Report of the city of Somerville 1882, Part 10

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 338


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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