USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1913 > Part 10
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The amounts appropriated for and expended by the Board for the past year are shown in the following table:
Account
Appropriation
Expenditure $500.00 624.00
Balance
Care of brooks
$500.00
Clerical services
624.00
Contagious diseases
10,843.16
10,835.87 $7.29
Inspection
780.00
780.00
Miscellaneous 1,086.67
1,000.91
85.76
Collection ashes, garbage, refuse, care of dumps, scav-
enger, maintenance 17,808.79 17,808.67 .12
Eighty-eight cases of contagious diseases have been aided this Board during the year at a total cost of $10,163.47.
by
No. cases of contagious disease aided at home 13- cost $1312.81
No. cases of contagious disease aided at hospitals 75-cost 8850.66
$10,163.47
Disinfection, incidentals, etc.
672.40
$10.835.87
AID RENDERED TO ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS CASES.
No. Patients
Cost
At Home 1
$128.00
AID RENDERED TO DIPHTHERIA CASES.
At Home 4 70.50
At Boston Hospital 3 91.42
At Cambridge Hospital 1 36.43
At Brighton Hospital 8
310.50 $508.85
AID RENDERED TO SCARLET FEVER CASES. At Brighton Hospital 10 $918.50
AID RENDERED TO TYPHOID FEVER CASES.
At Home 1 $103.45
156
AID RENDERED TO TUBERCULOSIS CASES.
At Mt. Pleasant Camp 19
$3,194.76
At Lakeville 12
1,366.04
At Rutland 6
1,221.90
At Westfield 2
263.41
At Tewksbury 4
88.52
At Cambridge 6
228.90
At Fall River 1
216.00
At Holy Ghost Hospital 3
638.13
At Boston 1
492.15
At Home 6
794.86
$8,504.67
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES REPORTED TO BOARD OF HEALTH BY MONTHS.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Totals
Deaths
Diptheria
9 5
3
3
6
9 19
3
6
4
5
76 8
Scarlet Fever
0 12
12
1
2
2
1
2
0
1.
1
2
31 3
Measles.
10 36
74 162 69 24 17
1
0
0
0
8
68 39
Whooping Cough
9 12
28
17
0 15
5
0
0
4
7
12 109 7
Chicken Pox
8
8
8
6
8 10
0
1
0
2
4
8
63
0
Mumps ...
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
2 13
22
39
0
Opthalmia Neonatorum
1'
0
1
2
0
1
0
2
2
3
0
1
13
0
Anterior-Poliomyelitis ..
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
8
2
1
0
16 1
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
Totals
43 78 134 212 95 63 53 25 21 23 48 101 796 65
By Wards.
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Ward 5
Ward 6
Total
Diptheria.
10
14
29
10
6
7
76
Scarlet Fever
5
26
16
5
7
2
59
Typhoid Fever
2
4
3
4
5
13
31
Measles
68
59
103
44
106
40
320
Tuberculosis.
13
9
21
20
3
2
68
Whooping Cough
23
5
33
3
27
18
109
Chicken Pox.
9
3
14
15
11
11
68
Mumps
2
5
1
0
21
10
3.9
Opthalmia Neonatorum
2
4
2
3
0
2
13
Anterior-Poliomyelitis
1
2
3
0
0
10
16
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
Total
135
130
225
105
186
115
796
4 2 10
15
59
0
Typhoid Fever
0 1
2 14
1
00
1 10
6
1
3
8
27 320 5
Tuberculosis.
6 4
6
7
0 0
6
3
157
CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL.
The project of a Municipal Hospital for the Care of Contagious Diseases in the City has been completed so far as location and plans are concerned by the Board of Health.
Chapter 75, Section 35, Revised Laws was amended by Chapter 613, Acts of 1911 requiring each city or town or a combination of two or more adjoining cities and towns to establish and constantly maintain one or more isolation hospitals for the reception of per- sons having diseases dangerous to the public health with a penalty of $500 for each refusal or neglect. Chapter 151, Acts of 1912 amended the previous act by the provision that "each city shall, and each town may, and upon request of the State Board of Health, shall establish and maintain, etc.," and in this act it specifies "small pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, or other diseases dan- gerous to the public health, unless there already exists in the city or town a hospital for the reception of persons ill with such dis- eases, which is satisfactory to the State Board of Health" etc., with the same $500 penalty.
