept clean and in good order; and as often as any defect in the same or in the state of the Hospital shall occur to report the same in her Journal to the Board of Health at their next ordinary Meeting.

No. 20.—To receive the payments of all paying patients and to pay over the same to the Treasurer of the Board of Health weekly, and to take a receipt from the said Treasurer for every such payment, and to account for such payments and produce such receipts to the Secretary at each inspection of the Accounts of the Hospital, and to report to the Board of Health thereon.

No. 21.—To inform the Board of Health of the state of the Hospital in every department; and to report to the Medical Officer, and in her Journal to the Board of Health at their next ordinary meeting, any negligence or other misconduct on the part of the nurses; to report to the Medical Officer, and in her Journal to the Board of Health at their next ordinary meeting any negligence or other misconduct on the part of any of the subordinate officers or servants of the establishment; to offer suggestions to the Board of Health for the correction of abuses and the introduction of improvements in the management of the Hospital: and generally to observe and fulfil all lawful orders and directions of the Board of Health and Medical Officer, suitable to her office.

No. 22.—To keep all Books of Account which she is or may hereafter be, by any Order of the Minister, required to keep and to allow the same to be constantly open to the inspection of any member of the Board of Health or the Secretary, and to submit the same to the Secretary for production, if required at each ordinary meeting of the Board of Health.

DUTIES OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER AND SURGEON OF THE COUNTY HOSPITAL.

ARTICLE 58.—The following shall be the duties of the Medical Officer and Surgeon of the County Hospital:—

No. 1.—To attend at the County Hospital daily, and not later than ten o'clock, and also when sent for by the Matron or other responsible Officer of the County Hospital, in cases of sudden illness, accident, or other emergency, and at all such other times as the state of the patients may render necessary.

No. 2.—To examine all patients on their admission into the County Hospital, and to decide whether the cases are suitable for treatment therein.

No. 3.—To give all necessary directions as to diet, the classification, and treatment of the patients, and to perform all such surgical operations as may be required.

No. 4.—To enter in the book or books provided for that purpose all directions which he may give regarding the diet of patients, and to cause the same to be submitted to the Board of Health at their ordinary Meetings.

No. 5.—To report in writing to the Board of Health any defect in the diet, drainage, ventilation, warmth, or other arrangements of the Hospital.

No. 6.—To keep all books which he may be required to keep by any order or direction of the Minister.

No. 7.—To give to the Board of Health, when required, any reasonable information respecting the case of any patient who has been under his care, and to attend the meetings of the Board of Health when requested by them to do so.

No. 8.—To act as Consulting Surgeon to the Medical Officer of any District Hospital or other County Institution, and in cases of urgency or in the absence of the Medical Officer of such Hospital or institution to perform there all such surgical operations as may be required.

DUTIES OF CHAPLAIN.

ARTICLE 59.—The duties of the Chaplain of a County Institution shall be as follows:—

No. 1.—In the case of any County Institution:—

(a) To visit regularly the sick inmates of his own religious denomination and to administer religious consolation and assistance to them, or when applied to for that purpose by the Matron or other responsible Officer.

(b) To perform, if necessary, the funeral service at the burial of inmates of his own religious denomination.

(c) To report to the Board of Health any matters affecting, in his opinion, the moral or religious condition of the inmates.

No. 2. In addition in the case of any institution other than a Hospital:—

(a) To celebrate Divine Service and to preach to the inmates every Sunday and at such other times as he may be required by the Board of Health.

(b) To examine and catechise any children in such institution at least once in every month and instruct them in their moral and religious duties.

DUTIES OF THE TREASURER.

ARTICLE 60.—The Duties of the Treasurer shall be:—

No. 1.—To receive all moneys tendered to be paid to the Board of Health, and to place the same to their credit.

No. 2.—To pay out of any moneys for the time being in his hands belonging to the Board of Health, all orders for money which shall be drawn upon him, on behalf of such Board, and shall be signed by the presiding Chairman and two other members of such Board at a Meeting of the Board, and shall be countersigned by the Secretary, or the person for the time being acting as the Secretary, as and when the same shall be presented at the house or usual place of business of the Treasurer.

No. 3.—To keep in a book to be provided for that purpose, entitled the Treasurer's Pass Book, an account under the proper dates of all moneys received and paid respectively by him as such Treasurer, to be submitted to the Board of Health at each ordinary Meeting.

No. 4.—To submit the above-mentioned account to the Auditor at the periods of Audit, duly notified, in pursuance of the Regulations of the Minister in force at the time.

COUNTY INSTITUTIONS

ARTICLE 61.—Every person eligible for relief who shall be admitted into a County Institution shall be admitted in one of the following modes only, that is to say:—

1. To a County Institution other than a Hospital;—

(a) by a written or printed order of the Board of Health signed by the Secretary or presiding Chairman;

(b) by a written or printed order in the prescribed form signed by a member of the Board of Health or by a person duly authorised in that behalf by the Board of Health.

