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 1939 > Part 10
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175
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
For the purpose of increasing Tuberculosis education in the schools and among the public at large, I am happy to report that the Quincy branch of the Norfolk County Health Association has made an intensive drive with increased personnel for the sale of Christmas Seals in Quincy. Preliminary reports indicate splendid success and these additional funds will greatly help in our fight for Tuberculosis control.
I hope to see the day when the National Tuberculosis Association can enter all public schools with a program of their own, adminis- tered by their own personnel, in the educational program of the Tuberculosis control. Then we would see real progress.
In closing I wish to express my sincere thanks for your splendid cooperation, also to Miss Russell the Tuberculosis Nurse, and all other nurses who so kindly helped at the clinic during the past year. Sincerely yours, CORNELIUS J. LYNCH, M.D .. Dispensary Physician.
176
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY NURSE
RICHARD M. ASH, M.D., Health Commissioner.
January 1, 1940.
Dear Dr. Ash :-
I herewith submit to you my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Total number of all kinds of tuberculosis on record in the city 603 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 342
Childhood Type 228
Other Forms 33
New cases of tuberculosis reported during the year. 64
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 56
Childhood Type 2
Other Forms 4
Cases moved in from other cities diagnosed Pulmonary 2
Disposition of New Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cases:
Admitted to sanatoria 45
Reported by death certificate 2
Refused sanatorium care: at home under own physician 2
Working-reported as an "Arrested Pulmonary Case" 1
Waiting admission to Norfolk County Hospital. 2
Died at Quincy City Hospital
Died at Pondville Hospital
Diagnosis revoked at Quincy City Hospital 2
Diagnosis revoked at Norfolk County Hospital.
2 1
Moved to Medford
Moved to Charlestown and hospitalized from there 1
New Pulmonary Cases that died during the year .. 6
Cases admitted to Norfolk County Hospital for obser- vation for 60-day period 4
Discharged "Non-Tubercular" 3
Disposition of New Childhood Type Cases:
Admitted to North Reading State Sanatorium. 1
At home under supervision and attending school 1
Disposition of New T. B. Other Cases:
Admitted to Lakeville State Sanatorium 4
"Norfolk County Hospital"
Registration of patients at the end of the year. 71
Cases admitted during the year 64
Cases discharged during the year 54
Arrested Pulmonary T. B. 18
Indefinite leave of absence to return to the hospital weekly for refills-or pneumo-thorax treatments .. ....
10
Observation cases-discharged Non T. B. 3
Dead 15
Pulmonary T. B. "Quiescent" 2
Pleurisy with Effusion-"Improved" 2
Pulmonary T. B .- "Improved" 1
Bronchiectasis Bilateral-Non T. B. 1
Pul. T. B .- Left against advice to die at home 1
Rheumatic Heart Disease-Non T. B. 1
2 1
177
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
"North Reading State Sanatorium"
Registration of patients at end of the year. 4
Cases admitted during the year 1
Cases discharged during the year 9
Arrested Childhood Type Cases
Transferred to Lakeville State Sanatorium 1
"Lakeville State Sanatorium"
Registration of patients at end of the year. 1 Cases admitted during the year 7
Cases discharged during the year 10 Condition on discharge:
T. B. Spine-Condition "Arrested" 1
T. B. Spine: T. B. right ankle-Pulmonary Infection "Arrested" 1
T. B. Mesenteric Glands 1
T. B. Kidney-"Left Nephrectomy" Arrested. 1
T. B. sacro-iliac-"Arrested" 1
T. B. Axillary glands (left) "Arrested" 1
T. B. Kidney readmitted and discharged in one month: "Bladder Irritability" 1
T. B. Kidney-diagnosis changed to "T. B. adenitis- mesenteric" 2
T. B. Cervical adenitis-"Arrested"
1
All ex-sanatorium cases are followed by the dispensary nurse and are transported or referred to the sanatorium out-patient through the dispensary for re-examination and X-ray as indicated on dis- charge-time ranging from one month to one year.
"Deaths"
Total number of deaths reported during the year. 34
Died at home 10
Died at Quincy City Hospital 3
Died at Long Island Hospital 1
Died at Norfolk County Hospital 18
Died at Pondville Hospital 1
Died at Wellington Home
1
"Adult Clinic"
Attendance 292
New cases added to clinic register 118
Number of contact examinations made 130
Number of sputum examinations made .. 328
Patients X-rayed at Norfolk County Hospital. 186
Number of Mantoux Tests done
108
Adult clinic registration 95
"Undernourished and Contact Children's Clinic"
Attendance 1159
New cases added to clinic register. 304
Number of contacts examinations made. 127
Mantoux Tests done 191
Positive Tests
40
Negative Tests
131
178
CITY OF QUINCY
Number of children admitted to Norfolk County Preventorium for eight weeks during the summer 49
Number of children admitted to Prendergast Camp for two weeks period, not eligible for Camp Norfolk 3
Vaccinations done 17
Cases referred for dentistry 10
Cases referred to the Quincy City Hospital for T & A.
