Report of the city of Somerville 1892, Part 16

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 554


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1892 > Part 16


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52 lbs.


Average back-water pressure


37 lbs.


The following is a list of all the supplies, tools, furniture, etc., at the High-service Pumping Station December 31, 1892: -


Cylinder oil, 6 gallons.


Machine oil, 8 gallons.


Lard oil, 5 gallons.


Waste, 100 lbs.


230 paper ferrules.


TOOLS.


1 bench vice.


1 grindstone.


1 truck.


1 gate wrench.


1 service wrench.


1 ratchet wrench.


1 hand saw.


1 hand axe.


1 chisel bar.


2 lanterns.


2 floor brushes.


2 step ladders.


2 copper oil cans, 10 gallons each.


1 iron wheelbarrow.


1 coal car.


.


.


274


ANNUAL REPORTS.


FIRE TOOLS.


1 hoe.


1 slice bar.


1 fire shovel. 2 fire hooks.


All in good repair.


FURNITURE.


1 iron safe.


1 writing desk.


1 writing table.


10 chairs.


2 brooms.


1 floor brush.


1 bench brush.


2 water pails.


1 dust brush.


1 length of inch hose.


The following supplies have been received during the year end- ing December 31, 1892 : -


From Star Brass Mfg. Co., 12 water glasses.


H. R. Worthington, 1 set of rubber valves for air pump.


Water Office, 1 bench brush, 1 package of gold dust, 2 boxes of pomade, 2 cans of Britman's oil polish, 1 broom, 1 floor brush.


H. R. Worthington, 1 steam chest cover for air pump. Boston Bolt Co., 15 bolts.


W. F. Law, 10 gallons of cylinder oil, 24 inches of ring pack- ing for air and feed pumps.


A. W. Russell, 1 tube brush.


H. R. Worthington, 36 springs.


Water Office, 1 box of pomade, 1 package of gold dust, 1 can of Britman's oil polish.


H. R. Worthington, 250 paper ferrules for condenser.


Water Office, 6 towels, 12 yard of Canton flannel, 10 yards sheeting, 3 webs of fly netting.


A. W. Russell, 1 bale of waste, 230 lbs.


H. R. Worthington, 10 feet of 1/2 inch Tupper's packing for air pump.


Water Office, 5 feet of 18 rubber for cylinder head.


W. F. Law, 10 gallons of cylinder oil, 10 gallons of machine oil, 48 inches of Garlock's ring packing for air and feed pumps, 1 piece of small packing for valve stems.


R. T. Barr, 30 lbs. of sal-soda, 1 box of soda ash.


275


REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.


I wish to express my thanks to the members of the board for their confidence in me, and to the superintendent for many favors and hearty co-operation in the work of this department.


Yours respectfully, SIDNEY E. HAYDEN, Engineer.


REPORT


OF THE


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, February 8, 1893. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, February 15, 1893. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


BOARD OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


HON. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Chairman, ex officio.


NATHAN H. REED


Ward One.


EDWARD B. WEST


· Ward Two.


JAMES G. HINCKLEY


. Ward Three.


CHARLES G. BRETT, President .


Ward Four.


COMMITTEES:


On Investigation and Relief


MR. BRETT AND MR. WEST.


On Finance


MR. REED AND MR. HINCKLEY.


CHARLES C. FOLSOM, General Agent.


FRANK W. KAAN, Secretary. ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D., City Physician.


Office : Police Building, Bow Street.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Somer- ville : -


GENTLEMEN, - The Board of Overseers of the Poor herewith presents its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1892.


The membership has remained unchanged, except in Ward Three, where Mr. Stillson had faithfully served for several years, but owing to failing health he refused a re-election, and Mr. James G. Hinckley was elected in his place in April.


Mr. F. W. Kaan, who has been secretary of the board for five years, has resigned. This we consider a loss to the board, as he has been very efficient and accurate in his work.


C. C. Folsom, general agent for the last eight years, still attends to his duties in a faithful and satisfactory manner.


During the year a house that had been donated to the city by Ann McKone was destroyed by fire, and $300 was received by this department for insurance. Later in the year we sold the land on which the house stood for $460. This also was credited to the sup- port of poor account. In October Nathaniel C. Woodman sent for the general agent and paid him $200 for the city, it being in part payment for aid rendered to him during the last twelve years.


These amounts aggregate nearly $1,000, so that our appropria- tion for 1893 must be at least $1,000 more than it was for 1892, if we spend no more in this department; but owing to the increase in popu- lation, it is fair to assume that we shall be called upon to spend more money for the poor in the ensuing year than for the year just closed.


