USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1887 > Part 11
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the offensive odors which are found, at times, in East Somer- ville.
The matter is still under consideration.
PERMITS.
We have continued granting permits to keep swine and goats, and to collect grease, charging two dollars for a permit to collect grease, and one dollar for each swine or goat.
Our regulations provide that "no person shall remove any manure, or cause or suffer the same to be removed, between the first day of May and the first day of November, except between twelve o'clock at night and two hours after sunrise, without a written permit from the Board of Health."
We have, therefore, when deemed advisable, issued permits for the hauling of manure through the streets in the daytime, between the 1st of May and the 1st of November, on condition that the following requirements be complied with, any violation of the same being deemed sufficient cause for the revocation of the per- mit, or to subject the offender to prosecution, or both : -
1. It shall be carried in a tight, canvas-covered vehicle, with the covering at all times so secured to the sides and ends of the vehicle, while moving with a load within the city limits, as actually to prevent the contents from dropping.
2. The number of this permit shall be painted in figures at least two inches in size, with the letter S, of corresponding size, prefixed, in some conspicuous position upon the vehicle driven.
We have also given permits, in the same manner, to remove manure from stables in this city, and transport the same through the streets, in the daytime, between the first day of May and the first day of November, -the removal to be completed before nine A.M., - upon the conditions above stated, and also upon the following condition : -
3. The premises from which the manure is removed shall be left in a neat condition.
SWINE. - Permits have been applied for to keep 207 swine, and we have granted them for 203, and refused them for 4.
GOATS. - Number for which permits were asked, 35, and the requests have all been granted.
201
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
GREASE. - Number of permits applied for, 7 ; all of which were granted. 4 of the applicants resided in Somerville, 2 in Bos- ton, and 1 in Cambridge.
22 parties residing in Somerville were licensed by the Board of Health of Boston to collect grease in that city during the year, and 4 received licenses to collect grease in Cambridge.
· MANURE. - 87 permits have been granted to haul manure through the streets in the daytime, between the 1st of May and the 1st of November, and 20 to remove the same from stables in this city and convey it through the streets during the same period, on the conditions above specified.
PEDLERS.
The City Council having passed an ordinance requiring every hawker or pedler selling goods in this city to record his name with this Board, 137 parties have made such record with us, and re- ceived certificates thereof. Each pedler is assigned a number, which must be marked conspicuously on his wagon, and a periodi- cal inspection of the wagon is required.
Complete information of the parties prosecuting this kind of business in our city is thus acquired, and we are enabled to see that cleanliness is observed.
ASHES.
On the expiration of Jeremiah McCarthy's contract to remove ashes and house-dirt at a compensation of seventeen hundred dollars per annum, a new contract was made with him, for the year commencing April 29, for the sum of two thousand dollars, he being the lowest bidder.
The days for collections are the same as last year : viz., -
On Wednesdays in Ward One.
On Thursdays in Ward Two.
On Fridays in Ward Three.
On Saturdays in Ward Four.
The ashes to be removed must be set in barrels on the outer edge of the sidewalk before nine o'clock A.M., and must not contain filth or offal.
The contractor reports that about 11,000 loads were removed during the year 1887.
202
ANNUAL REPORTS.
HOUSE OFFAL.
The house offal has been collected by Henry Gray, under a con- tract for three years from June 26, 1886, at an annual compensa- tion of nine hundred dollars.
The contract requires that the offal be collected at least three times per week in the months of May, June, July, August, and September ; twice every week in the months of April, October, and November; and once a week in the months of December, January, February, and March.
We learn from the contractor that the collections in 1887 amounted to about 375 cords.
NIGHT-SOIL.
Order-books for the removal of night-soil are kept at the police station on Bow Street, and at the grocery store at the corner of Perkins and Franklin Streets.
The work during the past year has been done by Mr. R. M. Johnson of Arlington, by the " odorless " process, under a con- tract which expires on the first day of February in the present year ; the price being four dollars per load, or part of a load, of eighty cubic feet.
The contractor informs us that 595 loads were removed during the year.
A new contract for three years from Feb. 1 has just been made with Mr. Johnson, on the same terms as the one about to expire.
SEWERS.
About the usual length of sewers has been laid by the Board of Aldermen during the past year ; but, with the exception of short pieces in Broadway and Medford Street, near their junction, none of them are in localities that have demanded special attention from this Board.
