Report of the city of Somerville 1886, Part 11

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 330


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1886 > Part 11


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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8


2


4


Sand Gravel


. .


Fair =


Drainage defective . Waste-pipe not trapped House drainage defective


Dam


10


14


2


.


7


Good


Satisfactory


Dry


Water-closet in cellar defective


15 16 17


Male .


21 mos.


18


22


=


1


Low Good .


Waste-pipes not trapped


Dry,


Da


amp


.


.


.


Brakeman


.


Lather


28


.


Canadian American


Laborer Produce


30


66


16


=


31


=


5


Clayey gravel, Gravel . Clayey gravel,


2


Fatal


Nova Scotia . American


Carpenter Superintendent Engineer


35


.


.


36


3


5


2 10


.


32 33 34 35 3G


-


.


45


.


.


46


1


Good Fair Good Fair


Damp


.


Carpenter


.


43


9


June


Fatal Fatai


9


Fair Good . Fair


.


.


Drainage flowing on surface Drainage defective .


N pt any ; basement rooms


33 34


.


Female, Male


9


Fatal


6 299 7


.


16 17 18


Merchant


21


=


32


March 44


54


.


.


24 25 26 27


Female, Male Female, .


Insurance Agent ·


19 20 21 22 23 24 25


26 27 28


11


12 13 14 15


Irish American


Laborer Professor


7


8


10


=


.


8


9


Female, =


16


10


=


Satisfactory


.


.


Drainage defective .


4


Salesman Professor


Number of


Patient.


DIPHTHERIA IN 1886. - INSPECTOR'E


REPORT.


District.


1


Visited house where they had a case of diphtheria. Waste-pipes not trapped.


ventilated.


.


12


.


.


.


D amp


D


Machinist Moulder


2


Dry


10 feet from house; offensive


Fatal


202B


DIPHTHERIA IN 1886. - INSPECTOR'S REPORT. - Continued.


Number of Family.


Nationality.


Occupation of Head of Family.


Patient.


Bex of Patient.


Age of Patient.


Date of sickness.


Resuit.


Soil.


Locality.


House Drainage.


Condition of Celiar.


Privy.


Remarks.


40 41 4 : 43


American


Driver


52


·


.


Machinist


53


Cooper .


54


6


5


Clayey gravel, Gravel =


=


Damp


Clerk


57


6


July


4


10


Sand Gravel


Good


Dry


Water-closet in cellar defective 8 feet from house ; full and offensive,


Drainage not ventilated. Waste-pipe not trapped.


House drainage not ventilated. Waste-pipe not trapped. Outlet of soil-pipe below chamber-windows. House drainage defective. Stable adjoining house; offensive.


House drainage defective. . . 66 House drainage ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. . Waste-pipe not trapped. House drainage ventilated. 66 .


House drainage not ventilated. House drainage ventilated.


Cesspool 4 feet from house. "


66


.


.


67


Tinsmith


82


7


2


December


68 69


Teamster Printer .


Waste-pipe not trapped. House drainage uot ventilated.


70


Irish


Laborer


86


87


Male


3


Fatal


5


Fair =


Drainage defective . =


Damp


20 feet from house ; offensive


72 73


American


89


Female, =


20


1


Fair


Drainage defective .


Damp


12 feet from house; full and offensive,


Waste-pipe defective. Waste-pipes not properly trapped. Waste-pipe not trapped. Waste-pipe not prop. trapped ; house drain. not ven. House drainage not ventilated.


46 47


.


Engineer .


58


Female,


8


59


.


.


.


Laborer .


63


Female,


7


1


Gravel =


Fair


Drainage defective .


Damp


Painter .


.


.


.


.


.


.


+


.


.


.


.


70


11


9


Satisfactory


Italian American . .


Salesman


73


Female,


10 10


10


Good


Engineer


74 75 76


Male Female,


A


Fatal.


62 63


=


Agent


.


Merchant


77


Male


7


Fatai


2


Fair


Drainage defective .