On Dec. 5, 1912 the Mayor received a communication from the State Board of Health requesting that this city comply with this law. Later a second communication was received by lıim. This communication was forwarded to the Board of Health with the re- quest that they furnish Mr. Albert H. Wright, architect, such data and suggestions as they saw fit to offer to formulate a proper plan for this purpose.
The Board influenced by a desire to comply with these acts with as little financial expenditure by the city as was possible, first endeavored to obtain permission to use the present Mt. Pleasant Tuberculosis Camp for this purpose. After considerable inspection by the state authorities they received permission to enlarge the camp and receive the subsidy of $5 per week per patient of all those who showed tubercle bacilli in their sputa and were cared for the proposed improved camp, but only for a temporary period until a proper new hospital could be erected by the city. As this would entail an expense of several thousand dollars for a temporary ex- pedient only, the Board did not consider it wisdom or economy to follow this idea.
The Board of Health therefor investigated the various sites in this city which might be used for this hospital. Amongst them was the lot on the southerly side of Faxon Park; one in the pine grove on the Cunningham estate in West Quincy; one on the southerly side of Third Hill below the reservoir; one on the Eldredge estate on Quincy Avenue: one at Quincy Woods and one at Squantum. Many complaints had been received by the Board of Health. regard- ing the location of the present tuberculosis camp and during an In- vestigation of this camp it was suggested by Mr. Henry M. Faxon that perhaps a better location could be found for it. Following this suggestion Mr. Faxon offered confidentially to the Secretary of the Board, a location on the southerly side of Faxon Park for their
158
new municipal hospital, offering as much land as they thought was necessary for the purpose, provided however, that the proposed hos- pital be a proper one. The cost of obtaining any of the other sites and the advantages of the various proposed locations were such that this location suggested by Mr. Faxon was the most desirable. It is practically at the greatest elevation in our city, is protected from the north by Faxon Park and has a beautiful outlook over the Fore River Valley to the south and is in a position whereby the pre- vailing south-west winds of summer would keep the hospital as cool and as comfortable as is possible in our city. Its elevation and its abutment to a large public park, its reasonable access to street car lines seemed also to make it the most desirable site.
After visits to various tuberculosis and other hospitals and af- ter carefully investigating this subject, the Board with the assist- ance of Mr. Wright formulated a plan which has been amended in detail several times so that now they feel that they have an ideal plan for this hospital. As the Board has been paying for the care of about thirty cases of tuberculosis, the plan contains provisions for thirty beds for tuberculosis cases; eighteen for males and
twelve for females; provision in the scarlet fever ward is made for three males and three females; in the diphtheria ward for three males and three females; and the contagious building contains as well a small ward of two beds for an isolation ward. The wards have the advantage of being easily enlarged with a very small ex- pense for more tuberculosis cases by extending the walls on either end and in the scarlet fever and diphtheria wards by glazing in the verandas and placing beds in them. Its capacity could be doubled almost immediately should an epidemic arise. It has the advan- tage that as the scarlet fever and diphtheria cases are cared for in one building, one nurse, in a glass observation room in the center, can have observation and control over all these diphtheria and scarlet fever wards, should but few cases be cared for.
The scheme back of this plan entails the employment of a res- ident physician, who as well as caring for the cases in this hospital. will do such laboratory work for the physicians of Quincy, free of charge, as will enable them to obtain, quickly and easily, reports of cultures of all kinds taken from their cases of contagious diseases and will entail also a visit from this physician upon every case of contagious disease which may arise in the city as well as subse- quent visits from the nurses of the hospital, who trained in this particular work, will, at least by teaching hygienic and preventative measures in the household, De a most valuable aid in stopping the spread of our contagious diseases and as well give to the sick cases their better opportunity for a successful recovery.
Considerable work has been done by this Board, with but little encouragement at times. The recess committee of the Legislature however before whom on Nov. 18. 1913 this city was called to pre- sent reasons why it had not complied with the law causing the erection of this hospital, stated that these plans were by far the
159
finest they had yet seen, that the enthusiasm of those who had this matter in charge was the greatest they had yet seen and they com- mended highly the Board and Mr. Faxon for their effort to produce such an ideal hospital.
Some objection to these plans were made by a member of the State Board of Health which was quickly over-ruled by the whole State Board and he has later concluded and expressed himself ull- reservedly that this plan is splendid. The plans have been submit- ted as well to the Trustees of the Hospitals for Consumptives, the District Police and the State Board of Charities, and no objection of any sort to them now exists that the Board is aware of. In fact they have received most glowing commendation from practically ev- ery one who should know what a proper hospital of this sort should be. Mr. Faxon publicly has announced his willingness to give to the city for this purpose the proposed location. This he also ali - nounced to the recess committee when we were brought before theni and the Board feels that the city now has an ideal location for this hospital as well as al: ideal plan.
