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 1921 > Part 13
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No. Vaults No. Eliminated No. Vaults
1-1-21
during year
12-31 21
Ward 1
232
34
198
Ward 2
74
13
61
Ward 3
113
15
98
Ward
440
30
410
Ward 5
9
1
8
Ward 6
28
3
25
Totals
896
96
800
Sewer Connections
During the summer and fall months we co-operated with the Sewer Department in sending out notices to owners to connect with the public sewer. As soon as the Sewer Department started work on a street we would send notices to the abutters notifying them to connect and in most cases secured excellent results. In about sixty cases extension of time had to be granted until spring as the premises were at Houghs Neck and were closed for the season.
239
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Premises connected after notice. 56
Deposit paid but work not completed. 45
Number cases extension of time granted. 101
Number cases time not up
26
Total number of notices sent.
228
Mosquito Abatement
The abatement of the mosquito nuisance occupied considerable of my time during the summer months. The work done, to a great extent, was experimental and I feel certain that with an adequate appropriation available during 1922, we can eliminate the pest to a great extent. Permanent eradication will come, however, only when marshes, swamps and other low areas are properly drained and when people discontinue to allow so-called accidental recep- tacles to remain on their premises.
The oiling of the breeding places was done five times during the past season, about 700 gallons being used for each spraying. This is not frequent enough to be most effective as the mosquito breeds in from ten to twenty days. To get the best results the oiling should be done every fourteen days and every ten days during the rainy season. The work should commence about the 15th of April and continue until about the 15th of September.
I would recommend that you include in your budget for the coming year the sum of $2,500 for the abatement of the mosquito nuisance. I base my recommendation on the following figures:
Oil, 10,000 gallons, at 5 cents per gallon. $500.00
Labor, 2 men, 25 weeks, and 2 men, 15 weeks at $21.60 per week 1,728.00
Equipment, sprayers, mops, brooms, pails, barrels, taps, rubber boots 200.00
Miscellaneous
72.00
Total
$2,500.00
Bakery Inspections
During the month of September, together with Dr. Drury of the Food and Drugs Division of the State Department of Public Health, I inspected every bakery in the city. In most cases condi- tions were found to be very good and the proprietors were com- plying with the laws and regulations. We found a violation that was common, it being that products were not properly protected in the salesroom. Instructions were given and in every case, excepting one, the violation has been remedied. In the only case not remedied, the illness of the proprietor necessitated the post- ponement of the hearing and consequently the violation was not remedied. It will be, however, before January 15, 1922.
Three of the shops were found to be in most unsanitary condi- tions. I refer to the following places: 21 Nash avenue, Abram Swartz, Prop .; 333 Water street, Benny Wise, Prop., and 61 Water street, Joseph Nardone, Prop. Mr. Swartz has cleaned his shop but he is the type of man who must be watched almost continually
240
CITY OF QUINCY
as he is careless and indifferent. The shop belonging to Mr. Wise has been newly plastered and Mr. Grossman, the owner of the building, has agreed to paint the walls and ceilings. This will be a great improvement and Mr. Wise will have no excuse for not having a clean and sanitary baker shop. The plant owned by Mr. Nardone is in the basement of the house at 61 Water street, and like most basement bakeries is difficult to keep clean. This plant will not be occupied after March 1, 1922, as Mr. Nardone is having a new up-to-date plant built for him on Water street.
Stable Permits
Permits were granted for the remodelling of two buildings as stables. We insisted, however, upon the regulations being strictly adhered to, before we gave the parties permits to occupy the stables. We particularly insisted upon proper manure pits being constructed, as I found that the disposal of the manure is the worst feature of the stables in the city.
Ice Ponds
Sanitary surveys were made of the watersheds of the several ice ponds in the city and analyses were made of the waters of Furnace Brook, Little Brook, Eaton's Pond, Patch's Pond at South Quincy, Patch's Pond at Quincy Neck, Crystal Lake, Wendell's Quarry and Quincy Reservoir. Samples of ice were secured from the ice houses at Eaton's and Patch's South Quincy Ponds and these samples were sent to the State Department of Public Health to be analyzed. The reports of these surveys have already been submitted to you.
Complaints
During the seven months 146 complaints have been received from residents and investigations made. The nature of these complaints covers many phases of the work of a health or sanitary inspector. Following is a list of the types of complaints received :
Cesspools overflowing.
Unsanitary vaults.
Piggeries.
Obnoxious odors.
Dumps.
Water in cellar.
Unsanitary hen yards.
Rooster nuisances.
Garbage being disposed of improperly.
Garbage pails leaking or not properly covered.