Damp


10 feet from house; offensive


65


.


Salesman Bookkeeper


79 80 81


Female,


3 G December November


Fat


Good


Dry


Water-closet in cellar defective


Male .


3


9


Sand


66


83


84


3


64


Fai.


Gravel


7


.


.


71


.


88


6


G


.


.


2


Gravel .


Good Fair


Drainage defective .


Dry . Damp


8 feet from house ; offensive Water-closet defective and offensive,


44 45


.


Painter .


56


Male


6


.


.


60 61


Male .


4


Fatal.


Clayey gravel,


Fair


66


Sewage flowing into cellar


Irish American


Merchant Letter carrier


Female,


3


62


Male .


7


5


Dry


Water-closet in cellar defective 20 feet from house ; full and offensive,


Irish American


Teamster


66


12


August


6


Clay


Gravel


"


Damp


Irish American


Grocer


71


Female,


5


Fatal


1


Fair


Drainage defective


Damp


60 61


Pedler .


Male


8


October


November


9


Drainage defective .


Waste-pipe not trapped


64


.


*


78


8


.


.


.


64 65


67


26


68


15


September


Fatal


1


Clayey gravel, Gravel


16


.


.


Salesman


69


Female, Male


13


3


Low Fair Good


Damp Sewage flowing into cellar


4 feet from house; offensive Water-closet in cellar defective


.


Salesman


Carpenter


.


Laborer .


72


.


.


.


.


Barber .


Male Female,


4


July. June


11


14


.


Butcher .


55


6


1


.


.


.


=


=


.


Painter . .


12


66


1


.


Good


Dry .


Salesman


5


64


Drainage defective .


.


Low Fair


..


.


Dry .


Drainage defective .


48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59


.


Salesman Fruit & confectioner 90 .


.


=


Good


=


Fair Good


Damp


85


Female, Male Female, =


6


5


46


House drainage ventilated. House drainage on surface.


51


.


Number of


Distriet.


=


1


Male


.


9


House drainage not ventilated.


203


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


DISTRICTS.


Our map of the city, with its health districts (explained in earlier reports), and the locations of dangerous diseases reported in 1886, is presented as usual. We also give various tabulated statements as to sanitary conditions, sickness, and death in these districts.


Our estimate of the population is based upon the presumption that the census population of 1885, as divided among the different. health districts, would correspond with the distribution of poll-tax payers in those districts, and that the increase for the year was uniform.


TABLE OF DEATHS IN EACH DISTRICT DURING THE LAST THIRTEEN YEARS, EXCLUSIVE OF DEATHS IN THE MCLEAN ASYLUM. .


Districts .


.


H


II.


III.


IV.


V.


VI.


VII.


VIII.


IX.


X.


Entire City.


Area


337 A.


107 A.


93 A.


171 A.


361 A.


285 A.


194 A.


482 A.


174 A.


456 A.


2,660 A.


Population


5,784


5,644


2,188


3,882


6,067


1,340


3,315


986


1,763


777


31,746


Dwellings


894


832


350


614


999


312


546


196


335


167


5,245


Average in each dwelling,


6.5


6.8


6.2


6.3


6.1


4.3


6.1


5.0


5.3


4.7


6.1


No. of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


No. of


Deaths.


Per 1,000.


No. of


Deaths.


Per 1,000.


No. of


Deaths.


Rate


Per 1,000.


No. of


Rate


Per 1,000.


No. of


Deaths.


Per 1,000.


No. of


Deaths.


Per 1,000.


No. of


Deaths.


Rate


Per 1,000.


Deaths.


Per 1,000.


Deaths.


Rate


No. of


Deaths.


Rate


Per 1,000.


1874


147


37


53


14


24


16


86


33


67


16


34


.37


26


11


17


25


18


15


3


00


475


22


1875 .


149


37


84


22


26


17


56


21


75


18


29


32


32


14


13


19


15


12


1


15


486


22


1876 .