His Honor Ex-Mayor Stone has been a source of the greatest encouragement to the Board in their work and the city should ac- knowledge to him the impetus which has carried this movement to its present state. Mr. Wright has given freely of his time and sug- gestions, remaking plan after plan as improvements were indicated and has promptly aided the Board in every manner.
The proposed hospital consists of a central administration building with a ward on either side, one for male tuberculosis cas- es, the other for female tuberculosis cases and a covered runway leading back from the administration building to the contagious wards which are combined in a separate building. Owing to the danger of fire from the boiler, the kitchen and laundry in the Ad- ministration Building, the basement walls and ceiling are to be fire- proofed and the ends of the wards adjoining the administration building are to be fireproof walls.
The basement contains the main kitchen, where is cooked the food for the entire hospital. The food is then hoisted on dumu waiters to the various diet kitchens where it is transferred to dishes belonging to the various wards or dining rooms and the re- maining food in their uncontaminated receptacles is returned to the main kitchen. A truck is used to carry this food through the cov- ered runway to the contagious wards where it is sent up on dumb waiters to the wards in the same manner. The kitchen recepta- cles containing food and ladles cannot in this manner be infected. Each ward or dining room has its own dishes, linen, etc.
Infected material which is to be used again is carried to the sterilizing room in sealed bags either by truck from the contagious wards or by a chute from the floor above for material from the tu- berculosis wards. It is then placed in the sterilizer and sterilized, being taken out from the other end of the sterilizer which is in an aseptic room, separated from the septic room where the infected
160
material was placed in the sterilizer, by a solid brick wall. From the aseptic room after sterilization it is taken to the adjoining laundry and washed. Chutes for uninfected material enter the laun- dry from the floor above. A dining room is shown in the basement for the hospital help, their food being carried on trays from the kitchen. Two large storerooms, one for food supplies and one for hospital furniture, etc., with a large refrigerator room and coal pockets, complete the basement plan.
The first floor of the administration building contains a large dining and social hall, which with a portable stage and piano will prove an attractive feature of this hospital. A small operating room and office which will be used as a dispensary and laboratory as well. is here located. The nurses dining room is also on this floor and is by its own service room and location absolutely safe- guarded from infection.
The second floor of the administration building is reserved en- tirely for the nurses and female help of the hospital and is equipped with a well located living room and baths, as well as a large room for matron or head nurse. This floor shows sleeping accommoda- tion for seven.
The top floor is reached by a separate stairway from the lower floor and contains rooms and bath for the male service of the in- stitution. Large fire escapes are provided for each of the two upper floors.
The tuberculosis wards are placed as near the administration building as is possible to save steps for nurses and patients. Each section is a separate unit in itself, composed of a large ward which is over two-thirds glass on the southerly side with small glass win- dows on its northerly side and which contains ample heating fa- cilities so that it may be comfortable in winter, particularly in the early morning. The peculiar type of windows and doors used will practically entirely open the south side and the small northerly windows will be open in summer and double sashed in winter. AS the percentage of reported tuberculosis cases is practically three males and two females, the size of these large wards is made ac-
cordingly. Each section contains a locker
and
dressing
room
where each patient keeps his clothing. Adjoining this is the toilet and bath room, complete even to tooth washing bowls and shower baths. These two rooms are placed next to the large ward to make them as convenient as possible and being on the ward floor instead of in the basement they are much more attractive and serve their purpose better. Between the bathroom and the ad- ministration building is a ward for advanced cases, which is heated and will be kept at a more equable temperature for these cases and next to this ward is a one bed room for an isolation room or for dying cases. These two rooms are next to the administration build- ing to minimize the distance for the nurses as these advanced cases require considerable attention. The wards will be equipped with wheel beds and the corridors are so arranged that cases may be
161
easily wheeled in their beds on to the large veranda, as well as fa- cilitate their casy removal in case of fire.
The contagious building is unique in that scarlet fever, diph- theria and possibly other contagious discases are cared for on the same floor of a building and five wards can be supervised by one nurse. This is accomplished by having a glassed wall room in the center of the building, from which an unobstructed view can be had by the nurse in charge of every patient in the contagious wards. As the average monthly number of reported scarlet fever and diph- theria cases is less than eight per month and as less than 50 per cent. of these can be reasonably expected to enter our hospital for treatment we should theoretically receive for care about two cases of scarlet fever and two cases of diphtheria per month for treat- ment from our city. This normal monthly average is deceptive however because these two diseases are prevalent usually only in winter and spring. Arrangements in the contagious wards are therefor made for six beds for each of these two diseases, three in each male and three in each female ward and as most of these cases are children, each ward can easily contain six cribs in an epidemic.