Contaminated well being used as drinking water.
Unsanitary or unfit dwellings.
Unsanitary toilets (inside plumbing).
Drain from ice box causing nuisance.
Stable nuisances.
Manure nuisances.
Breeding place for flies.
Breeding places for mosquitoes.
241
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Horse disturbing neighborhood.
Unsanitary bakeries. Pollution of brooks. Refusing to allow set tubs to be used by tenant whose children were quarantined with the measles.
Dead dogs.
Dead hens ..
Court Cases
It was necessary to resort to the courts in only two cases and in both of these cases convictions were secured. One case was for failing to construct a proper cesspool and the other was for empty- ing the contents of a cesspool on the street.
New Regulations
New regulations governing barber shops and restaurants were adopted during the past year and it is my intention to make a systematic inspection of all barber shops and restaurants during January and February so that any violations of the regulations may be corrected before the summer.
Inspections
Following is a report of the inspections I have made during the seven months I have been with this department:
Sanitary inspections
927
Bakery inspections
91
Poultry inspections
35
Bottling plant inspections
10
Piggery inspections
36
Stable inspections
11
Barber shop inspections
11
Store inspections
82
Restaurant inspections
25
Huckster inspections
6
Oil works inspections
4
Inspections relative to sewer connection.
137
Inspections relative to mosquito abatement.
88
Total inspections
1,463
Hearings
A total of 22 hearings were held during the seven months re- ferred to above.
Stable
3
Bakery
15
Restaurant
3
Barbers
1
is .
Total 22
242
CITY OF QUINCY
New Sewers
In the paragraph under privy vaults I suggested that you recommend to His Honor, the Mayor, that particular attention be paid to the construction of new sewers in the West Quincy section of the city. Following is a list of streets where the large percentage of the houses have no inside plumbing. The number of vaults on the streets are also shown:
Street
No. Vaults
Condition
of Vaults
Common
29
Very bad
Filbert
13
Very bad
Cross (Common to Boulevard)
3
Fair
West
35
Fair
Conant
8
Fair
Wittiche Pl.
2
Fair
O'Connell avenue
5
Bad
California avenue
7 (double)
Bad
Bates avenue
21
Bad
Grove
20
Bad
Kent
11
Fair
The work in this department during the time I have been here has been most interesting. The members of the various city depart- ments have co-operated with me in every case, when I requested, and I have tried to co-operate with them. Mention should also be made of the splendid co-operation of the State Department of Public Health, particularly the Enginering Division. The other members of our department have done everything within their power to assist me in my work and I am deeply grateful to them. I appreciate, also very much, the confidence that you have placed in me and trust that I have done my work to your satisfaction.
With the experience I have acquired, I feel certain that I will .be better qualified during the coming year to do the work assigned to me, and consequently help make our Department of Health the best in the State.
Respectfully submitted,
A. A. ROBERTSON, Sanitary Inspector.
243
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
REPORT OF ASSISTANT MILK INSPECTOR
I herewith submit the following report as Sanitary Inspector, acting as Assistant Milk Inspector for the year ending Dec. 31, 1921:
The following statistics refer to milk consumed in the city of Quincy :
Number of dairies in Quincy
97
1 cow 41
2 to 5 cows. 24
6 to 10 cows 8
Over 10 cows 24
-
97
Number of dairies within 10 miles supplying city ... 19
Number of cows in Quincy 546
Number of cows within 10 miles supplying city 372
Milk contractors processing plants
In Quincy
3
In Braintree
1
Average amount of milk consumed in Quincy (daily)
25255 qts.
Produced in Quincy
Raw milk. 5250
Produced within 10 miles of city ..
2980
Certified milk within 28 miles.
200
Grade A milk within 60 miles pasteurized . 500
95
275
Family or Jersey 66 60
5000
95
9000
160 66
2000
Cream consumed (daily)
315
Percentage of raw milk consumed.
40
Percentage of pasteurized milk consumed. 60
Average score of dairy inspections
61.05
Dairy inspections not scored
505
Dairy inspections scored.
58
Dairy inspections outside and within 10 miles of city
12
Samples taken for butter fats and solids.
410
Number deficient
20
Samples taken for bacteria count.
53
Stores, restaurants and bakeries licensed to sell milk and cream
291
Number of stores inspected.
125
Producers' milk licenses granted
43
Oleomargarine licenses granted.
57
Grade A Mass. milk certificates granted.
1
Number of conveyances for distribution of milk.
80
(Teams, cars and trucks)
New milk rooms built.