29
Cases examined before admitting to Farrington Memorial,
Lexington (for Family Welfare) 12
Number of X-rays taken 157
Referred to Mass. General Hospital-Allergy Clinic. 1
Referred to Eye & Ear Infirmary for glasses 1
Total number of visits made to and in behalf of Tuberculosis patients 2040
Number of cases moved away and new addresses forwarded to the State 20
Cases have been referred to the clinics by other patients,
Family Welfare Society, Quincy City Hospital Social Ser- vice, School Nurses, and private physicians.
The other nurses in the Health Department gave their assistance at the dispensary when needed.
Respectfully submitted,
GERTRUDE T. RUSSELL, R.N., Dispensary Nurse.
REPORT OF THE CHILD WELFARE CLINIC
January 1, 1940.
DR. RICHARD M. ASH,
Commissioner of Health.
Dear Dr. Ash :-
Despite the fact that the birth rate of Quincy (13.7) for the year 1939 was the lowest in the history of the city, the attendance and registration at the Child Welfare Clinics during 1939 was about the same as it was in 1938.
The infant mortality (30.4) was the lowest ever recorded here. In the previous year (1938) the infant mortality was 37.3. This is due to many factors but the fact that such a high proportion of Quincy babies attend the Child Welfare Conferences, may, to a certain extent, be partially responsible for this low figure.
There were 3 deaths among the registered babies due to the following causes :
Bronchopneumonia Suffocation Drowning
It will be seen that none of these deaths are due to nutritional disturbances-which are commonly considered as preventable. Among non-clinic babies there were 3 such deaths. Among the older children there were no deaths from diphtheria, infantile paralysis or scarlet fever. A marked reduction in the number of deaths from pneumonia is undoubtedly due to advances in treatment-particu- larly the used sulfapyridine.
179
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
"As time goes on there will probably be a drop in the registration of clinic babies. This will be due to diminishing birth rate and also to increasing interest on the part of the private practitioner in the supervision of their younger patients.
I am sorry to say that the purpose of the pre-school clinic is still considerably misunderstood by the public. There is a strong tend- ency to use this clinic as a diagnostic and curative clinic instead of a clinic for routine health examinations. Close co-operation on the part of the "Habit Clinic" of the State Department of Mental Hygiene has been particularly helpful to this pre-school age group.
Very truly yours,
EDMUND B. FITZGERALD, M.D., Child Welfare Physician.
REPORT OF CHILD WELFARE NURSES
DR. RICHARD M. ASH,
Health Commissioner.
Dear Sir :-
Report of the Child Welfare Nurses for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Total clinic registration during year
1643
Total clinic registration active December 31st.
1268
Total new registration during year 771
Total clinic attendance
5883
Removed from files for reasons given below :
Deaths
3
Bronchopneumonia
1
Suffocation
1
Drowning
1
Inactive 12 months and over
Entered school
Moved from city
Number of clinics held
296
Well baby clinics
275
Preschool clinics
10
Orthopedic clinics
11
Clinics Held
Day
Station
Attendance
Examined New Cases
Monday
South Quincy
1113
878
104
Monday
Woodward (preschool)
147
138
54
Tuesday
Wollaston
803
729
103
Wednesday
Quincy Point
1177
777
105
Thursday
Woodward
1022
873
166
Thursday
Houghs Neck
396
344
50
Thursday
Woodward (orthopedic)
187
187
72
Friday
Atlantic
1038
843
117
5883
4769
771
January 1, 1940.
180
CITY OF QUINCY
The Houghs Neck clinic is held twice a month; Preschool and Orthopedic clinics are held once a month, and all others are held weekly.
Clinic Registration
Clinic
Active Dec. 31st
Inactive 1 year
Reg. in 1939
South Quincy
163
54
217
Wollaston
173
37
210
Houghs Neck
60
31
91
Woodward
244
40
284
Preschool
129
60
189
Orthopedic
124
63
187
Quincy Point
163
50
213
Atlantic
212
40
252
1268
375
1643
Boarding homes registered
16
Boarding homes not registered
4
Children now in boarding homes
30
Boarding home inspections
107
Total number of visits made
4242
Number of visits made to babies under 1 year.