Woodbine, Madison, and Montrose Streets, which were named in our last report as being in particular need of sewers, are still unprovided for, and we hope they will receive attention this year. They are on the northerly slope of land between Highland Avenue and the Lowell Railroad, where the soil is such that it will not absorb the sewage, which, therefore, overflows upon the yards or vacant lots farther down the hill.
203
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
DEATHS.
The number of deaths in the city in 1887 was 621, besides 22 still-births.
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1887.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES. Miasmatic.
Scarlet fever
31
Diphtheria .
INH
Croup
2
1
2
11
Erysipelas .
1
3
6
1
3
1
11
Cholera infantum
1
21
17
2
1
1
1
1
1
4
Measles .
4
2
1
2
4
1
1
7 8
Diatetic.
Alcoholism .
CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.
Diathetic.
Cancer
Cancer of breast
3
Cancer of liver
Tubercular.
Tubercular meningitis
Marasmus
1
1
I
1
I
1
LOCAL DISEASES.
Nervous System.
Apoplexy
Paralysis
Insanity
Brain disease
12
Meningitis
Convulsions
Epilepsy .
Organs of Circulation.
Heart disease .
2
-
4
3
1
-
4
3
1
3
5
27
Respiratory Organs.
Pneumonia .
Bronchitis .
4
1
19
Phthisis pulmonalis
11
6
11
12
9
92
Pleurisy .
Digestive Organs.
Gastritis .
Peritonitis
Liver disease
Obstruction of bowels
HIHH
IIHN
H-10000
1
1
10
IIN
1
21
- 1
1
1
1 00 1
1
1
1
20 1
1
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
1
1
-
-
7
3
INIIN
15
8 4
80
Hemorrhage
1
1
5 1
1
14 1
Tuberculosis
1
1
1 1
2
8
7
4
1
32
Septicemia .
1
1
Whooping cough
1
1
1 1 THỊTHIHIHIH
11
1
3
Typhoid fever
Diarrhea
1
IHÆ1INI
1
8
14
10
4
2
2
1
16
INITIN
2
1
H
10
42
Dysentery
-
201
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1887 - Continued.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Genito-Urinary Organs.
Bright's disease
Diabetes .
Cystitis
DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.
Of Children.
Premature birth and infantile debility
1
5
4
5
4
3
3
4
3
37
Of Old People.
Old age General debility
VIOLENT DEATHS.
Exposure to cold
Asphyxia
Accident
Accidental drowning
Railroad
1
1
1
1
1
1
Suicide
1
1
-
-
1
1
1
-
1
Unknown
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
Total
52
30
61
45
41
41
71
61
37
51
66
65
621
Still-born
-
2
1
2
3
2
-
-
1
4
2
5
22
Population (estimated) .
34,023
Death rate per thousand .
18.25
-
2
1
1
-
100
-
19
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
5
Sunstroke
1
1
Shock
1 1
.
.
DISEASES DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
Our city has not been visited by small-pox, varioloid, or typhus fever during the past year ; the only diseases commonly classed as dangerous to the public health which have been reported being scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever.
In November regulations were adopted and published as fol- lows : -
IN BOARD OF HEALTH OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE, Nov. 23, 1887.
Whereas, It has been voted by this Board that from and after this date every dwelling where a case of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever is known to exist be conspicuously labelled at its entrance or entrances with a card or cards marked " small-pox here," " scarlet fever here," "diph- theria here," or "typhus fever here," as the case may be, said card or cards there to remain until removed by this Board, or its agent, or by permission of this Board. It is therefore
-
3
4
4
-
1IN
-
-
-
2
205
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Ordered, That the following regulation be and is hereby adopted : -
1. No person shall, without permission from this Board, remove from any dwelling in this eity any eard affixed thereto by this Board or its agent, indi- cating that small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever exists in said dwelling; nor shall any person obliterate or defaee such eard; nor shall the occupant of any dwelling to which sueh eard may be affixed permit the same to be removed, obliterated, or defaeed, without immediately notifying this Board; nor shall any person, exeept members of the immediate family, and those whose business ealls them there, visit a dwelling labelled with a card as aforesaid, without the written permission of this Board.
2. Any person who shall remove or deface such card, without the written permission of this Board, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than ten dollars for each offenee.
IN BOARD OF HEALTH OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE, Nov. 23, 1887.
