USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1891 > Part 13
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Opening in drain-pipe in cellar
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Premises undrained
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Privy-vault full
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231
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
Number of nuisances abated
571
referred to board of 1892
116
complained of
687
66 complaints (many covering nuisance )
more than one
264
tenements ordered vacated
1
66 notices mailed
202
66
served by constables
3
-
Probably as many nuisances as the number mentioned in the preceding table have been abated on verbal notice from the agent, without any action of the board; and of such no record has been made.
GLANDERS .- As may be seen by the foregoing table [stables infected with glanders ], several cases of glanders have occurred during the year. When this disease is encountered the promptest action is necessary, and that we may have opportunity to take such action, we ask that owners of horses notify the board or its agent immediately on the appearance of this disease.
SEWER OUTLET, MYSTIC AVENUE .- A complaint, signed by a large number of the residents of Winter Hill, was presented to us concerning the bad odors from the sewer outlet at Mystic avenue, near the Broadway Park. This sewer drains a large territory, and empties, on the northeasterly side of Mystic avenue, into an open ditch, which extends across the marshes to a culvert under Middlesex avenue, and thence to the Mystic River. A tide-gate at its lower end prevents the contents of this ditch from discharging during about six hours in every twenty-four ; and this, with the deposits on the flats, causes a nuisance which demands early attention.
BAD ODORS AT EAST SOMERVILLE. - The following reports, which were presented to the Board of Aldermen February 24, 1892, are self-explanatory : -
OFFICE OF BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, Mass., February 24, 1892.
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Somer- ville : -
GENTLEMEN, - In August, 1890, an order was passed by the Board of Aldermen requesting the Board of Health to investigate the
232
ANNUAL REPORTS.
causes of the bad odors complained of by the residents of East Somerville. Since then the matter has received the careful attention of this board, and we herewith submit our report on the same.
Realizing the difficulty of locating a particular odor, when the same may originate from one or more places conducting similar kinds of business, and desiring to make a thorough and impartial investigation, we called to our assistance Dr. T. M. Drown, professor of chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and he has been engaged in this work since the early part of last year.
It proved, however, a much more difficult matter than we antici- pated, and for a long time but very little progress was made.
A thorough examination of all parts of the works and a study of the different methods of destroying the noxious odors at the slaugh- ter-houses of John P. Squire & Co. and the North Packing and Provision Company has been made by us in connection with Professor Drown, and we have become familiar with all the disagree- able features of the slaughtering business. Our work, however, was brought to an abrupt termination in January of this year, when the fact developed that in the remodelling of the works of John P. Squire & Co. it had been decided by them to adopt an entirely new system of disposing of the gases and noxious odors arising from their works, and plans to this end have been made and work has already begun upon them.
We are informed by the engineer in charge of this work that the new system contemplates changes in the fertilizer room, which, he claims, will remedy the serious trouble we find to exist there. What the result will be can only be determined when the alterations are completed, and, consequently, it was deemed proper by this board to discontinue our work of investigation for the present.
The methods adopted by Professor Drown and the conclusions arrived at are fully set forth in his report to the Board of Health, a copy of which is submitted herewith.
In what he has to say regarding the works of the North Packing and Provision Company we desire to fully concur. Every facility was here given us to make a thorough examination of their methods, and neither time nor expense was spared by them to assist us in our investigations.
At John P. Squire & Co.'s a bad state of affairs at present exists. Much of it, however, may arise from the confusion incidental to the
233
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
large fire that occurred here last October. If, however, after the work of remodelling is completed, greater attention is not given to the cleanliness of the buildings and surroundings, it will be necessary for decisive action to be taken by this board.
Respectfully submitted,
J. FRANK WELLINGTON. CHARLES H. CRANE. ALVAH B. DEARBORN.
J. F. Wellington, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass. : -
SIR, - Somewhat over a year ago the Board of Health, in pur- suance of an order of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, requested me to ascertain definitely for them "the cause of the bad odors complained of by the residents of East Somerville." The investiga- tion has proved to be much more difficult and time-consuming than I anticipated. The universal opinion of the residents has been that the odors came from the large slaughtering houses of J. P. Squire & Co. and the North Packing and Provision Company. To prove or disprove this opinion, and to discover which of the two might be the greater offender, was not as easy a problem as it at first appeared. I give you herewith, in a condensed form, the results of prolonged investigations, whereby I have become convinced that the odors in question come mainly from the works of J. P. Squire & Co., and to a much less degree from the North Packing and Provision Company.