113


30


62


17


17


12


62


24


78


20


23


26


25


12


11


17


25


22


10


20


426


21


1877 .


126


32


57


15


18


12


57


22


61


15


31


34


29


13


12


18


32


27


5


10


428


20


1878


92


22


50


12


32


21


53


19


53


12


24


25


32


14


15


21


17


14


7


13


375


17


1879 .


92


21


50


12


29


00


62


22


77


17


14


14


22


00


14


19


16


12


9


16


385


16


1880


104


23


56


13


34


20


55


18


70


15


30


28


32


12


19


24


12


10


11


18


423


17


1881 .


111


23


64


14


41


23


48


15


62


12


36


32


38


14


18


22


19


13


8


12


445


17


1882 .


119


24


57


12


42


22


58


17


72


14


32


27


43


15


11


13


17


11


13


19


464


17


1883


138


26


59


12


49


25


60


17


76


14


40


33


51


17


17


19


28


18


13


527


18


1884 .


148


27


55


10


42


20


52


14


12


32


25


35


11


14


15


27


16


11


482


16


1885 .


152


28


56


11


40


19


72


20


78


14


31


24


53


17


13


14


25


15


15


531


18


1886 .


115


20


51


9


38


17


59


15


85


14


37


28


44


13


11


11


20


11


19


24


479


15


Thirteen years,


1,606


27


754


13


432


19


780


19


923


15


393


28


462


13


185


18


271


15


120


15


5,926


18


.


In 1886.


·


YEAR.


Rate


No. of


Rate


No. of


Per 1,000.


Rate


Rate


Deaths.


Rate


Rate


.


186


69


.


MAP OF


SOMERVILLE.


VIII


AVE


MYSTIC


LINE


1886.


SCALE.


DOND


KAAETERN


SHOWING HEALTH DISTRICTS.


1886.


MAIN


FLEXVY


D


D


E


F


O


M


ANISTONT


ESYNUS


9


LINWOOD


.


6.


HINCKLEY ST.


KOWELL ST.


CARTRIDGE AV.


JENNY LIND AV


7


HIGHLAND


PINAL


SCHOOL


DIISAN


WILLOW


CENTRAL


QUINCY ST.


LAUREL


GRANITE


X


BADADWAY.


IX


HIGHLAND


CHERRY


LAME.


JUNHER


AVI.


Servers shown thus:


G


AVE.


BEACON


ICHS


UNE."


O


C


M


B


R


I


D


E


BROADWAY"


BOSTON & MAINE


R. R.


JAQUES


WHEATLAND


PARK.


BROADWAY-


AVE.


MAKINA


UNCK


LORE


NON


CHOSE


HEATH


MEENT


ROMAIN


WAST


VI


PEARL


HOME


QUEDAN AV.


TUFTS 47


MEDEDAD


THURSTON


MAPLE


TORSTEN


ASILUN


R


& LOWELL


COLLEOR AYLA


ELM


SEDAN


VI


OXFORD


SVON ST


ENSI


SITY


SUMMEN


=


NAWKINS


CLARK


ALEWIRE


DANE


III


TUTENS


BROOK.


CLARENDON


NEWAURY


CAMERON


DAWS


ELN


LELAND


PORTER


HOLLAND


ARLINGTON


RAILROAD.


NOJDNINGYM


ARLIN


LINGTON


LINE.


CURTIS


HAMWICK ST


BERKLEY


KAMAZSAKI


NYETIC STIAN PUNE


Tufts College


ALLABANT


BOSTON


MILLERS DIMES


COLUNAUS


ALGERSEY


APPLETONET


RAILROAD.


MAILRE


TENNYS ON JT


WALNUT


WP


SCHOOL


BROADWAY


DERBY 57.


GRANT


CHAUNCEY


MINTHADI


PARKER


0


MILL POND,


MAIN


AVE.


BOSTAN


CIT


INÉ


C


S


EASTERN


HALDEN BRIDGE


RIVER


EAST CAMBRIDGE


URG


AVE.