5
New barns built
6
Sanitary inspections
183
Restaurant and bakery inspections
31
Oil nuisance inspections 1
66
244
CITY OF QUINCY
Spring water manufacturing plant inspections. 1
Ice Cream manufacturing plant inspections
14
Ice Cream producted in City of Quincy 1230 Gallons 1489
Ice Cream consumed in City of Quincy
· Stable permits granted
3
Public hearings
3
Court cases
2
Office work
39 Days
Revenue received from milk and oleomargarine
licenses
$196.50
This branch of the public health work has been conducted in substantially the same manner as last year with the exception that we have a fully equipped laboratory and are now taking a bacteria count. The aim in view has been to secure for this city a clean, fresh and healthful milk supply, as well as one that would not fall below the standard prescribed by law.
With but few exceptions, the local dairies are in a sanitary condition, kept clean and well ventilated and milk rooms well screened, drained and clean.
After June 1, 1922, all dealers selling milk in the city of Quincy will have milk rooms installed. In addition, all stores where milk licenses are granted are inspected and scored.
The monthly averages for Total Solids and Butter Fats were as follows:
Solids
Butter Fats
Jan., 1921
13.02%
4.55%
Feb., 1921
13.32
4.57
Mar., 1921
12.48
4.42
Apr., 1921
12.47
4.13
May, 1921
12.08
4.63
June, 1921
12.57
3.82
Sept., 1921
12.47
4.23
Oct., 1921
13.00
4.60
Nov., 1921
13.30
4.60
Dec., 1921
12.62
3.72
The legal standards for Mass .. 12.00
3.35
Respectfully submitted,
JAS. O'DOWD,
Sanitary Inspector, Milk Division.
245
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MEAT AND PROVISIONS
December 31, 1921. I submit herewith the report of this office for the year ending December 31, 1921:
Inspections made
556
Meat and Foodstuffs Condemned as Unfit for Food
Pounds of Beef
105
Lamb
49
66 Pork
45
Poultry
79
Hamburg Steak
7
66
Frankforts
73
Sausage
13
Blood Sausage
15
Bacon
5
66
Smoked Shoulders
13
Beef Liver
7
66
Veal
22
66
Corned Beef
20
66
Boiled Ham
5
66
Pigs Feet
10
60
Fish
20
Crab Meat
33
7 oz. cans
Bushels of Spinach
1
Lettuce
1
Financial Statement
Appropriation
$50.00
Expended :
Transportation
25.00
Printing
17.35
Telephone
5.00
47.35
Unexpended balance
$2.65
The work of this office is divided into two parts, regular in- spection of stores and markets, where meat and foodstuffs of all kinds are sold and investigations of complaints in connection with foodstuffs sold. I have attended to the first of these by devoting part time each week in making inspections at various stores. I have investigated all complaints of individual cases where the food purchased has been complained of.
The merchants of the larger stores need no reminder as to the importance of keeping their store and fixtures in a sanitary condition and their foodstuffs are wholesome and properly kept.
Owing to the gradual increase in population of our city, more small markets are opening in various sections, which has increased the work of this office.
In a few cases vigorous warnings have been given to the store keeper, which, I believe has accomplished the desired results.
I divided up my inspection work, giving more time to some sec- tions than others, where I found conditions were not good and needed more care and attention.
Respectfully submitted,
HOWARD ROGERS, Inspector of Meats and Provisions.
246
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF VENEREAL DISEASE PHYSICIAN
Since its inception September 16, 1921, 20 patients have been attended at the Venereal clinic at the Quincy City Hospital.
Some of the cases have been referred to the clinic by private physicians for diagnosis (by means of the Wasserman reaction or darkfield microscopic examination) ; others from the hospital wards; one case came to me from the overseers of the poor; and still others from various city, county, and state institutions, all, however, being residents of Quincy.
For economic reasons it was decided to seek the co-operation of the hospital department and establish the clinic where an autoclave, still, and other necessary and expensive apparatus for sterilizing was available, rather than make duplicate expenditures for similar articles for the Dispensary, where these items are not a feature of the equipment.
I hasten to state that this co-operation was extended to me in unstinted measure by the Board of Managers and the Superin- tendent of the Hospital.
Of the 20 cases examined, six patients gave a positive Wasser- man reaction, indicating the presence of syphilis. One of these pa- tients has not returned to the clinic since and one has been trans- ferred to a government hospital. after a single course of treatment. Three of the twenty were cases of gonorrhoea. Two giving negative Wasserman reactions had been treated elsewhere, making a total of 11 cases of venereal disease out of 20 cases examined.