These odors arise in part from the large hog-pens at these works, but mainly from the processes involved in utilizing the refuse not used for food-the offal which is converted into grease and fertilizing products. They can be noticed almost at any time in the immediate vicinity of these large factories, and if one goes through the works when in active operation, there can be no doubt in his mind of the identity of the odors here perceived with those which have so long proved a nuisance to people living in East Somerville.
234
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The variety of offensive odors in these works is very great, but they may all be referred to noxious gases resulting from the decom- position of animal matter. Even when care is taken to conduct all the operations in a manner so as to be as little objectionable as possible, and when strict cleanliness is maintained throughout the works, it is impossible to carry on slaughtering, combined with the utilization of all the offal, without generating offensive vapors. When strict care and cleanliness are not observed, there is no limit to the amount of disgusting gases which may be developed.
As I have already said, there can be no doubt of the identity of the odors produced at these slaughtering houses with those noticed in East Somerville ; but the question naturally arises,- Is it possible for these slaughtering-house odors to be carried for a distance of a mile or more and then have sufficient intensity to cause annoyance?
It was evident to me that such a condition of affairs could only exist by reason of the offensive gases being given off at a consider- able height, so that they could be freely carried by the wind in any direction, and I naturally thought of the high chimneys as the source of the trouble.
At the works of the North Packing and Provision Company I found that no gases of any kind went into the chimney except those from the boiler fires ; but at the works of J. P. Squire & Co. I found there was a pipe leading from the condensers of the rendering tanks and from the fertilizer drier directly into the stack, a short distance above the fires.
In order to settle definitely the question whether any odor from the works entered the atmosphere through the chimney, I had placed, on both of the stacks, pipes, one end of which terminated inside the top of the chimney in a funnel-shaped enlargement, and the other end was near the ground, where the gases could be conveniently tested at any time.
The pipe on the chimney at North's was a one-inch iron pipe, from which smoke issued but slowly at the lower end ; but by means of an exhaust blower the gases could be brought down freely. As was expected, no odor was perceived at this pipe but that coming from the burning of soft coal.
On the chimney at Squire's a three-inch galvanized iron pipe was placed, which gave a constant downward current of smoke. Con- trary to my expectations, there has been at no time during the two
235
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
months that this pipe has been in place any odor at the outlet but that of smoke. This indicates either that no gases from the con- denser enter the stack or that, if they do enter it, they are changed beyond recognition by the time they issue at the top. I do not, however, consider the experiment concluded, for I have been unable to find out what is the construction of the condenser used at Squire's . works, and my request to have a cock put into the iron pipe leading into the chimney, that I might ascertain the character of the gases ( if any ) entering the chimney, was not complied with. The experiment, as far as it goes, simply proves that for a certain time the gases coming from the chimney at Squire's works did not have the offen- sive character which characterizes the works themselves.
I then directed my attention to the roofs of the two works to ascertain what odors could be recognized there. At Squire's the roof is directly over the floor where the fertilizer is dried and where the dead hogs are scalded, and I have always found the atmosphere here extremely offensive. This floor, to which the solid refuse from the tanks is brought in chain buckets from one of the lower floors to be pressed and dried, is, in appearance and odor, very repulsive. The steam and gases escape through open windows on the roof, and it is only a matter of the condition of the atmosphere and the direc- tion and force of the wind where the gases will be carried. I have repeatedly traced the odor from points to the leeward of the works directly to this roof at times when none of the rendering tanks were in operation. The odors coming from this drying floor are variable in character and intensity. They are the odors of decomposing animal matter, and are, sometimes, peculiarly disgusting. All the odors about the works may be, at times, found on this floor.
It is not only when the driers are in active operation that this upper floor is offensive. The large amount of fertilizer which is generally spread out to dry, combined with the odor with which the whole place is permeated, is sufficient to impregnate the atmosphere when windows are open. There is no doubt in my mind that the operations conducted on this upper floor, at the works of J. P. Squire & Co., are the direct source of offensive odors which are carried by the wind to distant points.
