USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1882 > Part 10
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For Groceries
For Fuel.
For Cloth'g, etc.
Grand Total.
Jan. 10
57
$129 50
52
$92 55
11
$15 00
12
$23 50
11
$24 30
1
$1 25
4
$6 85
4
$8 80
.
. ...
152
$159 85
$125 65
$16 25
$301 75
‘ 24
59
110 25
47
107 40
10
17 20
12
20 25
6
15 40
1
2 00
12
:0 25
10
22 00
1
$1 25
158
150 75
144 80
20 45
316 00
Feb. 7
65
123 45
33
71 00
12
19 75
18
36 50
8
17 60
3
5 75
21
36 70
14
38 80
7
12 35
181
196 65
127 40
37 85
361 90
" 21
71
132 75
41
94 60
18
28 90
16
25 50
13
28 25
3
4 25
13
34 80
9
22 20
5
11 10
189
193 05
145 05
44 25
382 35
Mar. 7
68
133 50
33
75 70
17
33 25
23
43 79
11
22 60
3
5 75
16
31 40
12
30 40
5
10 25
188
208 69
128 70
49 25
386 64
21
64
114 17
39
69 65
10
13 00
21
30 13
11
22 00
2
2 10
14 20
7
13 45
1
1 25
162
158 50
105 10
16 35
279 95
2 00
1
2 20
1
2 00
122
141 05
67 70
12 95
221 70
April 4
63
111 55
24
50 10
8
10 75
17
27 50
7
15 40
. .
... . .
6
13 75
4
8 80
..
..... ..
66
44
83 25
15
31 30
10
14 00
8
14 50
4
8 80
2
2 75
2
3 25
. .
.....
. .
. ....
91
125 60
19 90
15 25
160 75
May 2
54
102 60
13
19 90
8
12 50
12
19 75
..
.....
12 90
156 58
..
55
103 25
4
8 80
8
12 90
11
18 80
4 83
.
. .....
1
2 00
.
. . .
. .
..
.....
95 75
31 40
50
127 65
31
51
81 00
14
31 40
1
50
8
12 75
. .
.....
..
2
3 15
..
....
.
..
......
7 10
6 50
99 93
“ 27
47
77 75
5
3 50
3
4 50
5
8 58
3
3 60
1
2 00
. .
.....
.
....
. .
56
87 00
2 90
2 50
92 40
47
77 00
1
70
1
1 25
5
10 00
1
2 20
1
1 25
. .
....
..
. .
......
58
96 00
2 10
1 25
99 35
50
89 75
2 10
1
1 25
4
6 25
.
...
. .
. . ....
.....
. .
......
. .
.
...
66
92 75
7 80
6 00
106 55
46
78 50
4
3 20
2
3 50
8
14 25
4
4 60
2
2 50
....
..
......
. .
75 50
5 60
7 60
88 70
26
41
64 25
4 90
4
4 60
6
9 75
1
70
2
3 00
1
1 50
..
. ....
.. . ....
71
89 00
8 40
6 50
103 90
49
79 50
9
6 30
3
5 00
6
9 50
3
2 10
1
1 50
..
.
.
..
.. . .
. .
.
.....
...
.
. .
....
28 30
9 80
124 65
Oct. 3
47
74 55
14
25 15
5
8 55
7
75
2
3 15
1
1 25
1
1 25
. .
.....
. .
.....
93
90 30
80 80
6 00
177 10
17
45
74 25
30
75 25
1
1 50
11
16 05
3
5 55
3
4 50
.
. .. .
. .
. .
...
..
......
81
89 75
21 65
21 75
133 15
4 31
79 00
10
15 75
13
18 00
6
10 75
2
5 90
3
3 75
. . .....
..
.....
. .
......
77
98 55
31 47
5 25
135 27
“ 28
51
81 75
40
94 75
6
7 60
11
17 50
8
19 20
3
7 75
3
4 25
3
7 20
..
...
.. .
. .
.
. .
57
95 25
18
49 90
13
16 75
14
29 00
6
12 80
4
8 75
3
9 00
1
2 00
* ** 26
50
83 20
41
85 95
9
10 75
9
15 20
3
7 35
4
7 00
.