BOSTON


VER


205


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN SOMERVILLE IN 1886, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.


CONSUMP- TION.


PNEUMONIA.


HEART DISEASE.


CHOLERA INFANTUM.


BRIGHT'S DISEASE.


DISTRICTS.


No. of


Deaths.


No. per


No. of


Deaths.


No. per


1,000 f pop


No. of


Deaths.


No. per


No. of


Deaths.


No. per


1,000 of pop.


No. of


Deaths.


No. per


1,000 of pop.


I.


24


4.15


9


1.56


1.38


10


1.73


0.69


II.


9


1.59


1


0.18


0.71


1


0.18


0.18


III.


6


2.74


4


1.83


0.91


1


0.46


0.91


IV.


18


4.64


5


1,29


1.03


6


1.55


H


1.03


V.


061


6.72


2


1.49


2.99


4


2.99


1


0.75


VII.


3.02


5


1.51


0.60


1


0.30


3


0.90


VIII.


. .


2.27


?


1.70


1.13


1


0.57


1.13


X.


2


2.57


. .


. .


1


1.29


. .


..


2


2.57


Total


93


2.93


39


1.23


33


1.04


26


0.82


26


0.82


TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1886.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


DISTRICTS.


Cases


reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of pop.


Deaths per.


1,000 of pop.


reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of pop.


reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of pop.


I.


13


2.25


15


3


2.59


0.52


1


0.86


0.17


II.


10


H.


5.03


0.46


1


1


0 46


0 46


IV.


17


1


4.38


0.26


3


1


0.77


0.26


3


1


0.77


0.26


V.


21


3.46


29


10


4.78


1.65


2


. .


0.33


. .


VI. .


4


1


2.99


0.75


2


1.49


. .


.


.


. .


..


VII.


18


. .


. .


14


1


4.22


0.30


10


1


0.60


0.30


VIII.


1


·


. .


·


.


..


. .


IX.


11


. .


. .


-1


1


3.97


0.57


co


. .


1.70


X.


4


. .


5.15


00


1


10.30


1.29


. .


.


. .


..


Total .


110


co


3.47


0.09


91


20


2.87


0.63


20


co


0.63


0.09


1


1.01


.


. .


1


1.01


2


2.03


IX.


1


1.81


9


1.48


0.99


1


0.16


5


0.82


VI.


11


.


1.77


. .


12


2


2.12


0.35


0.89


..


III.


..


.


.


. .


5.43


1.01


6.24


Cases


Cases


NHA


6191218


1,000 of pop.


1,000 of pop.


RATES PER THOUSAND OF POPULATION OF CASES OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER REPORTED, AND OF DEATHS FROM THE SAME, IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.


1880.


1881.


1882.


1883.


1884.


1885.


1886.


Average for Seven Years.


DISTRICTS.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Scarlet Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


„Diphtheria.


Typhoid


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid


I.


( Cases . Deaths,


1.10


2.42 0.88


3.08 0.44


8.75 3.54


9.58 0.42


7.17 2.79


2.39 ..


1.91 0.38


3.25 0.57


4.98 0.96


11.35 0.55


5.76 1.26


1.26 0.18


5.67 0.37


5.12 2.20


1.83 0 55


2 59 0.52


0.86 0.17


3.49 0.19


4.95 1.65


3.30 0.38


II.


( Cases . ¿ Deaths,


1,35


6.08 0.68


0.90 0.45


2 35


4.27 0.62


0.42 0.21


2.04 0.20


0.80 0.40


0 20


0.98


..


. .


1.11 0.37


1.66 0.19


0.19


1.50 0.41


1.50 0.19


2.12 0.35


2.03 0.08


0.51


0.20


III.


S Cases ( Deaths,


0.58


8.72


0.58


1.65


2.75


3.69


7.90


0.53 0.53


3.04


6.58


1.01


10.90 0,95


4.76 0.48


8.70 0 97


1.45 0.48


5.03 0.46


0.46 0.46


5.01 0.44


1.67


0.15


TV.