I am not now prepared to say to what extent the grease tanks and dead-hog tanks may also be a source of nuisance. I have already said that I have not been able to detect in the gases which
236
ANNUAL REPORTS.
issue from the top of the chimney at Squire's the odor which is characteristic of these tanks in operation. But I cannot say that the odor may not at times pass from the tanks to the chimney, when, for instance, the condensers are not in good working order, when the supply of water is deficient, or when substances unusually offensive are treated in the tanks.
The information which I could obtain concerning the connection of these tanks with the chimney is, as I have already intimated, not as complete as I could desire.
However this may be, there exists on the fertilizing floor at Squire's an adequate explanation for much, if not all, the trouble complained of.
The odor on the floor on which the tanks are charged at Squire's is often very disgusting, and it must be said that, in the general conduct of the operations at Squire's, there is a lack of cleanliness that produces both within the works and about the grounds repulsive odors, which might easily be avoided. It is not unreasonable that these products of decay about the works and grounds may, when particularly strong and abundant, be carried to a distance by the wind as well as the odors which escape from the upper story.
At the works of the North Packing and Provision Company there is no connection between the tanks and the chimney. All of the steam and gases from the tanks are, by means of efficient ejector- condensers, forced into the sewer, and I have not heard that the contents of the sewer were thereby rendered more obnoxious.
On the roof at North's the principal odor noticed is that which comes from the ventilators on the top of the hog-house. At times, when there are a great many hogs in this building, the odor is very strong, and might, I think, be carried by the wind to a long distance. One night when the hog-pen odor was well marked on Washington street, in East Somerville, I found the odor from these ventilators on the roof very strong. There were at this time about three thousand hogs in the building.
There is also to be noticed on the roof at North's the odor from the "skin room." This is peculiarly disagreeable, but I cannot think it would be perceived at any great distance from the works, as the room is not large and the amount of air escaping from it is very small. The odor from this room is not noticed on the roof unless one stands near the ventilator windows. There is here also the odor
237
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
from the ventilators over the scalding vats, which, as at Squire's, is not of sufficient volume to carry to any great distance.
The fertilizer drying room at North's is several floors below the roof, and no odor from this room can be perceived on the roof. The operations connected with the drying of the fertilizer at North's are very much less disagreeable than at Squire's, owing to the use of closed vessels, the steam and gases from which are drawn off by means of the condensers above mentioned.
It may, therefore, be said that the principal odor coming from the roof of North's works is that from the hog-house, and little or none from the operations carried on in the works.
It is only fair to say that the most scrupulous cleanliness is enforced in the works of the North Packing and Provision Company in all the rooms and about the grounds. I do not believe that it is possible to carry on works of this character with less offence than is done at these works. The disagreeable odors about these works are mainly those connected with making the fertilizer, and, owing to the methods employed at these works in this department, the odors are reduced to a minimum. The fact, moreover, that this operation is carried out on one of the lower floors renders it less likely that the odors will be carried by the wind to a long distance.
It is impossible to have large slaughtering houses in the heart of a city without creating more or less of a nuisance; it is inherent in the operations which are conducted there. I think, however, that with care in planning the details of the works and with vigilance in maintaining cleanliness, that the radius within which this nuisance will make itself felt may be very much restricted.
[ Signed ] THOMAS M. DROWN.
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, February 1, 1892.
PERMITS.
The record of permits to keep cows, swine, and goats, to collect grease, and for the removal of manure, is as follows : -
Cows. - Forty-six applications were received for permits to keep 250 cows. Thirty-eight permits were granted for keeping 212, and four applications were refused for permits to keep 23. One applica- tion for a permit to keep 3 was withdrawn, and two applications for
238
ANNUAL REPORTS.
permits to keep 7 remain undecided. No fee ischarged for these permits.
SWINE .- Forty-one applications were received for permits to keep 220 swine. Thirty-five permits were granted to keep 211, and the six remaining applications for permits for 9 swine were refused. The fee is $1 for each swine.
GOATS. - Fifteen applications were received for permits to keep 19 goats, and they all were granted. Fee for each goat, $1.