...
2
4 90
. .
.
118
98 40
98 20
17 75
Total,
1,376
$2,426 72
533
$1,075 52
188
$300 95
273
$468 90
177
$240 83
46
$78 25
90
$189 20
68
$165 75
20
$38 20
2,715
$3,084 82
$1,482 10
$417 40
$4,984 32
.
25 15
142 35
June 13
59
94 35
5
5 00
8
22 00
5
9 05
2
3 80
1
5 00
82
103 40
6-4
86 33
July 11 + 25
3
15
27 70
3
12 50
7
11 25
1
2 20
3
6 50
.
. .
..
...
.
76
83 10
29 90
19 00
132 00
Sept. 5 19
44
71 85
77
86 55
Nov. 14
45
80 50
13
22 97
3
5 25
11
18 05
5
8 50
..
. ....
..
...
. .
.. ..
.
..
...
....
125
103 50
121 15
15 35
240 00
116
133 25
64 70
25 50
223 45
Dec. 12
214 35
..
.. .
. ..
..
.....
83
130 05
13 63
15 50
175 90
92
111 50
48 90
1
1 50
18
3
8 00
16
75
13 80
ANNUAL REPORTS.
* Total number of meetings, 26.
......
Aug. 8
62
7
. .
.
10
47
·
-
TO STATE POOR IN CITY.
Orders.
1
2
......
.
Table No. 10. FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE FOR THE YEAR .1882.
RECEIPTS.
182.
FROM WHAT SOURCE RECEIVED.
1882.
EXPENDITURES. PAY-ROLLS APPROVED.
$3.771 28
Received from the City of Somerville, Appropriation ..
$14,000 00
Feb.
1
For January
31 ..
the Town of Woburn.
22 95
Mareh 2
February
28.
the Town of Medford .
8 25
Mareh 31
March
31. .
. .
.
the Town of Natick ..
29 05
April 30
April
30.
1,948 32
the City of Boston.
189 85
May
31
May
31 ...
909 84
66
the City of Lawrence .
21 20
June
30
June
30.
1,569 31
68 21
July
31
July
31.
.
.
.
...
....
66
Mr. Patriek Shannon ...
528 24
7 50
Sept.
30
September 30 ..
1,277 88
36 70
Oct.
31
October
31.
1,411 73
34 70
Nov. 30
November 30.
Town of Wakefield.
4 00
Dee.
27
December 31 ..
State of Massachusetts.
30 00
Town of Sandwich.
9 90
City of Chelsea ...
8 40
Town of Melrose ...
14 35
Town of Dedham.
44 46
City of Cambridge
4 20
Town of Wakefield.
4 00
Town of Arlington
34 30
City of Boston ..
222 15
Town of Natick
29 80
Town of Milford.
49 66
Excess over receipts . . .
$787 10
Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea
38 45
Town of Wakefield .
35 75
Town of Woburn.
40 40
· Town of Bridgewater
40 50
Town of Brookline
10 00
City of Malden ...
46 74
City of Lowell.
34 70
City of Chelsea .
16 70
EXPENDITURES : -
Rents ..
$939 27
Board
1.295 54
Groceries
3,085 75
Dry Goods, Boots, and Shoes .. .
471 17
Salaries.
1,400 00
Fuel. .
1,556 17
Miseellaneous ..
197 93
Burials .
382 92
787 10
Other Towns and Cities
1,789 72
State and County Institutions .....
5,272 17
. .
.
. .
.
...
.
..
1,269 12
63 77
July 31
Additional, July 31. ..
80 63
State of Massachusetts.
63 25
Aug. 31
For August
31.
.. .
..
...
.....
. . .
.....
773 26
Town of Arlington
809 27
.....
... ......
$16,390 64
.. .
.
..
..... ..
.
.....
......
......
Disbursments ... . . . ...
. $16,390 64
Receipts. . .
15,603 54
... . .
......
........
....
City of Cambridge ..
13 30
City of Fall River ..
26 45
.
.
'lown of Canton.
5 00
13 00
.