281


REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


For the detailed statement of our work we will refer you to the following tables.


Respectfully submitted,


(Signed ) WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Chairman, ex officio. NATHAN H. REED, Ward One. EDWARD B. WEST, Ward Two. JAMES G. HINCKLEY, Ward Three. CHARLES G. BRETT, President, Ward Four.


282


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLE No. I.


· PARTIAL SUPPORT (OUT-DOOR RELIEF


Families aided . 184


Persons aided


739


Burials


17


Permits to the Tewksbury almshouse


.


8


TABLE No. 2.


FULL SUPPORT DURING THE YEAR.


In almshouses .


15


" private families


17


" Boston hospitals .


18


" Massachusetts School for the Feeble-minded


4


" House of the Angel Guardian


2


Insane persons in private families


" hospitals


45


TABLE No. 3.


FULL SUPPORT AT PRESENT TIME, DECEMBER 31, 1892.


In out-of-town almshouses


11


" private families 66 66 children .


10


.


5


Insane in hospitals (we are reimbursed for 2)


34


66 " private families .


·


5


TABLE No. 4.


RECAPITULATION.


Appropriation


$14,000 00


Reimbursements


3,099 90


Total receipts


$17,099 90


Total expenditures


17,015 30


Balance


$84 60


Net expenditures


13,915 40


·


.


5


.


·


.


283


REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


TABLE No. 5. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


$958 98


City of Boston


276 54


" Cambridge


" Newburyport


2 00


66


" Gloucester


4 85


" Woburn


23 75


66


" Lowell


28 00


" New Bedford


61 73


66 Waltham .


15 00


Town of Lexington


72 00


Stoneham


52 32


" Sandwich


4 00


" Revere


70 75


" Arlington


2 00


66


" Milford .


8 95


Guardians and relatives


439 23.


Insurances on McKone house


300 00


Land sold on South street


460 00


N. C. Woodman


.


200 00


.


119 80


.


$3,099 90


TABLE No. 6. EXPENDITURES IN DETAIL FOR THE YEAR 1892.


1892.


Rent.


Board.


Groceries.


Towns and Cities.


Public Institutions.


Boots and Shoes.


Dry Goods.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Totals.


January .


$87 86


$99 69


$239 34


$534 14


$1,755 26


$3 75


$10 00


$120 83


$125 45


$44 98


$3,021 30


February


82 29


99 21


169 50


441 51


334 97


32 50


10 00


120 83


104 73


12 70


1,408 24


March


82 86


220 40


166 00


69 88


981 50


4 75


$3 00


15 00


195 84


94 04


13 50


1,846 77


April


87 57


78 93


204 26


200 91


768 47


4 75


2 50


10 00


145 83


36 69


1,539 91


May


81 86


73 40


45 50


13 71


-


30 00


145 83


32 91


423 21


June


118 07


215 58


110 00


8 15


942 44


27 50


4 00


45 00


145 84


14 62


1,631 20


July


76 86


81 00


61 63


166 75


572 77


-


-


145


83


29 20


1,156 49


August


76 86


81 26


99 00


207 40


172 46


20 00


145 83


00


808 81


September


76 57


220 79


161 38


58 98


642 03


2 00


75 00


145 84


4 95


1,387 54


October


83 86


95 76


154 76


83 86


770 68


14 75


145 83


45 62


96 45


1,491 57


November


79 57


93 51


104 36


289 00


1 50


25 00


145 83


19 95


758 72


December


79 86


239 75


84 00


633 37


48 00


15 75


7 12


145 84


176 19


111 66


1,541 54


Totals ·


$1,014 09


$1,599 28


$1,599 73


$2,404 95


$7,291 29


$107 25


$39 07


$240 00


$1,750 00


$546 03


$423 61


$17,015 30


TABLE No. 7. GROSS EXPENDITURES FROM 1883 TO 1892, INCLUSIVE.


1883. $15,959 80


1884. $17,272 52


1885. $16,430 32


1886. $14,341 83


1887. $13,430 89


1888. $13,375 98


1889. $14,610 92


1890. $15,261 14


1891. $15,980 49


1892. $17,015 30


.


.


.


.


-


1


·


-


·


-


1


-


22 45


-


REPORT


OF THE


BOARD OF HEALTH.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, February 1, 1893. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, February 1, 1893. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, January 25, 1893.