Whereas, It has heretofore been ordered by this Board that the remains of every person dying of small-pox, searlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever shall at onee be placed in a tight or sealed eoffin, which shall not thereafter be opened or unsealed, and that the burial shall take place immediately, -
Ordered, That any undertaker who shall violate any of the provisions of the above-named order shall be liable to a penalty of not less than five, nor more than twenty, dollars, to be recovered as provided by law and to inure to the use of the said eity.
SCARLET FEVER. - In the first nine months 84 cases of scarlet fever were reported, as compared with 99 in the same months of 1886 ; but the reports in the last three months of 1887 brought the total number for the year up to 202, while the total for 1886 was 110. Thirty-one cases resulted fatally in 1887, and only 3 in 1886.
The disease has been of a more severe type than in previous years, the number of deaths being greater than in any other year since this Board was established. We have taken every precaution to prevent the spread of this disease which seems practicable, with- out isolating the houses. As soon as a case is reported, our in- spector places a large warning-card at the door of the house, and notifies the family, and also the principals of the schools where the children attend, that no child from that house can attend school until after four weeks from the commencement of the last case.
After the recovery or the funeral of the patient, the house is fumigated, unless other sickness in the family renders its postpone- ment necessary ; and, in case of death, before a burial permit is given, a certificate is required from the undertaker, in pursuance
206
ANNUAL REPORTS.
of Chap. 124 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1883, that the body has been placed in a sheet saturated in a ten per cent solution of chloride of zinc, and placed in a tight coffin enclosed in a box, which is not to be re-opened. We also require that the burial shall take place immediately after the death, and forbid public funerals, or the placing of the body of the deceased in a public carriage.
In order to put the people on their guard against needless ex- posure and to give general information as to means for preventing the spread of the disease, the following circular has been dis- tributed throughout the city by the hands of the police : -
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, Nov. 1, 1887.
WHEREAS, Scarlet fever is a disease contagious and dangerous to the pub- lic health, and, whereas, it is now prevalent in the city of Somerville and the adjoining cities and towns; therefore, the Board of Health issues the following suggestions for preventing the spread of the disease: -
Scarlet fever, scarlatina, scarlet rash, canker rash, and rash fever are all names given to one and the same disease, which is highly contagious and readily transferable from one place or person to another. The contagious matter is capable of retaining its power of infection for a long time. The means of transportation may be furnished by any thing that has come in contact with an infected person, or which has been in the room or house where such person resides, - these objects may be air, clothing, sheets, blankets, hair and whiskers, furniture, toys, library books, wall-paper, cur- tains, domestic animals, etc. Funerals have also spread the disease, the exhalation from the dead body being very dangerous.
The time from the exposure to the first symptoms of the disease varies from six to ten days. The time fixed by this Board for the mingling of a person infected with this disease with others is four weeks from the com- mencement of the disease.
The one and all-important factor in preventing the spread of the disease is complete isolation. The patient should be in a room separate from the rest of the house, and communicate with as few members of the household as possible. Particular care should be taken in the mild cases, when the patient is able to be up and around the room; for from these mild cases the most fatal cases may come. Any case of scarlet fever, however slight, should be completely isolated until all roughness of the skin has disap- peared.
207
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Attendants on the sick should be as few as possible, and should not com- municate with other persons any more than is absolutely necessary. They should wear only such clothing as may be readily washed. Gargling or washing the mouth with a cleansing fluid is a useful measure for those who must be exposed to contagion.
After recovery, the patient should not mingle with other persons until all roughness of the skin has disappeared, and until he has taken warm baths for several days. After the sick room is no longer needed as such, all clothing and other articles used in it that can be washed should be soaked in boiling water. Articles of trifling value should be burned. The wall- paper should be removed and burned. The ceiling should be washed with soap and hot water or scraped. The room should then be closed as tight as possible, and as much sulphur burned in it as the air will allow (a pound is an abundant amount for an ordinary room); it should be kept closed from six to eight hours, and then opened for several days to the air and sunshine. The floor and woodwork should then be thoroughly washed.
Should the sick person die, attention is called to the following regulations of the Board of Health :-
" Whereas, the diseases known as small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhus fever are contagious and dangerous to the public health, and have been, and may easily be, contracted at funerals, from dead bodies or apartments which have been infected by such diseases, it is therefore ordered that the following regulations be and are hereby adopted : -
"1. From and after this date, no public funeral shall be held over the remains of any person having died of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever, except by written consent of this Board, and under such regu_ lations as said Board may prescribe; and no person, except members of the immediate family, and those whose business calls them there, shall be ad- mitted to the house where such death has occurred, until after the interment has taken place and the premises have been fumigated, without the written permission of this Board.