State of Massachusetts.
241 20
.
..
.
.
.
·
·
·
.... . . . . .
.
. .
. ........
.. .
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
189
$16,390 64
$16,390 64
.. .
Mr. Patrick Shannon .
.....
City of Cambridge.
Town of Bridgewater.
.
Excess of expenditures over receipts.
.
$15,603 54
.... .
.. .. ...
.
City of Lawrence ...
40 70
W. E. R., rent charged back.
.....
878 06
1,183 70
190
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Table No. 11.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE IN ACCOUNT WITH ANSEL LEWIS, CITY STORE- KEEPER.
RECEIPTS.
Stock on hand, Jan. 1, 1882,
$262 21
Amount of goods purchased 1882, 2,612 35
$2,874 56
CONTRA.
Goods delivered on Overseers' orders, 1882,
$2,948 46
Goods delivered to police for tramps, 1882,
139 93
Stock on hand, Dec. 31, 1882, Net gain on merchandise,
228 40
$442 23
$3,316 79
$3,316 79
Net gain of store,
$442 23
Salary of storekeeper,
$300 00
Water tax,
6 00
Insurance,
7 50
313 50
Net gain over all,
$128 73
JAN. 12, 1883.
ANSEL LEWIS, Storekeeper.
REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 1, 1883.
Referred to the Committee on Printing, to be printed with the Annual Reports for the year 1882, and sent down for concurrence.
GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 1, 1883.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH,
CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS., March 31, 1883.
To the Honorable the Mayor and City Council of the City of Somerville : -
GENTLEMEN, - In pursuance of law and custom we submit the fifth annual report of this board for the year ending Dec. 31, 1882.
The delay in its presentation has been caused by the illness of Dr. Durell, who has now sufficiently recovered to attend to it.
MEMBERSHIP.
Jan. 1, the board consisted of George A. Kimball, City Engi- neer, chairman ; John F. Couch, M. D., City Physician ; and George C. Skilton. Feb. 7, George C. Skilton was reappointed for a term of two years. Feb. 14, John F. Couch resigned the office of City Physician, and by so doing ceased to be a member of this board ; and on the same day Thomas M. Durell, M. D., was appointed City Physician, and, ex officio, a member of the Board of Health, for a term of three years.
ORGANIZATION.
Feb. 15, the board organized by electing
GEORGE A. KIMBALL Chairman.
GEORGE I. VINCENT . Clerk.
WM. H. BRINE (40 Houghton Street), Inspector.
NUISANCES.
Nuisances were abated, as appears by the following table, the months named being those in which the complaints were made : -
13
194
ANNUAL REPORTS.
NUISANCES ABATED IN THE YEAR 1882.
*January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Cellar, damp ...
1
4
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
23
Cesspool defective 66
offensive
overflowing
1
2
3
Connections of drainage pipes defective.
14
1
4
2
4
6
1
2
5
4
5
4
52
1
11
2
15
12
7
7
1
3
2
5
2
67
66
emptying into cellar. . emptying on surface. .
6
4
3
9
9
4
3
4
2
3
8
1
56 1 4
1
1
1
1
3
2
12
3
6
2
1
3
2
3
11
3
51
Hens kept in cellar
6
1
1
3
1
4
6
3
3
1
1
30
Manure exposed and offensive. Offal in cellar.
1
1
on land.
1
5
1
1
2
1
11
Offensive odor in and about dwellings .
3
1
16
1
1
2
24
Opening in drain-pipe in cellar Premises filthy
2
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
13
Privy filthy.
11
1
16
23
10
24
7
12
7
11
5
2
129 3
66
not properly
con-
1
2
1
2
3
2
12
4
2
11
17
9
13
16
10
9
7
2
100 1
Slaughter-house offensive.
6
1
3
1
1
2
2
1
3
1
21
Soil-pipe clogged ...
1
3
1
5
Stable and
stable premises
4
1
3
1
1
3
1
14
5
4
1
2
2
4
1
2
21
66
in stable cellar
5
1
5
6
1
4
3
25
Waste-pipe clogged ..