GREASE. - Five applications were received for permits to collect grease, all of which were granted. The fee is $2. Three of those licensed resided in Somerville, and two in Charlestown.
MANURE. - Two permits were issued during the year for the carting of manure through the city in the day-time between May 1 and November 1, and two were issued for the removal of manure from stables in the city in the day-time within the same period.
PEDLERS.
One hundred and five certificates were issued to hawkers and pedlers under the ordinance formerly numbered forty, but numbered thirty in the Revised Ordinances of 1891. This number, added to the number previously issued, which was 505, makes the total num- ber issued to the end of the year 1891, 610.
These certificates are not required to be renewed, but are good for an indefinite time, and a large number of those who have obtained them have ceased to carry on the business.
All pedlers are required to present their vehicles for inspection by the agent of the board at the police building monthly, so that the agent may see that the vehicle is kept clean and is properly marked with the owner's name and number.
ASHES.
Ashes and house-dirt were removed during the first half of the year by Owen Cunningham & Son, at the contract price of $3,119.00 per annum.
June 12, the following bids were received to remove the ashes and house-dirt for the year beginning July 1 :-
Martin Gill $4,680 00
Jeremiah McCarthy 4,600 00
John F. Elkins 4,250 00
And the contract was awarded to John F. Elkins for $4,250.00.
239
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
The collections are made weekly, and the six districts into which the city was divided in 1890 for this purpose are stated in detail in our last annual report. The days for collection and the lines of the districts remain the same as therein stated.
Materials for removal must be free from filth and offal, must be placed in barrels or boxes, and must be set on the outer edge of the sidewalk before 8 o'clock in the morning of the day when the collec- tion is to be made.
HOUSE OFFAL.
Mr. Henry Gray has removed the house offal during the year, under a three-years' contract, from June 26, 1889.
The contract requires that the offal be collected at least once every week in the months of December, January, February, and March; twice a week in April, October, and November ; and three times a week in May, June, July, August, and September.
We propose, after June 26 next, when the present contract will expire, to have the collections made, throughout the year, twice a week at all. dwelling-houses, and every day at all provision and fish stores, hotels, and restaurants.
We learn from Mr. Gray that the quantity collected in the year 1891 was about 625 cords.
NIGHT SOIL.
The removal of night soil has been made by Mr. R. M. Johnson, of Arlington, under a contract for three years from February 1, 1891, by the "Odorless " process.
An order book is kept at the Police Station on Bow street.
The contract price which the owner or occupant is charged is four dollars for every load, or part of a load, of eighty cubic feet.
The contractor reports that 470 loads were removed during the year.
DEATHS.
There were 781 deaths and thirty-three still-births in the city during the year, as specified in the following table : -
.
240
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1891.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES. Miasmatic.
Scarlet fever
Diphtheria .
Croup
Typhoid fever
1
2
11
Erysipelas
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
61
Septicæmia .
Whooping cough
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Rheumatism
1
Surgical operation on leg
CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.
Diathetic.
Cancer
1
2
2
1
2
1
3 1
3 1
-
1
23
Tumor
1
1
1
1
-
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
-
2
13
Tuberculosis
LOCAL DISEASES.
Nervous System.
Apoplexy
6
2
3
1
3
1
1
4
2
1
-
1
8
Insanity .
1
2
1
1
-
1 2
1
1
1
2
29
Convulsions
2
1
4
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
3
21
Spinal disease
Epilepsy .
Organs of Circulation.
Heart disease
7
10
4
5
4
9
1
5
4
8 1 00
5 1 0
6 19
1
Respiratory Organs.
Pneumonia
14
5
9
6
8
2
2
2
2 2
6
5 2
16
77
Bronchitis
3
2
6
1
3
-
-
1
4
-
2
11
Hemorrhage
5
9
5
7
8
12
4
5
3
7
6
8
79
Pleurisy .
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
5
Laryngitis
1
1
1
1
1
Pulmonary edema
Digestive Organs.
Gastritis .