"2. The remains of every person dying of either of said diseases shall at once be wrapped in a sheet saturated in a ten per cent solution of chlo- ride of zinc, and placed in a tight coffin, enclosed in a box, which is not to be re-opened."
The following sections in regard to isolation are from Chap. SO of the Public Statutes : -
"SECr. 78. When a householder knows that a person within his family is sick ... of any disease dangerous to the public health, he shall imme- diately give notice thereof to the . .. Board of Health of the town in which he dwells. If he refuses or neglects to give such notice, he shall for- feit a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.
"SECT. 79. When a physician knows that a person whom he is called to visit is infected with ... any disease dangerous to the public health, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the .. . Board of Health of the town; and if he refuses or neglects to give such notice, he shall forfeit for each offence not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars."
The Board of Health of Somerville considers small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet
208
ANNUAL REPORTS.
fever, typhus and typhoid fevers diseases dangerous to the public health. As scarlet fever is particularly a disease of children, the Board has further ordered : -
" That no child from any house in which a case of this disease has oc- curred, or shall hereafter occur, shall, without a written permit from this Board, attend any school in this city until the expiration of four weeks from the commencement of the last case in such family. Such length of time shall be certified in writing by a physician, or some responsible member of the family, the certificate to be presented to the teacher of the school before the child is admitted."
THOMAS M. DURELL, M.D., Board GEORGE C. SKILTON, of
J. FRANK WELLINGTON, Health.
We are pleased to note that since Jan. 1, 1888, the prevalence of this disease has been very much less than in the preceding three months.
DIPHTHERIA. - Diphtheria has not been so prevalent as in 1886. In that year the number of cases reported was 91, and the number of deaths 20. In 1887 only 44 cases were reported, with 11 deatlıs.
We apply the same rules in dealing with this disease as in the case of scarlet fever, except that children are kept out of school but two weeks after the commencement of the last case in the house instead of four ; and, in addition, the premises are inspected, and any sanitary defects noted are required to be remedied.
TYPHOID FEVER. - Fifty-one cases of typhoid fever were re- ported, and 11 deaths. Twenty-six of these cases occurred in September, October and November, and the only one reported after Nov. 25 was on Dec. 5.
An inspection is made of the premises wherever a case is re- ported, in order that sanitary defects may be remedied, but we have made no other rules in relation to this disease.
TABLES. - We continue, in this report, tables of cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever, and deaths from the same, and also the inspector's tabulated report of the sanitary condition of premises visited by diphtheria.
208A
Family.
Nationality.
Occupation of Head of Family.
Sex of Patient.
Age of Patient.
Date of Sickness.
Result.
Soil.
Locality.
Condition of Cellar.
Privy.
Remarks.
1 American
Salesman
1
13
January January
Clayey gravel Clayey gravel Sand
Drainage defective . Waste-pipe not trapped
Dry Damp Dry
Water-closet in cellar Water-closet in cellar; defective
4
American
Provision
Female .
3
January
4
Gravel
Fair
Drainage defective; into cess- pool
Damp
12 feet from house; offensive
House drainage not ventilated.
5 German .
Baker
6
2
Fatal.
Gravel
Fair
Waste-pipe not trapped
Damp Damp Dry
Water-closet in cellar
6
Irish
Laborer
7
Male . Male .
1
February
Clay
Low
7
American
Merchant
S
6
February
10 Clayey gravel . 6 Clayey gravel .
Good.
Irish
Pedler
10
Male .
6
March .
1
Clayey gravel . Fair
Waste-pipe not trapped; pipes defective.
Damp
10 feet from house; offensive
House drainage ventilated.
12 13
Irish
Laborer
14
Female .
21
April
4
Gravel
Fair
14
Irish
Laborer
15
Male .
4
April
4 Sand
15
American
Salesman
16
Male .
6
April
Gravel
Good
16 American
Clerk
17
Female .
14
April
Gravel
Good.
17
American
Salesman
18
Female
6
May.
Gravel
Good.
18
Irish
Laborer
19
Female .
7
May .
7
Clayey gravel
Waste-pipes not trapped; drain- age defective
Damp and offensive odor in cellar.
19
American
Salesman
20 21
Male . Female .
May. May.
1
Gravel
Fair . Waste-pipes not trapped
Dry
20 21
American Irish
Car Driver
22
Female .