§ Cases . ¿ Deaths,


1.64


2.29


2.29


0.62


6.83 1.86


2.48 0 93


1.78 0.59


3.56 0.59


1.78 0.30


5.42 0.29


1 71 0.57


2 15 0.27


0.54 0.54


9.54 0.55


1.64 1.09


1.36 0.82


4.38 0.26


0.77 0.26


0.77 0.26


4.05 0.20


3.15 0.66


0.49


V.


Cases . ¿ Deaths,


2.93 0.63


3.77 1.05


1.26 0.21


1.98 0.40


1.90 0.38


8.54 2.28


0.95 0.19


2.74


7.67 1.46


1.64 0.73


2.58


3.43 0.52


1 20 0.34


6.98 0.17


2.97 0.17


0.17 0.17


..


. .


3.14 0.16


4.74 1.07


0.24


VI.


[ Cases . ¿ Deaths,


0.95


5.69


0.95


8.09 2.70


. .


1.72


16.32 7.73


0.86 . .


13.22


6.61 1.65


3.31 0.83


26.44 1.56


. 12.44 4.67


10.27


16.59


0).79 . .


2.99 0.75


. .


. .


8,30 0.59


9.60 3.08


0.12


VII.


S Cases . ( Deaths,


1.53 0.38


5.36 0.38


1.15 0.77


6.18 0.73


0.36 0.36


1.39


7.30 2.08


3.68 0.67


5.34 1.67


0.33


10.06


0.63


7.34


3.51 1.28


1.60 0.64


..


4.22 0.30


0.60 0.30


4.51 0.38


4.94


0.72


VIII.


5 Cases . { Deaths,


1.29


3.86


1.29


13.41 3.66


2.44


10.50


3.37


7.86


.


17.95 1.06


3.17


7.51


7.51


1.01


. . .


·


4.67


6.44


2.25


IX.


§ Cases . Deaths,


2.88


2.16


0.72


1.37


1.37


1.31


2.51


6.28 2.51


0.63 0.63


7.09


3.55


22 81


3.60


1.20


6.24


3.97 0.57


1.70


5.59


3.15


0.99


X.


S Cases . ¿ Deaths,


3.27


6.55


1.64


4.65 1.55


1.55


7.42


4.45


2.85


. .


.


1.34


4.09


2.72


5.15


10.30 1.29


. .


5.32


4.71 0.41


4.52


1.46


City,


Cases . Deaths,


1.72 0.24


4.32 0.76


1.56 0.28


0.95 0.04


5.88 1.71


2.69 0.30


1.42 0.15


6.24 1.89


1.38 0.29


0.21


5.44 1.08


1.88 0.45


8.21 0.26


3.64 0.69


1.18 0.26


0.47


3.67 0.93


1.37 0.37


3.47 0.09


2.87 0.63


0.63 · 0.09


0.21


1.08


0.32


..


.


. .


..


3.53


4.32


0.98


2.40


2.63


1.77


0.89


2.96


0.81


..


0.58


1.74


..


11.01 4.55


0.55


..


3.16


1.52


. .


..


.


.


1.51


..


0.33


.


.


0.99


0.79


..


. .


..


. .


. .


..


..


..


1.60


2.11 1.06


. .


..


..


0.16


0.64


0 81


. .


0.65


. .


..


..


.


..


.


. .


..


. .


.


0.54


2.05


..


..


..


.


..


. .


. .


.


..


.


. .


. .


. .


. .


. .


0.20


0.61


..


..


. .


. .


0.69


..


. .


..


. .


1.17


3.50 1.17


.


.


.


. .


..


3 16


3.46


4.78 1.65


0.33


0.89


0.83


0.95


1.90


. .


0.73


.


. .


. .


..


.


Fever.


Fever.


Fever.


Typhoid


Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid


Fever.


Fever.