Peritonitis
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
10
Obstruction of bowels
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
12
Hernia
1
1
ʻ
1
ʹ
-
1
Cholera Morbus
-
1
-
-
1
2
1
1
Cholera infantum
1
1
1
1
1
7
Dysentery
Measles
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
9
Dropsy
Lympho Adenoma
1
-
-
1
1
-
1
1
1
1
-
-
1
1
-
-
4 1
5
22
Paralysis
2
16
Brain disease
4
5
2
4
4
3
-
-
-
1
1
1
2
Embolism in leg
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
Influenza
Congestion of lungs
1
.
I
1
I
1
1
1 1
1
1
1
9
Liver disease
1
1
2
Inflammation of bowels
1
-
2
Appendicitis
1 1
-
11
1
1
1
2
1
4
Diarrhœa
9
2
34
19
5
1
3
1
2
1
- 1
1
1
1
2
1 1
1
-
1
-
3
Asthma .
1
3
1
1
5
1
1
1
2
2
23
Phthisis pulmonalis .
1
1
.
-
2
18
1
5
1
3
1
1
Tubercular.
1
3
68
1
1
9
Meningitis
1
6
-
241
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1891. - Continued.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Genito-Urinary Organs.
Bright's disease
Diabetes
2
Cystitis
Nephritis
1
1
1
Childbirth
Eclampsia
DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.
Of Children.
Inanition
1
3
2
1
2
2
4
7
6
2
1
31
Premature 'birth' and' congenital
debility
6
2
5
4
4
46
Rachitis .
1
1
Of Old People.
Old age
2
2
3
5 1 CT
1
1
3
3
4
6 10
1
4
35
General debility
1
3
1
2
1
2
VIOLENT DEATHS.
Railroad .
Accidental hanging
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
Sunstroke
1
1
-
1
1
Alcoholism
1
1
Fracture of skull
1
Fracture of thigh
1
1
Crushed by falling derrick
-
-
1
1
Total
71
66
60
67
56
58
89
65
61
67
55
72
781
Stillborn
3
3
2
4
1
3
3
2
2
6
1
3
33
Population ( estimated )
Death rate per thousand
42,668 18
1
-
1
1
-
2
1
1
5
Asphyxia
1
Unknown
1
2
Broken back
1
1
1
1
8
Uræmia
1
1
ʹ
2
3
1
1
1
1
8 1 00
5
3
4
1
1
1
1
1
-
-
1
2
1
.
DISEASES DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
This board has adjudged small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus fever, and typhoid fever to be contagious and dangerous to the public health, within the meaning of the statute. Our city has been free from small-pox and from typhus fever for several years past. Physicians are required to report immediately to the board every case of either of these diseases coming under their care, and postal cards, conveniently printed and addressed, are supplied to them for the purpose.
9
1
11
242
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SCARLET FEVER. - 127 cases of scarlet fever, generally of a mild type, were reported to us during the year, 2 of which resulted fatally. This was a reduction from the number in 1890, when there were 161 cases and 5 deaths.
We place a warning card at the entrance to the dwelling as soon as a case is reported, and fumigate the premises after its termination.
DIPHTHERIA. - This disease has also been somewhat less preva- lent than in the preceding year. In 1891 there were 72 cases re- ported and 18 deaths, while in 1890 the cases reported numbered 117, and the deaths 21.
Warning cards are used in dealing with this disease, and we fumigate, the same as in cases of scarlet fever. An inspection of the premises is made by the agent of the board, and any sanitary .defects discovered are required to be remedied as soon as practicable.
TYPHOID FEVER. - In 1891 there were 54 cases of typhoid fever reported and 11 deaths; an increase over the previous year, when there were 37 cases and 10 deaths.
A sanitary inspection of the house and surroundings is made in all cases of this disease. We do not, however, fumigate or use a warning card.
TABLES. - The prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in the city during the several months of the year 1891 is shown by the following table, and in the table next following is given the number of deaths from these three diseases by months during the last ten years : -
243
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER REPORTED IN 1891.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
MONTHS.
Cases
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage
of Deaths.
Cases
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage of Deaths.
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage of Deaths.
January
11
-
-
2
50
3
33
February
4
March
5
1
1
100
April
10
15
1
6
7
1
June .
14
1
7
4
2
1
August
8
10
14
2
14
October
7
1
-
-
-
8
3
37
2
-
Total .
127
2
1
72
18
25
54
11
20
DEATHS FROM SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
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