2046
Number of visits made to babies between 1 and 2 years.
879
Number of visits made to preschool group.
264
Number of visits made to contagious diseases.
1053
Referred to local doctor by clinic doctor or nurse.
103
Referred to private or clinic dentist
45
Referred to Habit Clinic
47
Starting September 1939, each Monday and Wednesday morning was spent in St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Parochial Schools.
Each Saturday morning Mrs. Kerr assisted at the Undernourished Children's Clinic.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY M. McLENNAN, R.N.,
HAZEL R. KERR, R.N.,
Child Welfare Nurses.
181
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
REPORT OF ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC
January 24, 1940 Quincy Health Department
Dear Doctor Ash:
Enclosed is a report of eleven Orthopedic Clinics attended by me during the year 1939.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours, JOHN L. DOHERTY. JLD:MY
Report of Orthopedic Clinic
The following is a report of eleven clinics attended by Dr. John L. Doherty from January 1939 to December 1939 inclusive.
187 children were examined-72 were new admissions and 115 were follow up examinations.
Classification of Conditions Found in New Patients
Pronated feet
26
Knock knees 15
Bow legs 6
Flat feet
19
Poor posture
2
Congenital hip
1
Congenital deformity of toe 2
Tendo achilles bursitis
1
72
One hundred fifteen children reported for follow up examination.
REPORT OF THE HABIT CLINIC
RICHARD M. ASH, M.D.,
Commissioner of Health, City Hall,
Quincy, Massachusetts.
My dear Doctor Ash:
You will please find enclosed the annual report of the Quincy Child Guidance Clinic for the year 1939. I trust that this will give you the information you desire.
I would appreciate receiving a copy of the report of the Health Department, in which our Child Guidance Clinic report is included.
Sincerely yours,
EDGAR C. YERBURY, M.D., Director.
ECY : MF Enc.
February 1, 1940
DOCTOR RICHARD ASH, Health Commissioner
Quincy, Massachusetts
182
CITY OF QUINCY.
QUINCY CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC-1939
Total Number of Clinics Held 46
Total Number of Cases Carried 151
Total Number of New Cases. 97
Total Number of Old Cases. 54
Total Number of Visits by Children to Clinic. ...
628
Total Number of Interviews 2517
Sources From Which Cases Were Referred
Schools 45
Relatives and Friends 22
Physicians 14
Health Agencies
8
Family Agencies
4
Children's Agencies
1
Community Education 1
Clinic Staff 1
Settlements or Churches
1
Total Number of New Cases Referred
97
Annual Report of the Quincy Habit Clinic
January 29, 1940.
To the Health Commissioner, City of Quincy:
It gives me pleasure to present the thirteenth annual report of the Quincy Child Guidance Clinic for the fiscal year ending Novem- ber 30, 1939.
This clinic was organized in 1926 under the auspices of the Massachusetts Division of Mental Hygiene, and has been function- ing continually and efficiently since that time, stressing the quality rather than quantity of work. A review of the activities for the past year indicates that this clinic has steadily and actively grown, so that now a maximum case load is being treated by the clinic personnel.
In January, 1939, a change in the policy of all mental hygiene clinics, under the Department of Mental Health, made it possible to include the admission of children up to fourteen years of age. This policy no longer makes it necessary to confine our study to preschool and younger children, as was done under the Habit Clinics, but makes it possible to give intensive study and treatment to all children presenting personality, behavior and scholastic prob- lems referred to the clinic.
There have been some changes in the personnel of the clinic staff during the year. On September 1, 1939, Doctor Charles Brenner was appointed to succeed Doctor Hans B. Molholm as senior psychi- atrist. On September 25, 1939, Miss Eleanor Culbert succeeded Miss Sybil Stone as clinical psychologist for the balance of the year. Mrs. Nancy Newell has been the psychiatric social worker at the clinic throughout the year.
The procedure at the clinic does not differ from that which was described in a previous annual report. The clinic staff, consisting of a psychiatrist, psychologist, and psychiatric social worker, co- operates in an intensive study of the individual child, as to his emotional, social, mental and physical health. A program of therapy,
183
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
directed toward the improvement of the child's general behavior and his successful adjustment, is outlined to persons interested in the child; including parents, teachers, principals, probation officers and others.