Fever.


Fever.


.


2.25


. .


206


ANNUAL REPORTS.


5.59


1.02


0.29


8 86


..


. .


..


..


0.83


0.35


0.96


0.29


..


6.44 1.07


5.43


1.49


..


.


0.36


. .


2.93


7.42 2.96


10.74


1.18 0.59


3.14 0 31


1.91


0.48


9.55 1.36


7.54


3.84


1.00


0.21


207


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


NUISANCES ABATED IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1886.


DISTRICT.


I.


II. 5,644


III.


IV.


V.


VI. 1,340


VII. 3,315


986


1,763


|31,746


Cellar damp


13


7


4


2


14


2


3


2


..


.


47


Cesspool defective


66


offensive .


. .


. .


..


. .


2


3


1


1


4


12


Connections of drainage pipes defective


10


1


5


1


16


6


5


46


Drainage defective


16


3


5


3


15


1


1


1


.


1


1


14


66


emptying on surface, not ventilated


4


6


3


3


31


1


5


1


2


5


61


Drain-pipe clogged 66


8


1


2


2


11


2


1


1


3


31


Gas pipes leaking


. .


..


.


. .


. .


. .


.


.


..


..


3


Manure exposed and offensive,


9


1


3


3


4


1


2


2


2


3


Offal on land ..


8


1


2


. .


.


1


1


.


Offensive odor from burning


1


. .


. .


. .


. .


3 2 :32


2


1


1


45


1


..


..


. .


2


.


3


3


2


1


20


1


1


. .


1


8


3


8


1


2


. .


4


59


22


6


11


18


13


9


4


8


5


2


98


4


1


·


2


. .


. .


.


2


1


1


11


Stagnant water in house-cellar,


3


2


1


1


1


5


.


3


1


..


. .


14


6


not trapped


23


16


4


6


52


2


15


5


5


7


135


Water-closet defective


. .


.


..


6


1


4


1


.


4


18


plied with water,


4


6


2 2


. .


8


1


4


.


2


4


31


not supplied with water offensive .


8


2


4


1


15


. .


8


1


1


3


13


Wooden drains


waste pipes and


3


1


. .


1


..


1


. .


1


. .


7


Total


202


64


55


64


225


40


80


46


39


52


867


66


emptying in cellar .


2


3


1


2


1


2


1


2


3


overflowing


. .


. .


·


. .


1


2


9


66


·


. .


.


3


3


Hennery offensive .


2


1


. .


. .


..


15


2


Premises filthy


9


. .


. .


. .


1


.


1


1


..


6


Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive . .


3


1


7


3


3


1


1


3


.


. .


11


. .


1


3


1


..


2


2


12


Waste pipe defective .


insufficiently sup-


1


·


.


.


.


1


. .


2


Offensive odor in and about dwellings


11


4


4


·2


..


1


.


2


. .


..


. .


1


No house-drainage facilities . 1


2


. .


13


1


Privy-vault defective


66


·full offensive


28


4


1


. .


1


1


. .


01 : 5


3


2


61


1


| rubbish .


.


1


6


Slops thrown on surface


on surface


-


VIII.


IX. X. Total.


Population


5,784


2,188


3,882 6,067


2


3


1


2


3


Hens kept in cellar


Opening in drain-pipe in cellar,


2


1


2


66


defective


. .


208


ANNUAL REPORTS.


APPPRORIATION FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND EXPENDI- TURES THEREFROM, 1886.


Appropriation $3,500 00


Receipts for permits to keep swine and goats


and to collect grease 303 00


Total credit


. $3,803 00


Expenditures : -


For inspector's salary . $1,000 00


" collecting ashes (including Decem- ber, 1885) . . 1,883 33


" collecting offal (for 6 months) . 450 00


" fumigating (sulphur) 6 64


" oil of peppermint


18 00


" vaccine virus .


14 50


" burying dead animals


64 50


" abating nuisances .