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
4
42
10
26
17
13
12
5
10
11
6
16
7
175
7
1
1
1
1
..
. .
11
.€
insufficiently sup-
1
4
1
2
8
1
1
]
2
1
6
7
4
1
1
2
1
1
1
18
1
1
2
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
12
148
33
102
102
113
101
54
59
55
68
77
33
945
.
1
1
2
Privy-vault full
66
leaking
1
1
1
. .
structee
offensive
Sewer-outlet offensive
1
1
Slops thrown on surface.
1
1
Stagnant water in house cellar 66
1
1
1
3
on surface
1
1
leaking ..
not trapped
Water-closet defective .
plied with water
not supplied with water offensive
Water-pipe leaking .
Wooden waste-pipes and drains
1
Drainage defective.
2
3
1
3
2
3
1
3
20
66
Drain-pipe broken and leaking clogged . defective.
2
1
. .
1
4
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
Cows keptin L of house.
.. .
1
1
Soil-pipe not ventilated .
filthy and offensive ..
1
defective
.
.
* Including nuisances referred to us by the board of 1881.
195
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Number of nuisances abated, 945; number referred to the Board of Health for the year 1883, 100. Total, 1,045.
Number of complaints, 560, of which number 7 appeared to have been made without sufficient cause.
Number of houses ordered vacated, 48; number of these since put in habitable condition, 43 ; number vacated in compliance with our orders, 4; number vacated by order of the chief of police, under our directions, 2.
Number of notices issued by mail, 708 ; number served by con- stables, 83.
Number of letters sent, 76.
PRIVIES AND WATER-CLOSETS. - We have continued to recom- mend the removal of privies wherever practicable. In a thickly settled neighborhood it is nearly if not quite impossible to continue the use of an old privy, even if it is kept in good repair, without causing a nuisance. Of course a poorly constructed water-closet inside of a house is more dangerous to health than an offensive privy outside ; but if a water-closet is placed in a very light room, and is thoroughly constructed and well ventilated, there is no rea- son why, with proper care, it should be in the least offensive. One thing, however, in this connection is of the first importance, although it would seem that people generally fail to realize it, and that is, that in work of this kind none but the most skilful and intelligent mechanics should be employed.
LICENSES AND PERMITS.
From Jan. 1 to Feb. 24, applications for licenses to keep swine and goats and to collect grease were filed with the city clerk, and referred to this board, and were granted or refused by him in accordance with our recommendations.
Feb. 24, regulations were adopted by this board and published in our last annual report, providing that no person should collect grease or keep swine or goats in this city without first obtaining a permit from the Board of Health ; the permit fees being fixed at two dollars for collecting grease, and one dollar for each swine or goat kept.
196
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SWINE. - We received from the city clerk applications for licenses to keep 7 swine, and recommended that licenses be granted for 4 and refused for 3. We also received from citizens applications for permits to keep 237 swine, and granted permits for 230 and refused them for 7.
GOATS .- Permits were applied for and granted to keep 21 goats.
GREASE. - 11 applications were received for permits to collect grease, and they were all granted. 2 of the parties lived in Boston, 2 in Cambridge, and 1 in Medford, and they had all been recom- mended by the respective Boards of Health in these places. The other 6 parties lived in Somerville.
We recommended 8 parties living in Somerville as proper per- sons to receive licenses to collect grease in Cambridge.
The Boston Board of Health licensed during the year 38 citi- zens of Somerville to collect grease in that city, and the Cambridge Board of Health licensed 11 Somerville parties to collect grease in Cambridge.
ASHES.
Ashes were collected by the Highway Department, under our supervision, once every month. The superintendent of streets re- ports that 6,107 loads were collected, and the cost was $1,429.56. Dec. 30 the following notice was published and distributed through- out the city : -
BOARD OF HEALTH,
CITY OF SOMERVILLE, Dec. 30, 1882.
CHANGE OF DAYS FOR COLLECTING ASHES.
From and after this date ashes will be collected by city teams once every week, on the following-named days : In Ward One, Wednes- days ; in Ward Two, Thursdays; in Ward Three, Fridays; in Ward Four, Saturdays.