The verandas are large and are built so that in an epidemic they may be glassed in and used as wards without disturbing the administrative features. The nurses enter the wards through what may be called air locks which are located between the glass obser- vation room and the wards, through double glass sashed doors which tightly close. A current of air is carried from an air inlet below up through each air lock and out through the roof, and each air lock contains a wash bowl and a place for gown and slippers, so that contagion may not be carried from one ward to another. This is a decidedly economical feature as one nurse can be used during much of the day and one at night instead of one nurse by day and one nurse at night by each of the wards, and as it may happen that we may have but one case in each side it would be ludicrous to re- quire four nurses for their care.
The contagious wards are well lighted and well equipped with diet kitchens, baths and locker space, have large verandas with convenient and ample exits for wheeling cases on to verandas or to remove them immediately in case of fire. Clothes chutes and dumb waiters are conveniently located. A doctor's room with proper toilet and lockers is also provided. Patients coming to the hospital enter from the covered way and if not ambulant are wheeled by truck to their proper bed.
The roadway will run alongside Faxon Park to Kendrick ave- nue near the head of Phipps street, land for this purpose having been donated by Mr. Faxon.
The following is a table comparing the contagious diseases re- ported to the Board of Health for the last ten years:
162
1904 1905 1906 1907
1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913
Diphtheria
71
91
70
78
136
71
55
70
51
76
Scarlet Fever
22
46
53
50
67
44
72
141
37
59
Typhoid Fever
13
32
11
22
32
22
27
23
8
31
Measles
109
1€
378
37
59
141
307
275
80
320
Cerebro-Spinal
Meningitis
1
9
1
4
2
1
1
0
0
2
Tuberculosis
40
44
48
34
57
46
39
33
35
68
Small Pox
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Rabies
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Opthalmia
Neonatorum
0
0
0
3
1
3
3
10
20
13
Whooping Cough
0
0
0
2
7
19
15
34
16
109
Chicken Pox
0
0
0
0
4
8
14
27
34
63
Anterior Polio-
Myelitis
0)
0
0
0
0
2
5
1
0
16
Mumps
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
39
Total
266
241
563
231
365
357
538
615
283
796
RETURN OF DEATHS.
Death rate for 1913 based on population of 34,670
,13.70
Death rate for 1912 based on population of 34,670 11.04
Total number of deaths from all causes (still-births excluded )
475
Still-births
30
Deaths by Sexes (Still-births excluded)
Number of deaths of males
245
Number of deaths of females
230
Deaths by Months (Still-births excluded)
Deaths in January, 40; February, 38; March, 40; April, 37; May, 44; June, 37; July, 24; August, 50; September, 38; October, 29; November, 31; December, 57.
Deaths According to Nationality.
American, 306; Foreign, 129; Provincial, 34; Unknown, 6.
163
DEATHS BY AGES (Still-births excluded.)
Males
Females
Total
Deaths of persons ander one year
50
46
96
One to two years
5
14
19
Two to three years
4
4
8
Three to four years
1
3
4
Four to five years
3
2
5
Five to ten years
5
5
10
Ten to fifteen years
2
1
3
Fifteen to twenty years
8
4
12
Twenty to thirty years
9
8
17
Thirty to forty years
29
19
48
Forty to fifty years
23
12
35
Fifty to sixty years
49
27
76
Sixty to seventy years
27
25
52
Seventy to eighty years
19
41
60
Over eighty years
9
19
28
Ages unknown
2
0
2
245
230
475
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Cubic Feet Garbage collected
88,841
Single Loads of Ashes collected
2,787
Double Loads of Ashes collected
1,965
Aslı Tickets collected
5,264
Gallons Vault Matter removed
140,975
Gallons Cesspool Matter removed
259,200
Yards of Brooks cleaned
8,844
Public Dumps cared for
3
Clam Permits issued
885
Inspections of Sanitary Inspector
689
Inspections of Plumbing Inspector
1,007
Inspections of Meat and Provisions Inspector
508
Licenses Grante !- Undertakers
Garbage
2
To erect or remodel stables
13
To occupy stables
9
Houses Disinfected
166
For Diphtheria, number rooms
124
For Scarlet Fever, number rooms
99
For Tuberculosis, number rooms For other diseases
60
School Rooms disinfected
9
Medical Inspection of Schools- Pupils examined
191
12
Pupils excluded
111
164
PUBLIC DUMP.
