USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1902 > Part 13
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1
1
1
1
Tuberculosis
4
1
3
1
3
4
Carcinoma of rectum.
1
1
1
Smallpox .
1
1
1
1
Heart disease
1
1
1
1
Brain tumor
1
1
1
1
Stillborn
2
1
1
2
.
.
.
. .
Totals
19
10 9 2
121115
-
2 2 1
19
. .
. .
.
1
. .
.
1 1
.
.
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
1
.
.
2
1
Nativity of deceased-United States, 17; Nova Scotia, 1; Canada, 1. Place of Burial-Wyoming, 10; Out of town, 9.
223
HEALTH REPORT.
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF JUNE, 1902.
1
CAUSE OF DEATH.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
1 year and under.
1 to 2 years.
2 to 5 years.
1 5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
| 20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
60 to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
| 80 to 90 years.
Over 90 years. Totals.
Tuberculosis of bowels
1
.
.
. .
. .
..
. .
. .
..
.
Heart disease. .
3
3
Carcinoma of bowels ..
1
1
.
..
. .
..
.
.
Cerebral embolism ..
1
.
.
.
. .
.
1
Ill defined ..
1
.
1
1
. .
.
1
1
.
1
1
Premature birth .
1
1
1
1
Pressure from Con-
1
1
1
1
Tuberculosis
1
1
1
1
Diphtheria
1
1
1
.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Placenta praevia
1
1
1
1
Accident .
1
1
1
Melancholia.
1
1
1
.
.
1
Pistol wound of head ..
1
1
1
. .
1
Peritonitis
i
1
1
1
Gastric carcinoma
1
1
1
. .
.
1
Still born.
2
1
1
.
.
Totals
22
11
11
2 1
1
41414
2
22
Nativity of Deceased-Nova Scotia, 3; United States, 14; Cape Breton, 2; Scotland, 1; New Brunswick, 1; Unknown, 1.
Place of Burial-Wyoming, 6; Out of town, 16, (1 cremated).
1
. .
. .
. .
. ·
1
1
1
1
1
Ante partum hemorr- hage from detached placenta .
.
tracted pelvis.
1
Abortion, septicaemia, exhaustion
Bronchitis
. .
.
.
.
2
-
224
CITY OF MELROSE
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF JULY, 1902.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
1 year and under.
1 to 2 years
2 to 5 years.
5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
fO to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
80 to 90 years.
Over 90 years. Totals.
Smallpox
182
2
.
. .
.
1
1
2
Heart disease
1
2
3
Whooping cough .
1
1
1
Nephritis and meningi- tis
1
1
1
1
Meningitis
1
1
Apoplexy
2
1
1
1
1
Erysipelas
1
1
1
Paralysis
1
1
1
Totals
12
A
18 00
1
1
2
2
2
3| 1 co
12
Nativity of deceased-United States, 7; New Brunswick, 2; Ireland, 2 Unknown, 1
Place of Burial -- Wyoming, 6; Out of town, 6.
. ·
. .
.
11711
-
1
225
HEALTH REPORT.
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF AUGUST, 1902.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
| 1 year and under.
1 to 2 years.
| 2 to 5 years.
5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years
50 to 60 years.
60 to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
80 to 90 years.
Over ' O years.
Totals.
Cancer of liver
1
1
.
..
1
·
Ill defined.
2
1
2
Drowning.
1
1
1
1
Heart disease and soft- ening of brain.
1
1
1
1
Paralysis
1
1
1
1
Cholera infantum.
1
1
1
1
Heart disease, aneamia.
1
1
1
1
Premature birth
1
1
1
1
Gastro enteritis.
1
1
1
1
Brights disease
1
1
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
1
Totals
11
6
5
4
1
1
1
1|
2
1
|11
Nativity of Deceased-United States, 8; Canada, 1; Ireland, 1; Un- known, 1.
Place of Burial-Wyoming, 5; Out of town, 6;
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1902.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
1 year and under.
1 to 2 years.
2 to 5 years.
| 5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
60 to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
80 to 90 years.
Over 90 years. Totals.
Typhoid fever
1
1
.