Housekeepers and other occupants of buildings are requested to place their house and cellar dirt, sweepings, and ashes in suitable vessels, near the outer edge of the sidewalk opposite their premises, in the forenoons of the days when the collections are to be made in. their respective wards.
Ashes, etc., for removal must not be placed loosely on the side-
197
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
walk, but must invariably be put in barrels or other suitable ves- sels, and must not contain any filth or offal.
Ashes or rubbish must not be put in any street or way of the city at any time other than as above stated.
Ashes not in barrels or other vessels will not be removed by the city.
Per order of the Board of Health.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
HOUSE OFFAL.
House offal was collected by Mr. Christopher Burke under a con- tract for three years, which will expire on the twenty-sixth day of June next. It provides for three collections per week in the months of May, June, July, August, and September ; two per week in the months of April, October, and November ; and one each week in the months of December, January, February, and March. The col- lector reports that about 162 cords were collected during the year.
NIGHT SOIL.
Messrs. Russell & Fitch removed the night soil during the year ; their contract, which expired April 24, having been extended for one year. Their prices are fixed by the contract, and are $3.50 per load or part of a load removed, in the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November, and $2.50 per load or part of a load in the months of December, January, Feb- ruary, and March ; a load consisting of eighty cubic feet. They report that 497 loads were removed during the year.
Order-books are kept at the police station on Bow Street, and at the grocery store at the corner of Perkins and Franklin Streets.
SEWERS.
During the past year sewers have been laid in Alston Street, Ashland Street, Bond Street, Jaques Street, and Nevada Street, thereby giving to the residents thereon an opportunity to drain their premises and place them in proper sanitary condition.
We again call your attention to the need of sewers on the westerly
198
ANNUAL REPORTS.
slope of Winter Hill and in that locality.known as the " Patch," and also in the following-named streets, to furnish drainage to houses. Adrian Street, Brastow Avenue, Chester Street in Ward Three, Fairlee Street, Temple Street, Tower Court, Winthrop Street, and Wyatt Street.
SEWER OUTLETS.
WAVERLY STREET OUTLET. - The sum of $134.63 was expended by this board to improve the creek into which this sewer is dis- charged. This will give temporary relief only, and, as there is now a serious nuisance at this point, it is important that steps should be taken at once to extend the sewer to deep water.
CANAL STREET OUTLET. - Complaint was made of a serious nuisance at this outlet, and the board caused a ditch to be exca- vated to receive the sewage and convey the same to tide water. This outlet is near several dwellings in which there has been a large amount of sickness, and the residents are making frequent complaints of the offensive odors. The outlet should be improved during the next season.
MYSTIC AVENUE OUTLET, NEAR AUSTIN STREET. - The discharge of sewage at this point was the cause of a serious nuisance during the month of August. The dwellings recently constructed near this outlet will make it necessary to extend this sewer at an early day.
WINTHROP AVENUE OUTLET. - The sewage of nearly the whole of East Somerville and the easterly slope of Winter Hill is dis- charged into an open ditch on the north side of Mystic Avenue, through which it flows about one half mile to Mystic River. The discharge of this large amount of filth into an open ditch will soon be the cause of a nuisance to the residents in the neighborhood.
199
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
DEATHS.
We approved during the year 472 certificates of death and 31 certificates of still-births.
The following is a table of mortality in Somerville in 1882.
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1882.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Zymotic Diseases.
Scarlet Fever
1
2
4
Diphtheria.
11
5
8
5
2
1
1
1
7
4
52
Croup
2
Typhoid Fever
1
1
1
1
3
1
8
Erysipelas
1
1
2
1
3
Diarrhea
1
1
Cholera Infantum.
1
1
16
8
3
2
31
Cholera Morbus ..
1
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis
1
1
Rheumatism .
1
1
Pyæmia.
.
1
1
DIETETIC.
Intemperance . . .
1
1
1
3
DIATHETIC.
Cancer
2
1
1
1
1
6
Cancer of Breast.
1
1
Cancer of Liver.
1
1
1
3
Mortification.
1
1
2
TUBERCULAR.