On May 7, 1913. through the recommendation of this Board the city purchased 6 1-2 acres of marsh land in rear of the City Stables which is being used as a public dump and is making val- uable land in this manner for the city, which may be used as an approach to a Public Dock or other municipal purpose. Its chief value however has been to discontinue the unsightly and danger- ous public dump on Valley street and is so located as to be easily reached, out of sight and safe.
GARBAGE.
All parts of the city are now receiving a garbage collection at least once a week during the entire year and twice a week during the summer months.
ASHES.
On Jan. 27, 1913, the Board of Health inaugurated a system of removal from cellars of houses, ashes at 5 cents per barrel, without increasing the number of men employed. The receipts from the sale of tickets to Jan. 1st, 1914, has been $344.15, while the payroll for the total ash collection in that period was $2,847.75. This scheme has given excellent cheap service to householders, removing from them the unpleasant labor of taking their filled ash barrels to the sidewalk and later returning empty barrels to cellars and has saved to the city without any added expense, about 12 per cent. of the total payroll for collection of ashes.
A parsimonious allowance of $500 for cleaning brooks was al- lowed the Board and in consequence inestimable damage is done cur inhabitants. The disregard of the Council to the danger and inconvenience of mosquitoes by refusing the small amount request- ed for their extermination, has caused enormous, well founded crit- icism and is a source of discouragement to an enthusiastic Board.
The equipment of the Department is in excellent condition and a new steel garbage receptacle has replaced the old unsanitary one which finally fell to pieces as was intimated in our report for 1912.
The present method of administration of the Health Depart- ment of this city is totally wrong and does not work well, nor can it work well until a change in the City Charter is made. It not only is uneconomical but is an absolute danger to the city. A proper administration can be made however without extra or with little extra cost.
WVM. H. TEASDALE, Chairman, JAMES THOMAS, FRED E. JONES, Sec.
Board of Health.
165
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING.
As Inspector of Plumbing I have the honor to submit my twen- tieth annual report:
Number of permits issued, 751; number of permits cancelled, 3; old dwellings, ?40; new dwellings, 325; old beach cottages, 73; new beach cottages, 45; pool rooms, 2; stores, 19; theatres, 5; stables, 2; garages, 2: clubs, 2; business buildings, 3; shops, 3; barber shops, 3; halls, S; church, 1; school house, 1; skating rink, 1; offices, 7; tent, 1; greenhouse, 1; hospitals 2; nurse's home, I.
Number of buildings connected to sewer 463
Old dwellings connected to sewer 190
New dwellings connected to sewer 215
Old cottages connected to sewer 6
Old buildings other than dwellings connected to sewer 38
New buildings other than dwellings connected to sewer 14
Old dwellings connected to cesspools 50
New dwellings connected to cesspools 110
Old cottages connected to cesspools
67
New cottages connected to cesspools
45
Old buildings other than dwellings connected to cesspools 11
New buildings other than dwellings connected to cesspools 2
Number of buildings connected to cesspools 285
I wish to acknowledge my appreciation for the good judgment shown by the Board of Health in presenting to the City Council during the year an order asking that certain changes be made in the plumbing laws of our city, and receiving the approval of that honorable body being convinced that the present laws had out- lived their usefulness and that we must keep up with progress. The revised plumbing ordinance which takes effect Jan. 1, 1914, 1s in my opinion equal to the laws of any city or town in this or any other state and it is absolutely necessary that they should be. The added cost of plumbing to the property owner under the new ordi- nance will be very slight in comparison to the amount involved. I am confident that the average person will welcome this slight in- crease in cost knowing that they are living in homes the plumbing in which meets with the approval of the highest sanitary authority.
J. J. KENILEY,
Inspector of Plumbing.
166
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MEATS AND PROVISIONS.
I hereby submit my eighth annual report.
Inspections (markets and fruit dealers)
508
New licenses issued
24
Licenses renewed
62
Lbs. of pork condemned
€
Lbs. of veal condemned
62
Lbs. of beef condemned
13
Lbs. of fish condemned
47
Lbs. of sausage condemned
12
Lbs. of lamb condemned
57
Dozen eggs condemned
6
Lbs. of fruit condemned
31
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