.
.
. .
. .
.
1
Tuberculosis
2
1
1
2
Suicide .
1
1
1
1
Pleurisy
1
1
1
1
Entero colitis.
1
1
1
1
Cancer of stomach.
2
1
1
1
1
2
Cholera morbus.
1
1
1
1
Hemiplegia-coma
1
1
1
1
Heart disease.
1
1
1
1
Diarrhoea, heart
ex-
haustion
1
1
1
1
Premature birth .
1
1
1
Drowned
1
1
1
1
Stillborn
1
1
1
Totals
15
5
10
1
1
2
1
2521
15
Nativity of Deceased-United States, 8; Cape Breton, 1; Ireland, 3; England, 1; Canada, 1; Nova Scotia, 1.
Place of Burial-Wyoming, 6; Out of town, 8; Unknown, 1.
1
..
- .
. .
.
. .
.
. .
. .
- . 1
. .
1
1
226
CITY OF MELROSE
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1902.
CAUSE OF DEATH
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
1 year and under.
1 to 2 years.
2 to 5 years.
5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
"O to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
80 to 90 years. Over 90 years. Totals.
Nativity of deceased-Ireland, 3; New Brunswick, 2; United States, il; Prince Edward's Island, 1; England, 1; Unknown, 1. Place of Burial -- Wyoming, S; Out of town, 11.
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1902.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
1 year and under.
1 to 2 years.
2 to 5 years.
5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
60 to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
80 to 90 years.
Over 90 years. Totals.
Apoplexy
2
·2
1
1 .
2
Strangulated hernia .. .
1
1
1
1
Heart disease.
3
3
1
1
1
3
Pneumonia
1
.
1
1
Shock and hemorrhage, R. R. injuries.
1
1
.
1
1
1
1
Cerebral hemorrhage ..
1
.
1
1
1
Apoplexy and tubercu- losis
1
1
1
1
Ill defined .
1
1
1
.
1
Old age and la grippe . .
1
1
1
1
Fibroid tumor of uterus
1
.
. .
1
1
Tuberculosis
2
2
1
1
.
. .
Totals
17
6 11
1 1
1
211322
1
17
1
1
1
1
Old age.
1
1
1
1
Heart disease
5
3
1
1
3
5
Marasmus
2
2
2
·2
Entero colitis
1
1
1
1
Scarlet fever.
1
1
1
1
Intestinal carcinoma.
1
1
1
1
A poplexy
1
1
1
.
. .
2
1
1
1
1
.
Totals
19
12
7
4
1
3
2
1
2 6
19
Pneumonia
4
1
1
4
Nativity of deceased-United States, 13; England, 1; Ireland, 1; Wales 1; New Brunswick, 1.
Place of Burial-Wyoming, 10; Out of town, 7.
. .
Whooping cough.
1
.
1
1
1
1
2
.
-
-
. .
.
.
1
Nephritis .
. .
1
Phthisis
2
Diphtheria
.
2
227
REPORT OF DEATHS, MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1902.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
| 1 year and under.
1 to 2 years.
2 to 5 years.
5 to 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
60 to 70 years.
70 to 80 years.
80 to 90 years.
Over 90 years.
Tuberculosis
5
1
4 ..
. .
..
. .
1 1
1
1
1
. .
.
. .
Congestion of lungs and heart disease.
1
.
1
1
Nephritis
1
1
1
Pneumonia
3
2
1
1
1
1
3
Heart.
2
1
1
1
1
2
Cancer of kidney.
1 .
.
1
1
1
Found dead in bed. ..
1
1
1
1
Diabetes
1
1
1
1
Marasmus
1
1
1
1
Paralysis and coma.
1
.
1
1
1
La Grippe
1
1
1
1
Gen. supperative con-
dition, exhaustion. .. 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Broncho pneumonia ... Chronic intestinal ne-
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Totals
23
11 12
3
1
1 12
|2 41
23
Nativity of deceased-United States, 16; Nova Scotia, 2; Ireland 2; England 1; New Brunswick, 1; Sweden, 1.
Place of Burial-Wyoming, 8; Out of town, 15.