10
10
8
8
3
8
8
6
3
8
11
90
Tubercular Meningitis
1
3
Marasmus
3
1
1
1
2
4
3
2
3
20
Scrofula
2
1
3
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Apoplexy.
1
2
1
1
1
2
8
Paralysis
2
5
Insanity
2
1
2
1
2
8
Brain Disease.
1
1
1
1
1
2
Cerebral Meningitis.
2
Z
3
Meningitis
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
11
Convulsions
1
1
1
3
1
1
3
11
Epilepsy
1
1
2
CIRCULATION.
Heart Disease ..
4
1
4
3
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
23
Pericarditis
1
2
Phlebitis.
1
1
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
Pneumonia
4
6
4
5
5
1
2
2
1
4
34
Bronchitis
1
3
1
3
1
1
2
12
. .
.
1
1
1
1 2 2
Whooping Cough.
1
2
.
1
1
1
1
Septicemia
1
1
2
Dysentery
-
7 6
.
..
1
..
Phthisis Pulmonalis.
1
200
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1882. - Continued.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total
Lung Diseases.
3
1
1
1
.. .
.
.
·
..
...
DIGESTIVE ORGANS.
Gastritis.
1
2
1
1
1
2
8
Enteritis.
1
1
1
3
Peritonitis
1
1
1
2
5
Liver Disease
1
1
2
4
Inanition
1
2
3
URINARY ORGANS.
1
Bright's Disease
4
1
2
2
1
3
1
14
Diabetes
1
1
2
Disease of Kidney
1
. .
. ..
.
.
...
Cystitis
1
1
.
1
1
Developmental Diseases.
OF CHILDREN.
Premature Birth and Debility.
1
1
3
4
2
1
·2
14
Hydrocephalus.
1
.
1
OF OLD PEOPLE.
Old Age
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
9
Diseases of Nutrition.
General Debility
1
1
1
1
2
6
Violent Deaths.
Sunstroke.
1
1
Railroad ..
1
1
1
2
5
Drowning.
1
1
Tetanus ...
1
1
Crushed Neck
1
1
Kick by Horse.
1
1
Mastoid Abscess
1
SUICIDE
1
1
UNKNOWN
1
1
2
4
Total
49
46
37
41
40
28
16
46
31
22
37
49
472
Still-born
3
3
3
4
2
0
5
5
3
0
2
1
31
Population
.27,561
Death rate per thousand ..
17.1
.
.
....
1
. .
...
. .. .
...
. .. .
....
....
6
.
.
.
.. .
. .
.
Nephritis
1
...
.
1
2
4
...
.
.
..
...
. .
1 .
1
..
DISEASES DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
SCARLET FEVER. - 'There were 39 cases of this disease reported to our board during the past year, 4 of which proved fatal. Although this is a slight increase over last year, when there were 25 cases with 1 death, still we feel that by carefully guarding
Hemorrhage
1
.
201
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
against the spread of the disease we may prevent any such exten- sive ravages as have heretofore been made by it in our midst.
The two points to be constantly kept in mind are its contagious- ness and the facility with which it is spread by means of clothing. The patient should be isolated as completely as possible, and, above all things, all other children in the house should be kept from school.
Our board has thought it best for the safety of the public to. place on every house where the disease exists a card with the words, " Scarlet fever here." This, in our judgment, will do much towards arresting the progress of the malady.
DIPHTHERIA. - Notwithstanding our most strenuous efforts to. check this disease the number of cases increases each year. In 1880 there were 108 cases and 19 deaths; in 1881 there were 155 cases and 45 deaths; in 1882 there were 172 cases and 52 deaths.
From this, perhaps, it might be inferred that our city was not in as good sanitary condition as in 1880 ; this, however, is not the case. The true explanation we believe to lie in this, - that the extreme contagiousness of the disease has been too generally overlooked ; children have been allowed to attend school from houses where the disease was ; parents have exposed their families by heedlessly going from the bedside of some dying child to their own homes, and funerals have been publicly attended. All of these things should be strictly guarded against, and fully as much care taken as in cases of small-pox and scarlet fever.