82 32


" books, stationery, and printing


53 85


" serving notices in other cities .


1 50


" carriage hire .


9 00


" rent of post-office box


5 00


Total debit


.


3,588 64


Balance unexpended .


. . $214 36


GEORGE A. KIMBALL. GEO. C. SKILTON. THOS. M. DURELL, M. D.


209


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


INDEX


TO THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


PAGE


Ashes


197


Dangerous diseases


Death-rate, 1886 (at end of mortality table)


200


Deaths .


199


Diphtheria


201


Districts .


203


Expenses


208


Goats


197


Grease


197


House offal


198


Map


. 204A


Membership


195


Night-soil


198


Nuisances


195


Organization .


195


Permits


197


Population


200


Scarlet fever


200


Sewers


198


Swine


197


Typhoid fever


20


TABLES.


Diphtheria in 1886, inspector's report


202A, B


Mortality in Somerville, 1886


199


rates of, in districts, 1874 to 1886 .


204


Nuisances abated, 1886 .


196


66 in districts, 1886


207


Principal causes of death, in districts, 1886 . Scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever, 1886


66


deaths in last 10 years, 202


66


66


in districts, 1886 . . 205


66


.66


in last 7 y'rs, 206


205


202


14


200


-


REPORT


OF THE


CITY PHYSICIAN.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Feb. 9, 1887.


Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 10, 1887.


Concurred in.


DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council :


GENTLEMEN, - I respectfully present my annual report as City Physician.


I have made during the year 1,813 visits; of these, 303 were surgical, and 46 were made to persons at the police station. I have, in accordance with the law, viewed the bodies. and given certificates of the probable cause of death, of 11 persons, who died unattended by any physician. I have examined 22 persons sup- posed to be insane, and have given certificates in 17 cases.


I have vaccinated 201 persons free of expense. Twenty-two persons had teeth extracted at my office. I have examined six applicants for the police force.


Respectfully submitted,


THOS. M. DURELL, M. D., City Physician. JAN. 28, 1887.


REPORT


OF THE


TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 26, 1887.


Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, JAN. 27, 1887.


DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


To the City Council :


The Trustees of Somerville Public Library, in making this their annual report, first desire to say that their experience of the last year reassures them that the expenditure for the erection of the new library building was wisely made. The community cannot fail to realize the facilities and accommodations which it furnishes ; at the same time they confess that their duties have become in a great measure thereby more enjoyable, if not better performed.


The amount expended for all purposes during the year will appear in the City Treasurer's statement appended hereto.


The number of books purchased in 1886, according to the report of the librarian, is 1,012. The whole number of books now in the library is 13,146.


It may be interesting to know the growth and use of the Public Library since its establishment. The following tables gleaned from the annual reports will furnish this information : -


Year.


Number in Library.


Books taken out.


1873 .


3,907


24,693


1874 .


4,730


Not reported.


1875 .


5,301


39,025


1876 .


5,752


46,800


1877 .


6,696


57,862


1878 .


7,441


61,076


1879


7,814


64,022


1880 .


8,506


67,895


1881


9,035


67,649


1882 .


9,766


67,673


1883


10,574


70,531


1884 .


11,197


72,591


1885 .


12,134


65,450*


1886 .


13,146


77,610


* In ten months.


218


ANNUAL REPORTS.


For further information, attention is invited to the librarian's report.


Much care has been taken in studying and supplying such de- partments as were found deficient, and chiefly in the choice of books of a solid and standard character. Books of reference relating to art, scientific subjects, manufactures, trades, and mechanics have been furnished, resulting in a most valuable acquisition to the library. Unusual opportunities are now offered to those who may desire to investigate any special subject in the reference room, which will be found both a pleasant and profitable place of resort.