.
.
.
1
.
.
. .
phritis
Cerebral hemorrhage .. Stillborn
.
..
1 .
or | Totals.
HEALTH REPORT.
DEATHS BY MONTHS FROM 1851 TO 1902.
DATE.
Population.
Male.
Female.
Sex not stated.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Stillborn.
*Total.
1851.
1,260
8
9
. .
.
1
3
1
.
. .
2
4
1
3
2
17
1852.
1i
8
4
1
1
2
1
.
2
3
2
3
19
1853
15
14
1
3
3
1
2
1
2
4
2
2
8 . .
29
1854.
11
14
3
1
2
1
2
5
1
4
2
4
2
27
1855.
1,976
20
14
28
3
4
2
7
6
5
3
1
5
8
1
3
2
2
4
41
1858.
2,297
16
32
1
4
2
1
2
1
2
6
13
4
2
1
7
1
1860
2,482
27
19
2
4
6
8
4
2
2
4
5
4
1
4 .
46
1861
11
23
2
3
4
3
1
1
1
7
7
·
34
1862.
23
14
1
2
1
1
3
3
12
4
3
4
1
5 4
2
1
1866.
19
28 . .
9
5
3
2
7
4
2
2
4
5
1 7
3
1868.
21
25
. .
39 . .
1
5
1
7
3
6
10
12
6
9
5
5
1
1870.
3,181
17
30
4
3
2
4
4
7
2
3
1
6
6
2
1871.
32
22
4
5
4
8
6
1
4
8
1
7
2
4
1
54 79
1872.
41
38
6
9
3
8
11
3
6
8
9
5
4
7
1
1873
15
30
2
7
5
2
3
3
5
5
1
4
2
3
45
1874.
42
38
6
4
9 11
10
6
5
8
8
4
4
3
80 80 64 57 60
1876.
4,185
33
31
5
4 10
6
9
3
5
6
4
3
5
4
1
3
9
6
4
8
3
8
3
2
1
6
. .
4
5
6
1
3
5
9
3
3
1
5
5 2 64
1880.
4,443
33
29
2
6
11
1.
4
3
5
4
5
6
4
6
9
3 5
62 65
1882.
4,739
37
46
6
6 3 10
7
8
4 10
6
7
8
1 83
1883.
5,071
44
33 41
6
9
7
11
8
2
3 7
5
S
7
4 3
79 118
1886
6,536
52
48
17
8
6
7
7
S 1.2
15 8
5
2
5 8
5 91
1888.
7,535
57
57
64
50
11
5
8
8
6
12
7 11
12
7 15
12
4 114
1891
8,827
61
82
1 13 9.10
13
8
7 15
12
6 13 10 13 7
16 17
165
1893.
10,474
79
79
14|12
1894.
10,847
86
95
80
6 21
9|23
9,14
11.16 11 14
23 31 13 12 15
14 14|202
1897
12,520
100
89
. . 16 17 22
12 14 11 13 29 19
17 13 20
|19
1898.
12,630
97
92
28 16 18
16 20 16 8
1900.
12,630 112
94
1 22 17 30 24|15
10 15 12 19 19 8 16 4 207
1901 .
12,845
91
91
.. 20 13 13 16 15 7 10 18 9 21 19 21 9 182
1902.
13,369
92 107
. .
.
. .
..
2
1
'2
2
4
2
2
7
7
1
4 5
1
34 50
1857.
20
21
€
1
5
5
3
1
4
1859.
2,431
12
21
1
2
1
5
2
2
4
2
5
. .
3
1
8 23
1865
2,866
17
16
. .
. .
2
3
3
4
3
1
8
2
3
4
6
3
3
2
4
47 46 73 47
1875.
3,990
42
38 . .
4
6
6
8
12
7
S
7
6
1
S
. .
1877.
4,101
21
36
. .
38 . .
5
4
6
6
3
S
5
5
9
8
4
3
4
1881
4,508
27
38
56
62
5
7
7
11
8
12
14 15 6
11
5
17
4 100
1887
7,073
44
47
7
6
7
7 12
10
7
5
6
7
10 12 10 113
1889
8 13.17 15 12 8 13
9
8
7
8 10
4 128
1890.