The board has also adopted the same regulation in regard to placing cards upon the houses as in cases of scarlet fever.
TYPHOID FEVER. - Of this disease we have had reported 38 cases, 8 of which proved fatal. The cases occurred without regu- larity and with no particular characteristics. In a large majority of them the houses were damp or had some radical defect in the drainage.
Some districts of our city are so situated as to be most favorable- for the spread of this disease, being low and damp, with large tracts of unoccupied land upon which stagnant water stands a large part of the year. Our board has endeavored to remedy some of
202
ANNUAL REPORTS.
these defects, but we have found great difficulty in dealing with this unoccupied land.
Although not contagious, like diphtheria and scarlet fever, it is highly infectious, the source of infection being the stools of the patient. In order to prevent this we recommend the use of a solution of sulphate of iron, one pound of iron to one gallon of water; this solution to be poured over the dejections and the whole thrown into the water-closet ; in this way the chief source of infec- tion may be overcome.
The first of the two following tables shows the number of cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever reported during the year and the number of deaths from these diseases, with the percentage of deaths ; the second shows the deaths in Somerville from scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in each of the last six years. These tables are followed by a tabulated report from the inspector, of the sanitary condition of premises where diphtheria has been reported, by which it will be seen that 50 of the 172 cases reported have resulted fatally, the other two deaths from diphtheria which occurred during the year being the results of cases which were reported in 1881.
DIPHTHERIA IN 1882 .- INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
203 A
No. of
Family.
Nationality.
Occupation of Head of Famlly.
No. of
Patient.
Age of
Patient.
Date of Sickness.
Result.
Soil.
House Drainage.
Condition of Cellar.
Privy.
Remarks.
1
Irish
Laborer
1
Female . .
6
January 44
Fatal
5
Fair
Drainage on surface ; waste pipe not trapped
Damp No cellar
8 feet from house. 12 feet from house ; full
Premises filthy.
3 4
Americau . Irish
Salesman
5
Female ..
1
5
=
Waste pipe uot trapped ; water-closet offensive.
Damp Dry
Water-closet in cellar 20 feet from house.
Offal from three families under L of house.
.
Machinist
8
"
10
3
Low
Drainage defective ; water-closet defective .
Water-closet in cellar.
American
Laborer
10
4€
8
Clerk
12
Female
5
7
Good
Drainage defective ; waste pipe not trapped.
9
Irish
Laborer
13
Male
11
1
Low
Opening in drain pipe in cellar. Waste pipe not trapped
No cellar
12
16
17
1
17
33
18
Female
Carpeuter
19
22
5
Sand
Good
Drainage defective ; waste pipe not trapped Soil pipe not ventilated
Basement room. . Dry
Water-closet in cellar.
Americau
Salesman
Irish
Painter
22 23
Laborer
American
Widow
Irish
Laborer
7 2
February
4
Low
Defect in drain pipe ; waste pipe not trapped Waste pipe not trapped.
No cellar.
Water-closet in bath room. 15 feet from house
Premises filthy.
20
21 22 23
24
25 26 27 28 29
30 31
32 33 34 35 36
Irish
Laborer
6
6
Fair .
Waste pipe not trapped.
Dry
Drain pipe defective
Damp
Dentist
49
Male :
Laborer
50
Fatal . . 8
Fair
Damp
51 52
Female ..
5
3
44
6
44
Good
Defect in drain pipe. Satisfactory ..
Dry
Water-closet in b. r. uot supplied with water. Water-closet in bath room .. W .- c. in b. r. insufficiently supplied with water. 15 feet from house ; vanlt full.
Stagnaut water near house.
41
Irish =
Laborer
57 58
Male
6
Fatal .. 6
Sand .... Clayey Gravel ..
Low and damp. . Fair
Damp Dry
10 «
2
Female ..
4
4
Male ....
17
Fatal
Laborer
6
9
3
7
Male
7
9
Female . Male
6 mos. 9
April. Jauuary
6
Clayey Gravel .. Clay
Fair ..
Water-closet offensive and defective; w. p. not trapped. Waste pipe uot trapped.
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