The five cases of syphilis treated in the clinic have received a total of 37 arsphenanim ("606") injections, and 47 injections of mer- cury in conjunction with any other treatment required in the indivdual cases. .
None of my cases have negative blood tests as yet, but since 4 out of the 5 were of at least 10 years' duration without any treat- ment whatever, and the fifth case one of congenital syphilis, like- wise untreated, I consider it too early to expect any such result.
I feel that while this is a very small beginning, that it is a very important public health measure, that I am not infringing on the domain of the private physician, inasmuch as few are equipped and many practitioners are not interested in the subject.
Moreover, existing law puts the onus of reporting these cases upon the physician, a responsibility which he does not like to incur. Therefore, I submit, that far from taking these patients away from anyone, we are simply performing a duty which would otherwise remain undone.
EDWIN E. SMITH, M.D.
247
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
REPORT OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASE NURSE
I respectfully submit herewith the report of the Department for Communicable Diseases for the year 1921:
Approximately 2,500 visits to homes in every part of the city were made in connection with communicable diseases during the year 1921.
Visits are made by the nurse immediately on report of the case to the Department of Health to ensure the patient is being properly cared for and kept in isolation, to prevent the spread of the disease to others, to teach the methods for prevention and to give aid in any way she can.
She keeps in touch with the case from the time it is reported to the health authorities until the release from quarantine.
There was reported a total of 1,129 cases of communicable dis- eases with only 20 deaths, including those taken to the contagious hospital at Brighton, a record of which the department is justly proud.
At times stringent measures are necessary in order to secure the proper co-operation from the people whose families are visited by contagious diseases. Should people give this co-operation willingly an even better showing could be made by this department.
In the spring an outbreak of measles occurred in the north end of the city, and at once the efforts of the Health Department with the able assistance of the school physician and nurses were di- rected to that part of the city and the schools.
As the cases were reported the homes were visited by the nurse, and all persons having measles were isolated, while sus- pected persons and those who had been exposed were quarantined.
In a great many cases people do not seen to realize the necessity of quarantine or in reporting the disease when a physician does not attend the case.
Lack of co-operation accounts somewhat for the large number of cases.
In March, 16 cases were reported, then the numbers gradually increased until the disease reached its height with 240 cases reported in May. From that time there was a marked decrease until October and November, when only 23 cases were reported for the two months.
Another outbreak of measles has been noted in December as at the close of the month 53 cases have been reported. The greater number of these cases were reported from that section near the Mil- ton line and the disease seems to be spreading through Wards 4 and 5.
Fortunately, however, the disease is of a mild type and no deaths have been reported during the year.
The two schools chiefly affected were visited and inspected by Dr. George O'Donnell of the State Department of Health, Dr. Fred E. Jones, Health Commissioner, and Dr. Maria E. Drew, School Physician.
The chart comparing contagious diseases for the last ten years shows that this disease seems to become epidemic every three and a half years.
In November an outbreak of diphtheria was apparent in Ward
248
CITY OF QUINCY
2, and although much less severe than the rumors which spread through the district would lead one to believe, it was enough to cause the Health Department to use stringent measures to enforce quarantine.
Steps were taken to control the epidemic by isolation and quarantine of all positive cases and carriers, cultures of all members of families were taken where a positive case was found and in all suspected families.
Cultures were taken in school rooms where a case had occurred and all suspects sent home by the school physician or school nurse. One school teacher in this district contracted the disease and was quarantined. Several families were found with two or more posi- tive cases, and in one instance a whole family was affected.
Careful investigation traced the cause of the outbreak to three diphtheria carriers, two of whom were found by culturing in school room, the other by being cultured in the Boston Dispensary and re- ported to the Quincy Health Department. These cases being im- mediately isolated and cared for, the epidemic subsided.
During a period of 8 weeks there, 31 cases were reported in Ward 2 with 4 deaths, including those taken to Brighton.
Not having a hospital in our own city to care for communicable diseases, the cases are sent to the Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital for contagious diseases at Brighton.
During the last year 48' cases of diphtheria, 6 cases of scarlet fever and 1 case of whooping cough were cared for at this institu- tion, with a total cost of $3,512.00.
The average cost per patient for scarlet fever is $85.00.
The average cost per patient for diphtheria is $40.00.
The average length for scarlet fever isolation is 6 weeks, and for diphtheria two weeks. However, one case of diphtheria has been at the hospital since May 24, 1920. This child has paralysis and necessitates hospital care.
A word of appreciation is extended to Dr. Fred E. Jones for his kindly assistance and advice as Commissioner of Health and to the physicians throughout the city for their hearty co-operation during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH W. BEAN, R. N.