8,127
13 15 22 8 144
1892
9,539
91
74
. . 25 14 13 14 17
17 13 13 25
14/16
14 12 14 9.15
19 10 181
1895
11,651 71
1896.
12,314 105
97 20 12 16 20 14 12
97 13 11 24 23 22 12 13 11 15
1899.
12,625 93
56
9 11
8
4
2
1
6 12 6
8
6
5
77
1884.
5,607
25
21
1
8
1
4
1
1
2
6
3
2 1 3 4
3
37 34 60 33 47
1863.
16
18
4
1
3
2
2
2
1864.
32
28
. .
1
5
2
4
5
3
5
4
1869
34
33
27
. . 12
1879.
4,365
26
5
-J -J
6
4
5
6
8|10
1885.
6,110
...
·
. .
*Still births excluded.
12 15/23 17 17/20 12 11 14 19 17 22 10 199
.
1856.
2,206
21
. .
. .
.
10 4
6
1
48 34
4
3 6
4 8
·
1
. .
. .
4
1878.
4,221
1 1.2
4 4
6
S 8
8 11 9.11 10
7
10 16 11 10,10 24 8 16 15
12 7 158
9 8 13 151
6 15 15 |189
7,821
71
. .
. .
. .
. .
2 . . 1 3 1
3
5
4
12 13 9 12 17 5 185
1867
3
38
229
HEALTH REPORT.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
The whole number of communicable diseases reported for 1902 was 189, a decrease of 385 from 1901; the greatest decrease being in measles of which there were 467 cases in 1901 and 75 in 1902. Unusual was the appearance of 10 cases of small pox, these being the first cases which have occurred for 25 years, with the exception perhaps of two mild cases, one in 1892, and one in 1899. Upon investigation we found that these were probably mistaken for other diseases, par- ticularly in one case which was undoubtedly syphilis.
We have required and requested the physicians to report in addition to the contagious diseases which have always been reported, mumps, chicken pox, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and whooping cough.
Physicians are very delinquent in reporting these diseases and probably will continue to be so until an example is made of some who has neglected to comply with our requirements. We did not ask them for the sake of being arbitrary, but because we want an accurate record of these cases, and stricter supervision that their spread may be con- trolled.
The board of aldermen made five appropriations amount- ing to $7,013.33 for the care and prevention of contagious disease. In the care of contagious disease money was expended from this amount for 10 cases of small pox, (the tenth patient being now ill), 3 cases of scarlet fever, I case of diphtheria and one case of measles.
The care of small pox patients included the employing of physicians and nurses and providing them with all the necessities during the patient's illness either at his home or at the hospital. All members of the family who were in the house at the time the disease was apparent were held in quarantine for 14 days and were provided with food, fuel, medical attention, and any other necessity during that time. Forty-nine people were thus held in detention for 14 days, and two families, consisting of about ten persons were pro- vided for for two weeks after the quarantine had elapsed because they were poor and unable to procure work.
230
CITY OF MELROSE
Those who were unfortunate enough to die with the dis- ease were given a decent burial, at considerable expense to the city.
Money spent from the appropriation for the prevention of the spread of contagious disease included the investiga- tion of suspicious cases of which there were no less than ten, and the giving of free vaccination to the inhabitants of Melrose. The expense has been great, but considering the difficulty in employing nurses and doctors, and the unwilling- ness of other people to have anything to do with the disease unless they were paid extravagant sums, and taking into consideration also the superior treatment which all patients received, we feel with sincerity that the city has obtained just recompense for its expenditure. No fair minded citizen, viewing the matter impartially, would grudge one cent that has been spent when he remembers that in no case has the disease spread from the person suffering from it or from his residence, to another, owing to the strict and efficient methods adopted in the care of the disease, and that the city has in all probability been saved many cases of the disease and a higher mortality among its inhabitants.
Reimbursement is due this city from Everett, Reading, and'the State, and bills have been sent amounting to $2,724.35.