In addition to the clinic personnel already mentioned, a speech therapist and occupational therapist have served at the clinic, and have assisted the psychiatrist in carrying out with children specific therapeutic services in the specialized fields in which they have been trained. While in previous years, students of the Boston School of Occupational Therapy had conducted classes for all the children attending the clinic sessions, during the past year the oc- cupational therapist has devoted her entire time to the cases re- ferred by the psychiatrist for particular reasons; such as, to de- velop self assurance, self expression, social response, and to improve the mental resources of children, all of which help to facilitate a more satisfactory adjustment to life. The important program of speech therapy has been adequately conducted by a senior speech student from Emerson College, under the supervision of Mr. Samuel D. Robbins, supervisor of speech in the Division of Mental Hygiene. For children, presenting speech problems, which may or may not be complicated by emotional problems or difficulties in adjustment, an intensive program of speech training has been carried on at the clinic.
For the past several years, much attention has been given to the presence of reading disabilities which seriously handicap a child's scholastic progress. Up until the present year, remedial tutoring service had been available through the cooperation of the Boston University School of Education. I regret to say, because of the great demand for this service by many agencies and because the number of teachers enrolled at Boston University for this special course does not meet the demand, it has not been possible to con- tinue the service on a student basis at the clinic during the year. It is hoped that this valuable service might be made available to the clinic in the future through the School Department. This service is one which could be justified on a full-time basis, part of which could be devoted to the School Department and part to the clinic. Considering the fact that so many children are referred for schol- astic problems, it would seem logical for the School Department to tie up such service with its educational program.
In most of the cases referred to the clinic, treatment must be carried on through the parents. It is a well-recognized fact that many of the problems of childhood can be attributed to the parents. During the child's formative period of life, we find him reacting to many environmental factors, and it is during these early years that imitation plays an important part in the development of per- sonality. Realizing that the child learns by imitation, it is most important for parents to realize that the child looks up to them as examples. If the child is to acquire good habits, good qualities must exist in the parents. All normal children take in suggestion from the environment from hundreds of sources, and much of suggestion becomes a part of their personalities. Because of this very import- ant relationship existing between the child and his parents, it is essential for the clinic to have the whole hearted cooperation of the parents in carrying out the treatment program.
The clinic appreciates the fact that it is not only necessary to educate parents in mental hygiene matters, but it is equally im- portant to include in this educational program all persons having
,
184
CITY OF QUINCY
contact with the child. For this reason, the clinic held regular bi- monthly conferences, to which physicians, visiting nurses, clergy- men, representatives from the School Guidance Department, and social workers from interested agencies had been invited to partici- pate in discussion of individual cases and follow-up treatment.
It has been definitely established that the early treatment of the problems of childhood will result in the prevention of delinquency, dependency and mental disorders in later life. If further progress is to be made in alleviating the problems of childhood, additional clinic service must be anticipated. It is hoped that the community will be sufficiently interested in developing this program of pre- vention by enabling the Division of Mental Hygiene to augment its clinical facilities by subsidizing at least another much needed weekly session of the Quincy Child Guidance Clinic.
An analysis of the statistical report of the clinic for the year 1939 would indicate that the number of new cases admitted to the clinic has dropped off slightly. This can be attributed to the fact that since the beginning of the year the services of only one psychi- atrist has been available in place of two, which had been included in the personnel for previous years.
I would hereby recommend that careful thought be given by the leaders in the community to the necessity of providing additional sessions of the Quincy Child Guidance Clinic, in order to make the service available to more children than is possible at the present time. This service could be made available through subvention by the interested persons in the community.
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the personnel of the Quincy Child Guidance Clinic who have faithfully served throughout the year and who have helped in making the clinic a success. I am grateful for the cooperation and assistance extended me by the Commissioner of Health, the Superintendent of Schools, the School Guidance Department, and the various health and social agencies, all of whom are actively interested in the health and happiness of our children.
Sincerely yours,
ECY : MF
EDGAR C. YERBURY, M.D., Director, Massachusetts State Division of Mental Hygiene.
185
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
REPORT OF NURSE WORK IN PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
January 1, 1940.
DR. RICHARD M. ASH, M.D., Health Commissioner
Dear Sir:
We hereby jointly submit a report of our combined activities in the Parochial Schools of Quincy for that portion of the school year starting in September 1939 to December 1939 inclusive:
Number of visits to schools 63
Number of children given vision test 1154
Number of children examined by nurses. 130
Number of dental appointments made 120
Number of children referred to private physicians.
14
Number of children given health inspection
1191
Number of home visits made
10
Respectfully submitted,
CATHERINE F. COLEMAN, R.N., MARY M. McLENNAN, R.N., HAZEL R. KERR, R.N.
REPORT OF INFANTILE PARALYSIS COMMISSION
300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. January 10, 1940.
DR. RICHARD M. ASH, Health Commissioner, CITY HALL,
QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.