2. To a County or District Hospital:—

(a) by a written or printed order of the Board of Health on the advice of one of their Medical Officers, signed by the Secretary or the presiding Chairman;

(b) by a written or printed order in the prescribed form signed by a Medical Officer of the Board of Health;

(c) by the Matron of the Hospital (or during her absence by the person acting on her behalf) without any such order where such person is in urgent need of immediate treatment in such Hospital.

ARTICLE 62.—Persons other than persons eligible for relief may, if accommodation is available, be admitted to a County or District Hospital under Regulations made by the Board of Health under the County Scheme, with the approval of the Minister.

ARTICLE 63.—No person eligible for relief shall be admitted to a County Institution other than a Hospital under any written or printed Order as mentioned in Article 61, if the same bear date more than three days before such person duly presents it at such institution.

ARTICLE 64.—If a person eligible for relief be admitted to any County Institution in any other than the first of the modes mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 61, the admission of such person shall be brought before the Board of Health at their next Meeting, who shall decide on the propriety of permitting the person to continue in the County Institution or otherwise, and make an Order accordingly.

ARTICLE 65.—(1) As soon as a person eligible for relief is admitted to a County Institution other than a Hospital, his name and religious persuasion shall be duly entered in the Register, and he shall be kept separately in some place apart from the other inmates of the Institution, and shall there remain until examined by the Medical Officer.

(2) If the Medical Officer, upon such examination, pronounce such person to be labouring under any disease of body or mind, the person shall be placed either in the sick ward, or in such other ward appropriated to the reception of such cases, or shall be conveyed to the County or District Hospital, as the Medical Officer shall direct.

(3) If the Medical Officer pronounce such person to be free from any such disease, the person shall be placed in the part of the County Institution assigned to the class to which he may belong.

(4) Before being removed from the place referred to in sub-article (1), such person shall be thoroughly cleansed, and shall be clothed in a suitable dress; and the clothes which he wore at the time of his admission shall be destroyed if so directed by the Medical Officer in the interests of public health or be purified, and deposited in a place appropriated for that purpose, with the person's name, and a list of the several articles, signed by the Porter, affixed thereto. Such clothes shall be restored to the person when he leaves the institution.

ARTICLE 66.—Every person eligible for relief shall, upon his admission into a County Institution other than a Hospital, or on his return after a temporary leave of absence, in pursuance of Article 72, be searched by or under the inspection of the proper Officer; and all articles prohibited by law which may be found upon his person, shall be taken from him, and, if possible, restored to him at his departure.

ARTICLE 67.—The Board of Health may, subject to the provisions of the County Scheme, classify persons eligible for relief who are inmates of a County Institution other than a Hospital, in such manner as they think fit, and shall assign to each class the apartments and accommodation best fitted to such class.

ARTICLE 68.—The Board of Health may fix certain days on which inmates of any County Institution may, with the permission of the Matron, be visited by relatives and friends, and may prescribe the hours during which such visits may take place: Provided that in the case of a Hospital such visits shall not be allowed unless sanctioned by the Medical Officer.

ARTICLE 69.—When any patient in a County or District Hospital has recovered, or when his case is, in the opinion of the Medical Officer, no longer susceptible of treatment, he shall be discharged by such Medical Officer.

ARTICLE 70.—When a patient in a County or District Hospital is detained therein for a period of over two months, the Medical Officer of the Hospital shall furnish a special report to the Board of Health explaining the necessity for such detention and a further report at the expiration of each subsequent month during which the patient may be so detained.

ARTICLE 71.—Any person eligible for relief, being an inmate of a County Institution may quit such Institution upon giving to the Matron or other responsible Officer four hours' previous notice of his wish to do do; but no such person shall carry with him. any clothes or other articles belonging to the Board of Health without the express permission of the Matron or other responsible Officer: Provided that in cases of urgency the provisions of this Article may be dispensed with, but the Matron or other responsible Officer shall report the circumstances in any such case for the consideration of the Board of Health, who shall record their approval or disapproval on the Minutes.

ARTICLE 72.—The Matron or other responsible Officer of a county institution may, subject to any restrictions that the Board of Health may impose, grant temporary leave of absence to any inmate of the institution, and may for that purpose dispense with the provisions of Articles 61 and 71.

ARTICLE 73.—The clothing to be worn by the inmates of any County Institution other than a hospital shall be made of such materials as the Board of Health may determine.

ARTICLE 74.—The inmates of a county institution shall be kept employed according to their capacity and ability, but no inmate shall work on his own account or on account of any party other than the Board of Health; and no inmate shall receive any compensation for such work.

DIETARIES.

ARTICLE 75.—The dieting of the inmates of any County Institution other than a Hospital shall be in accordance with a scale approved of by the Minister; provided that the Medical Officer of the institution may in the case of any sick inmate direct, in writing, such diet as he shall deem necessary.

Given under my Seal of Office this

Fourth day of March, in the Year of

Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred

and Twenty-four.

(Signed) SÉAMUS DE BÚRCA,

Minister for Local Government.

No. 57,137 /1924