The foregoing appropriation was not sufficient, however, to successfully conduct free vaccination and two appropri- ations amounting to $1,200 were made by the Board of Aldermen for this purpose.
It was the intention of the Board of Health to compel all the inhabitants of the city of Melrose to be properly vaccinated. At first we gave free vaccination at the City Hall over a period of nearly three months. Our method of conducting vaccination differed from last year in that we requested all persons to return for inspection at the end of six days, when the arm was carefully dressed, or the person revaccinated if the first attempt was unsuccesful. During the entire period we dressed the arm of any person who applied. The care of vaccinated arms alone required a great deal of the time of those employed to do the work. Those who were ill at home from the effects of vaccination
231
HEALTH REPORT.
were provided with a doctor, and given proper treatment until recovery.
On January Ist, nine physicians were employed to make a house to house examination of the city, and although this work was begun on January Ist, it is still far from comple- tion. Of the $1,200 appropriated, all has been expended for employing the nine physicians, five nurses, and for the material used by them, together with the necessary advertis- ing and printed matter. The condition of the public schools has been thoroughly investigated and reference to the table below will show the results with regard to vaccination.
STATUS OF VACCINATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL.
No. vaccinated
No. vaccinated
once.
No. vaccinated
No. vaccinated
No.ofcert.given
at time of vacc.
No. cert. given
by phys. after
succ. vacc.
vaccinated.
Not vaccinated
because unfit.
No. of pupils.
No certificates
recorded.
No record.
Gooch
184
96
55
18
43
146
. .
6
294 335
76
8
Franklin
175
147
62
27
61
136
2
11
..
26
5 .
Horace Mann
192
125
59
23
49
133
1
9
327
134
Lincoln
182
156
76
42
38
182
7
350
126
5
Ripley
22
3
6
3
10
11
.
25
4
Mary A. Livermore.
59
98
22
41
8
59
9
166
92
High.
157
223
94
64
44
137
5
385
199
Washington
205
134
96
34
67
154
7
347
118
1
Winthrop
64
29
19
12
21
54
. .
4
98
28
1
Joseph Warren
99
45
37
20
13
94
. .
6
150
37
Whittier
98
32
21
2
29
71
. .
19
150
31
1
Sewall
117
45
28
14
23
94
2
10
174
45
.
Converse
20
6
9
3
9
12
.
.
.
Not
only once.
more than
in 1901.
in 1902.
127
232
TABLE OF CASES OF SMALLPOX.
NAME.
Age.
Occupation.
Hospital or home.
Date of recovery.
Date of death.
Days in
Hospital.
Settlement.
Vaccinated.
Unvacc.
Carpenter, Geo. M ... 52
Traveling salesman
Home
M'ch 20, '02 . .
Everett
Unvacc.
Carpenter, Geo. S. . ..
28
Clerk
Hosp.
Apr. 27, '02
22
Everett
Vac.after exposure
Carleton, P. G ..
81
Peddler teas and coffees Hosp.
July 1, '02
5
Reading
Possibly in in- fancy
Morton, Mrs. Seth P .. Morton, Clarence ....
2
Hosp.
May 22, '02
2
Melrose
Unvacc.
Morton, Seth P.
50
Carpenter
Hosp.
June 20, '02
27
Melrose
Unvacc.
Tingley, Daniel ....
54 |Leather
Hosp.
(Removed to Malden)
3
Malden
Vacc., no scar
Evans, Charles. ..
27 Plumber
Hosp.
July 15, '02
7
State
Unvacc.
Holmes, James . .. ..
35
Salesman (novelties)
Home Dec. 14, '02
· ·
Melrose
Vaccinated
Copeland, Heber ....
19
Clerk
Hosp.
.
Melrose
Said to be vacc., no scar
CITY OF MELROSE
Unvacc.
48 House
Hosp.
June 20, '02
31
Melrose
233
HEALTH REPORT.
SUSPICIOUS CASES
During the year the Board was called upon by physicians and others to investigate certain illnesses characterized by eruptions. Upon first appearance these eruptions were not typical of any disease, but after careful observation the dis- eases from which these persons were suffering were apparent. The physicians of the city are to be commended in aiding the Board in all cases of ill defined skin eruptions. Their eagerness to make early diagnosis and establish quarantine was a conspicuous feature and was appreciated.