My dear Dr. Ash:
The following is a report of the activities of the Quincy Treat- ment Clinic for Infantile Paralysis patients for 1939.
There were fifty-three active cases in the district. Of these thirty- five attended the local Clinic which is held each Monday at the Quincy Dispensary on High School Avenue.
During the year, forty-six Clinics were held and six hundred and seventeen treatments given. One case was discharged, one trans- ferred to the Massachusetts General Hospital and one to the State Sanatorium in Middleboro. Three new cases were admitted to the Clinic. Two cases were operated upon; one at the Children's Hos- pital in Boston and the other at Lakeville.
May I take this opportunity to express the Commission's appreci- ation of the splendid cooperation extended to its workers at the Quincy Clinic.
Sincerely, (MRS.) ELSIE M. JEFFREY.
186
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE NURSE
January 1, 1940.
RICHARD M. ASH, M.D.
Health Commissioner
Dear Doctor :-
I herewith submit my annual report as Communicable Disease Nurse for the year ending December, 1939,
Two thousand, four hundred and eight cases of notifiable diseases were reported as follows:
Anterior Poliomyelitis
2
Chickenpox
227
Animal Bites
159
Diphtheria
1
German Measles
18
Lobar Pneumonia
115
Measles
1280
Mumps
290
Scarlet Fever
151
Septic Sore Throat
2
Supperative Conjunctivitis
1
Tetanus
1
Typhoid Fever
5
Whooping Cough
156
Total number of visits
3786
By other nurses-1423
Measles
2298
Scarlet Fever
505
Typhoid Fever
237
(Widals-115 Specimens-76)
Whooping Cough
125
Diphtheria (cultures 8)
8
V. Diseases
9
Anterior Poliomyelitis
7
Diphtheria Immunization
597
Anterior Poliomyelitis
Two cases reported. Both cases were hospitalized at John Haynes Memorial Hospital.
Diphtheria
One case reported and hospitalized. This was the first case since 1936.
In cooperation with the School Department and the State Depart- ment of Health, clinics for immunization were held in all the ele- mentary grade schools and parochial schools. A total of 70 clinics were held. During the year a total of 2221 children were immunized. This number includes children that had been reported as having been immunized by their family physician. The various age groups are as follows:
Under 1 year 1
1 year 458
2 years 311
3 years 177
187
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
.4 years
:: 171 . 1:
5 years
195
6 years 451
7 years
342
+8 years
47
9 years
17
10-14 years
46
15-19 years
1
Not stated (hospitals)
4
Five hundred and ninety-seven home visits were made in check- ing immunization records.
Measles
Twelve hundred and eighty cases were reported from the various wards of the city. Ward 1 had the highest number of cases, Ward 4 the lowest number. There was a decided increase over the 205 cases. reported in 1938. Six cases were hospitalized.
Scarlet Fever
One hundred and fifty-one cases reported as against 824 cases reported in the previous year. Twenty-two cases were hospitalized.
Typhoid Fever
Five cases were reported and cared for at the Quincy City Hos- pital. This number was the same as reported in 1938. Three of the patients lived in Ward 3, one in Ward 4, and one in Ward 6.
As in the previous year, home visits were made to patients hav- ing had the disease. These visits were made once a month, speci- mens obtained and sent to the State Laboratory.
At the Health Department office, seven patients were given Ty- phoid Fever inoculation by the Commissioner, Dr. Richard M. Ash. All had been contacts.
Whooping Cough
One hundred and fifty-six cases were reported as against 52 cases reported in 1938. Five cases were hospitalized.
Office hours were held daily
Children seen in office
690
By other nurses 110
Certificates were given children to return to school as follows:
Mumps
193
Chickenpox
180
Measles
216
Whooping Cough
67
German Measles
3
Scarlet Fever contacts
4
Patients given Typhoid inoculations
27
188
CITY OF QUINCY
In the follow-up work 3,786 visits were made including placard- ing, settlement histories, re-visits, school visits, investigation of complaints and examination of contacts for release from quaran- tine.
For the past four months, Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:45 to 11:30 A.M. were spent at St. John's School as school nurse.
Respectfully submitted, CATHERINE F. COLEMAN, R.N., Contagious Disease Nurse.
DENTAL CLINIC REPORT
RICHARD M. ASH, M.D. Health Commissioner
January 1, 1940.
Dear Dr. Ash :-
As in former years the School Dental Clinic is held at the Cod- dington School five mornings a week for the children of the first three elementary grades. Appointments are made by the school nurses at fifteen minute intervals, from 9:00 o'clock to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M.
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