SCHEDULE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES QUINCY, MASS., 1921
To Brighton
Diphtheria
Scarlet Fever
Typhoid Fever
Whooping Cough
Measles
Chicken Pox
Ophth. Neo.
Ant. Polio.
Supp. Conj.
Cere-Spinal
Venereal
Mumps
Homo Visits
Cultures
Anti-toxin
Diphth.
Fever
Scarlet
Deaths
January
00
5
1
2
20
1
133
58
1
5
February
8*
7
7
1
103
62
6
4
1
1
March
7
7*
16
16
1
1+
1
138
35
1
3
1§
2
April
7
4
1
123
10
1
1
452
21
1
5
1
June
5
3
150
9
1
331
15
2
3
1
July
8
1
7
30
1
2
1
80
10
1
1
September
11*
10
3
12
October
7
10
1
12
13
3
105
73
9
November
341
12
8
11
22
2
220
171
3
10
1
December
15±
30
6
53
5
7
306
150
1
7
1
2
Totals
122₫
88
4
42
722
116
4
4
10
1+
00
13
2446
677
25
48
6 §
9
*February, Brighton, 1; March, Brighton, 1; September, Brighton, 1.
+March, Quincy, 1; May, Quincy, 1.
¿November, Brighton 1, Quincy 1, December, Brighton 1, Quincy 1; Totals, Brighton 4, Quincy 3.
§March, Whooping cough, 1.
1 Supp. Conj. to Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary-1 scarlet fever to Boston City Hospital.
Tests: Wasserman, 5-Widal, 2-Malarial, 2.
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
May
77
1
240
14
1
2
256
24
2
August
5
354
8
73
1
3
22
240
34
1
6
1
82
24
2
1
249
250
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF TUBERCULOSIS PHYSICIAN
I respectfully submit the report of the Quincy Dispensary for the year 1921.
At the Quincy Dispensary on High School Avenue a clinic is held every Tuesday from six to seven in the evening.
Fifty clinics were held during the year and two hundred and eighty-one patients were examined by me.
Two hundred and thirty were re-examinations.
Ninety-one sputum tests were sent to the State Department of Public Health for examination.
The number of cases in hospitals and state sanatoriums were as follows:
Westfield State Sanatorium, 4 patients, average per year 21/2 patients, cost per week $4.00. $524.38
Rutland State Sanatorium, 6 patients, average per year
3 patients, cost per week $4.00. 649.14 . . Lakeville State Sanatorium, 7 patients, average per year 31/2 patients, cost per week $4.00. 705.13
Plymouth County Hospital, 2 patients, average per year 1 patient, cost per week $9.10.
646.10
Holy Ghost Hospital, 2 patients, average per year 2 patients, cost per week $10.00 ..
1,000.0S
(No cases at present at this hospital)
Norfolk County Hospital, 34 patients, average per year
17 patients, cost per week $9.10 .. $8,145.90
Assessment of Norfolk County for this hospital for the year 1921 was
28,258.15
Total cost
$36,404.05
Less State subsidy paid to city of Quincy 3,447.85
Actual cost to city of Quincy
$32,956.20
Or at an actual cost per week per patient of $36.85.
Reports of Quincy cases in sanatoria for 1921 show: Discharged arrested
10
Discharged unimproved
18
Absconded
4
Deaths at hospitals or sanatoria.
30
Number of deaths in the city
29
Number of cases reported during the year
61
Number of cases now in sanatoria:
Norfolk County
18
Westfield
2
Lakeville
2
Rutland
4
Plymouth County
1
Approximately 1,137 home visits were made by the nurse dur- ing the year. These included dispensary cases and those who were under the care of private physicians and who requested the nurse to visit them.
All pulmonary cases were given sputum cups and were in-
251
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
structed by the nurse in the care of the sputum and in general hygiene.
I have advised sanatorium treatment in all positive cases, as their removal, especially where there is a large family, may pre- vent many cases of infection which can be then avoided.
During the months of July and August a survey of Ward 4 was made under the direction of Miss Margaret C. Howard, as- sisted by the nurse. This report is now in the hands of the Mass. Tuberculosis League. No new cases were found.
It seems to me that we can still accomplish a great deal in eradicating tuberculosis from Quincy. This will require a lot of co-operation from the physicians of Quincy. How this can be best accomplished is by the follow-up work of the nurse. Suspicious or pretubercular cases are prone to see the physician once and if not followed up the disease may make rapid progress without being realized.
The nurse is always at the call of the physician and I would ask all interested in this work to give all possible aid to such cases. No person is refused careful examination at the Dispensary.
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