S
June
2
Gravel
Good.
Laborer
23
Female .
1
October
4
Gravel
Fair
22
Irish
Marble Cutter
24 25
Female . Male .
8
October
5
Clayey gravel .
Damp
23 24 25
26 .27
American American
Laborer
31
Freight Agent
32
7
Fatal .
1
Gravel Gravel
Good. Drainage defective . Drain-pipes defective; waste- pipe not trapped . Fair .
Damp
Water-closet in cellar; offensive
House drainage not ventilated; 3 fatal cases of scarlet fever after this case of diphtheria.
28
Irish
Widow
33
Female .
7 November.
1
Clayey gravel
Fair .
Connection of drain-pipes de- fective
Damp
4 feet from house; offensive
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage ventilated.
29 30
American Canadian
Passenger Agent Furniture business,
34
Male .
3
5
Gravel
Satisfactory
35
Female .
8
5
Gravel
Good. Good.
31 32
American American American
Salesman
37
Salesman
38
Female . Female . Female . 21
November. December . December .
5
Clayey gravel
Connection of drain-pipes de- fective
Damp Damp
Water-closet in cellar; offensive 8 feet from house; offensive
36 37
American
Salesman
42
Male
9
December .
Clayey gravel
Good.
Waste-pipe not trapped Satisfactory
Damp
10 feet from house; offensive
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. Taken sick in Cambridge; moved to Somerville. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage ventilated.
House drainage not ventilated. Stable adjoining house; offensive odor in chamber from same.
American 38
Salesman
44
Female .
3
May .
5
Gravel
Fair .
Waste-pipes not trapped . ..
2
American
Plumber
2
Female . Female .
5
9
.
American
Grocer
3
Female .
0
January
Fatal . Fatal . .
3
Fair
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated.
10 11
American German .
Salesman Laborer
11
37
March . March .
1
Clayey gravel .
Fair
Connection of waste and drain pipes defective.
Damp
6 feet from house; offensive .
Irish
Laborer
13
Male .
1
April
Fatal .
4 Gravel
Fair
Waste-pipe not trapped Waste-pipes not trapped
Damp Dry
10 feet from house; offensive
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated.
House drainage not ventilatcd. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated.
House drainage not ventilated.
American
Salesman .
29
Female .
39
October
10
Fair
Same premises as family No. 21. Defect in drain-pipe in cellar .
Dry
Insufficient supply of water in water- closet .
House drainage ventilated.
30
Male . Female . Male .
November. November. November.
Damp
18 feet from house
House drainage not ventilated.
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated.
34 35
Irish
Widow .
39 40
Female . Female .
12 25
December . December .
Sand
Good.
41
Male .
11
December .
1
Clayey gravel
Fair
43
Female .
2
December .
Fatal . Fatal .
1 Gravel
Fair
Waste-pipe not trapped
American Irish
Widow .
26
Laborer
27
Male .
4
October
Fatal . .
4
Irish
Porter
28
Male .
12
October
Fatal .
7
Gravel Gravel
Good . .
Waste-pipes not properly trapped Connection of drain-pipes de- fective
Damp
Damp
Water-closet defective and offensive .
4
September.
Fatal.
Good. .
Female .
4
October
Fair
Waste-pipe defective Satisfactory
8
American
Editor
9
Male .
38
February
7
Gravel
Good. Drain-pipes defective
12
Male . Male . .
5
Male . Male .
February February .
1
G
8 feet from house; full, and offensive .
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage ventilated.
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated.
Damp
6 feet from house; offensive .
Waste-pipes not trapped
Fair
House drainage not ventilated. House drainage not ventilated.
10
12
Fatal . .
10
.
Fair Fair .
House Drainage.
District.
DIPHTHERIA IN 1887. - INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Number of
Patient. Number of
Carver .
36
38
2 Gravel
17
4 Gravel
Good. Fair Good.
Drain-pipes defective; waste- pipes not trapped . Waste-pipes not trapped
Dry Damp
Water-closet in bath-room; offensive
33
American
9 months. 10
November. November.
Laborer
5
5
2
h
209
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER REPORTED IN 1887.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
Cases
reported.
Number of
deaths.
Percentage
of deaths.
Cases
reported.
Number of
Percentage
of deaths.
reported.
Number of
deaths.
Percentage of deaths.
January
24
4
4
50
-
-
-
February .
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