We had no case where the patient had been treated for several days before the exact nature of their malady was known. It is well known that this happened too often in other cities and towns.
The total expense for investigating suspicious cases was $132, $100 being paid for consultation and $32 for carriage hire.
Appropriation, $7,013 33
EXPENDED FOR CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL.
Cost of buildings,
$340 00
Removal of buildings, .
150 00
Lumber,
44 52
Hardware,
55 76
Carpentry
190 12
Painting,
15 48
Masonry,
19 35
Special labor,
51 00
Furniture and furnishings,
415 64
Water pipe, .
84 36
Ambulance and blankets,
19 30
Miscellaneous,
6 98
$1,392 51
234
CITY OF MELROSE
EXPENDED FOR CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
Food,
$614 77
Fuel,
40 96
Medicine and supplies for vaccination,
833 77
Doctors,
811 00
Patrol, .
637 90
Carriage hire.
251 00
Nurses,
1,564 13
Disinfection.
147 00
Funerals,
394 00
Rent,
110 00
Telephone,
33 44
Express,
7 20
Miscellaneous,
135 80
Cities and towns,
39 20
Refunded to treasury,
$5,620 17 65
$7,013 33
Special appropriation for improvement and change of location of hospital,
$600 00
Removing and construction of cellar,
$372 00
Carpentry and lumber,
161 70
Plumbing,
37 68
Painting and hardware,
20 93
$592 31
592 31
Refunded to treasury,
7 69
$600 00
Appropriated for vaccination,
. $1,200 CO
Expended for doctors,
$582 75
nurses, .
214 00
" points and drugs,
320 52
66
" advertising, printed
matter, distributing notices, etc., 78 00
Expended for miscellaneous, I 67
$1, 196 94 $1, 196 94
Refunded to treasury, 3 06
SI,200 00
235
HEALTH REPORT.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE REPORTED FOR YEAR 1902. (January 1, '02- January 1, '03. )
DISEASE.
Converse.
Horace Mann.
High.
Gooch.
Franklin.
Lincoln.
Livermore.
Private.
Ripley.
Sewall.
Warren.
Washington.
Winthrop.
Whittier.
Not in school.
Total.
Diphtheria
7
1
2
2
1 19
35
Scarlet fever.
5
1
1
1
1
2
2
9
23
Typhoid fever
1
1
1
1
4
Whooping cough
1
4
3
1
1
4 ..
16
30
Measles
1
3
2
2
7
2
2
2
1 32
75
Smallpox
9
Tuberculosis
1
1
Total
1
3|
4 14 8 15 1 8 4 6 15
6 5 3 96 189
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE BY YEARS, 1895-1903.
DISEASE.
1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
1901 1902
Measles
S
17
380
109
10
117
467
75
Mumps
..
. .
...
...
.
3
4
Whooping cough
.
. .
.. .
..
. .
. . .
2
30
Scarlet fever
23
20
18
23
20
35
33
23
Diphtheria
25
17
11
5
14
40
52
35
Smallpox
. .
. .
·
. .
..
...
1
Typhoid fever
9
2
12
19
17
12
Totals
56
63
411
137
57
201
574
189
.
. .
1
2
.
9
12
Chicken pox ..
..
. .
9
.
DIPHTHERIA.
This disease attacked 35 persons, one of whom died. Several severe cases occurred but their severity was soon modified by antitoxin. Physicians used larger doses of anti- toxin than in previous years and with good results. None of the cases were released without a negative culture from the throat, although it took several weeks to obtain a nega- tive result from a few. The culture tubes were not used for diagnosis in all cases, the physician depending upon the clinical signs. The Board wishes that more tubes might be used for diagnosis as it displaces the old and less scientific method.
.. .
. .
. .
Chicken pox .
1
...
9
Tuberculosis
.. .
14
1 .
236
CITY OF MELROSE
SCARLET FEVER.