Not a few purchases have been made in compliance with re- quests of individuals whose judgment the Trustees have good reason to respect. It has been the policy of the Trustees to en- courage the patrons of the library to make known their wishes, and to recommend such works as they may deem desirable to pos- sess. The difficulty in selecting books, especially new publica- tions, arises in a great measure from the difficulty of knowing the merits of an author without a personal perusal. It will be readily seen that a multiplicity of books renders this duty arduous. Any assistance, therefore, that can be rendered by those who have a personal knowledge is most welcome. It is not always safe to rely upon newspaper notices or criticisms, or the commendations of publishers. Nor can it be deemed advisable to rely too much on experiments or mere hearsay.


The aim should always be to provide what may be regarded the " best reading." To accomplish this may be quite feasible, if stand- ard works of known value are only to be selected ; but in dealing with the current literature of the day, an immense field must be explored, and hence the task becomes the more onerous.


The Trustees would briefly again invite a further consideration of the question how the Public Library can be made more serviceable and beneficial to the community, especially to the young, who, more than others, are its active patrons. The materials are all here with which to· work.


Much might be said in the way of suggestion, as to what course a reader or student should pursue in order that he may make the most advantageous use of books, and in the adoption of some sys- tematic course of reading. We leave the subject, however, for parents and teachers to consider.


219


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.


Attention is respectfully invited to the condition of the grounds about the library building. It seems sadly out of place that the elegant structure, which has been erected at so much outlay, should not have its surroundings more in consonance with its character. What might have been made an attractive lawn with the adorn- ment of a few flowers, has thus far been permitted to become over- grown with unsightly weeds.


To avoid a continuance of such a condition of things, the Trust- ees have taken the initiative of preparing the soil, so that in the coming season it may be in readiness for further improvements.


In closing, the Trustees take pleasure in giving their testimony to the fidelity and zeal with which the librarian and her assistants have discharged their duties.


CHAS. S. LINCOLN, Chairman.


DEC. 31, 1886.


:20


ANNUAL REPORTS.


LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.


The fourteenth year of our library work finds us in a condition to warrant the expenditure of increased appropriations, as larger means of usefulness are constantly presenting themselves. Books of more scientific and solid character are called for and more and more appreciated, while many do not yet know of the treasures contained in our collection, which they have but to ask for in order to receive.


During the past year many choice books have been placed in the reference department, such as


North American Sylva, 2 vols. Standard Natural History, 6 vols. Holbein's Portraits.


Ferns of North America, 2 vols.


The Earth and its Inhabitants, 10 vols.


Costumes of the Clans, 2 vols. Baronial Halls of England. National Costumes of Germany.


And also for general distribution the most desirable works on the labor question, electricity, science, and the best in books of travel, biography, and fiction.


We are indebted to those of our constant readers who suggest those works that are most useful in their several occupations, and find them generally excellent judges of what is most needed. Who knows so well as the workman himself what tools he can best use ; and if we can only supply the needed tools for our young workmen, what monuments of fame may not be wrought by builders here !


Until recently we have had only books of moderate cost in un- pretending bindings ; now we have accommodation for choicer books, whose illustrations on subjects in which our people are in- terested many would be glad to see. We have never been able to purchase a set of "Audubon's Birds," nor until this present year any


221


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.


volumes of colored engravings or books in which the costumes of the past could be shown to those curious to see, or desirous to copy them. Our books, when purchased, go into immediate circulation, and their well-worn condition shows their constant use. Three books have been given, and the wonder is that more have not been donated. What more fitting place to bestow a well-read book than the Public Library, where hundreds can have the benefit of it. and the giver have the satisfaction of knowing that a good selection has been made for the reading of others ?


I find that in at least one library the gifts have sometimes out- numbered the purchases.


A new registration was commenced in January, 1885, since which time 5,415 names have been entered and cards delivered.


During the year, 77,510 books have been delivered, 8,687 books covered, and 2,000 postal cards sent for books overdue. We have had, including periodicals, 407 volumes bound. These can seldom be bound a second time ; 145 books have been worn out and with- drawn, and, where it was possible, replaced.


The use of reference books has nearly doubled; the number recorded last year being 642, and this year 1,200.




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