There were twenty-three cases of scarlet fever during the year. Generally speaking they were mild or moderately severe; one, however, proved fatal. The serum treatment of this disease has proved to be of value in certain places, and the Board of Health is willing to supply the antistrep- tococus serum for use in this disease.
MEASLES.
Seventy-five cases were reported for the year. There were undoubtedly more. Many of the people ill with this disease had no doctor, consequently he was not responsible for not reporting them. In some cases he would not report them because it was natural to expect he might forget. The parents often notified the Board of cases in their homes.
The superintendent of schools was instructed not to allow pupils to return to school until they had been released either by their family doctor or the physician of the Board of Health and the proper blank filled out and sent to the teacher of the school.
Children in the same house where the disease existed were prevented from attending school.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The table shows forty cases of whooping cough. This number is not one-fourth of the number of cases that oc- curred. The number tabulated was the report of not more than three or four physicians. The disease was very preva- lent. Many families were besieged by it for weeks and the suffering was extreme. It is highly contagious, and because of its complications is one of the most serious communicable diseases. Its dangers are apparent when we have had three deaths, and when there were 210 deaths in Massachusetts for 1901. If the physicians would report their cases we could instruct the family about the disease, and limit the spread by enforcing certain requirements. Houses are placarded in which the disease occurs and the same certifi- cate is required as for mumps and chicken pox.
237
HEALTH REPORT.
MUMPS.
The table shows no cases reported and there were at least 125 cases during the year. The reason that none were re- ported was that most were very mild and even if more or less severe no physician was called to treat them as this disease is regarded by parents as mild, free from danger, and usually responding to domestic remedies. Even the cases that were seen by physicians probably required only a visit or two and so they quickly passed from their minds and were not reported. Children in the household where the disease existed were allowed to attend school on presenting a proper certificate signed by a physician that they showed no evidence of the disease, and when the patient recovered the proper certificate was required before he could again attend school.
CHICKEN POX.
There were more than four cases of chicken pox during the year. The Board asked physicians to report so that they might investigate them to prevent mistaking it from small pox. Few obeyed the request. Although it is not a serious disease and is generally mild, its similarity to small pox to an inexperienced eye is a sufficient reason for a mis- taken diagnosis. Like most of the communicable diseases that occur in childhood, it is often conveyed by children at school when the disease is mild.
We placarded the house in all cases that were reported and required a certificate to return so school.
TYPHOID.
Twelve cases were reported. A few more unreported cases would complete the list. It would be a great help to this department if all cases could be reported as the source of contagion is usually investigated and if within our power, is remedied.
One death occurred from typhoid fever, a low mortality for the number of cases. Several cases could be directly traced to those in Wakefield as it was prevalent in that town. .
238
CITY OF MELROSE
TUBERCULOSIS.
One case was reported in 1902, while the rooms of nine- teen patients were disinfected. This is the best example of the neglect of physicians to aid the Board in their endeavors to ascertain the number of persons suffering from contagious diseases.
If this disease is to be controlled it can only be done by placing tubercular patients under the best hygienic condi- tions. If we knew where these patients were, we could advise them in the care of themselves as well as their sputum. By giving the proper advice and offering certain suggestions the disease could be modified and the spread of infectious sputum controlled.
DISINFECTION.
Formaldehyde has been used for the past three years for disinfection. It is superior to other methods of disinfection because it is easily generated and not destructive to house- hold property. We shall require the room occupied by a patient ill with a contagious disease to be more thoroughly cleaned by the householder than in the past. It has been the custom of people to depend wholly upon the disinfec- tion of the Board of Health, and not to clean the walls, floors or ceilings and the furniture of the room occupied by the patient. No room will hereafter be considered properly disinfected until a culture of the baccillus of diphtheria gives no growth when taken from the room which has been dis- infected and closed for 24 hours.
One hundred and three disinfections have been done during the year as follows:
On account of:
Small pox, . 24
Diphtheria,
28
Scarlet fever,
24
Tuberculosis,
19
Measles,
2
Typhoid fever, .
I
Miscellaneous,
5
239
HEALTH REPORT.
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
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