To the Honorable the Mayor and the City Council : -


GENTLEMEN,- We respectfully submit the following as the fifteenth annual report of the Board of Health, in which is presented a statement, tabulated and otherwise, of the sanitary condition of the city and the business of the board for the year ending December 31, 1892 :-


ORGANIZATION.


Chairman, J. FRANK WELLINGTON.


Clerk, WILLIAM P. MITCHELL.


Agent, CALEB A. PAGE.


Charles H. Crane was reappointed a member of the board for two years.


NUISANCES.


A record of nuisances abated during the year, in compliance with notices issued by the board or under the board's direction, is presented in the following table, under the heads of the months when the complaints were made : -


288


ANNUAL REPORTS.


NUISANCES ABATED IN THE YEAR 1892.


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


-


Cellar damp


1


1


1


2


1


4


1


-


-


23.


Cellar open


Cesspool offensive


-


1


1


-


1


1


1


5


Connections of drainage pipes de- fective .


1


2


1


3


4


5


L


18


Connections or gas-pipes defective


Cows allowed on streets and side- walks


Decomposed meat offensive


I


1


1


4


4


1


17


Drainage emptying on surface


3


1


2


3


6 3 3


2 2 3


1 1


11


Hennery offensive


1


1


6


1


4


6


10


8


1


1


I


1


Offal on land


1


1


1


13


Offensive odor in and about dwel- lings


3


2


4


1


25


Open cellar under stable


Opening in drain-pipe in cellar


Pigs kept without license


Premises filthy


1


12


1


3 4


1


-


6 12


4 11 22


1


139


Privy-vault offensive


13


3


20


11


24 30


20


19


63


38 1


1 1


1


Rubbish in cellar


Sewage flowing under floor


1


2


1


1 1 IHIHI


1


1


1


2 1 HINI


3


1 1


-


6


Stable without drainage


Stagnant water in house cellar


3


-


ʻ


1


1


2


1


3


-


-


2 12


1


23


Water-closet insufficiently supplied with water


1


2


3


1


-


17


Water-closet offensive


Water in cellar


1


1


I


1


1


1


Total


92


5


22


107


37


79


70


63


195


134


14


6


824


1


1


1


Į


1


1


2


Dogs kept in kitchen


3


1


1


2


1


1


2


1


-


1


1


4


Manure exposed and offensive


3


48 2


Manure-pit defective


1


1 HIIH 1


1


2


1


1


1


1


35


Privy-vault full


11


3


19


5


18


4


32


1


2


7


Slops thrown on surface


Stable infected with glanders


1


1


1


1


3


Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive


Stagnant water on surface


Ventilation under steps offensive


Waste-pipe defective


Waste-pipe not trapped


6


1


1


1 7


1


I


27


Water-closet defective


10


2


1


2


1


3


2


1


-


-


2 30


Privy-vault defective


3


3


1


1


1


1


2


5


Manure-pit too close to house


1


1


1 2


27


Drainage not ventilated


1


11


Drain-pipe defective


1


2


Goats kept without a license


1 1 HH HIIO 1


-


-


-


1


-


2


2


6


Cesspool overflowing


1


ʼ


1


1


-


1


3


1


1


-


3


Drainage defective


15


Drainage emptying into cellar


3 2


-


-


4


7


8


Premises untidy


Removal of bodies of animals


burned at fires


1


1


7


4


Sewer-gas in house


1


-


1


3


2


1


1


2


1


3


4


5


1


1


8


-


5


2


-


-


-


-


-


1


-


1 5


16


3


9


1


1


218


1


1


Hens kept in cellar


289


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


Number of nuisances abated . 824


referred to board of 1893 381


66


66 complained of 1,205


complaints ( many covering more than one nui- sance ) 584


66


tenements ordered vacated


5


66


notices mailed


579


66


served by constables


5


Many nuisances 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. - As was stated in the report of this board for the year 1891, this outlet is in a very offensive state. The drainage of a large part of Winter Hill empties, on the north- easterly 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. At its lower end, it collects at times and causes a nuisance, which should be attended to at the very earliest possible convenience.


SEWER AT CLARENDON HILL, WEST SOMERVILLE. - There is great need of sewerage in Jay, Elmwood, Cameron, and Gorham streets, West Somerville. At the lower end of these streets there are no sewers, and the abutters are obliged to drain on the surface, which necessarily creates a nuisance. In the opinion of this board, sewers should be constructed as soon as possible in this locality.


SLAUGHTERING AND RENDERING ESTABLISHMENTS.


During the past year the Board of Aldermen have granted a license for rendering to C. M. Hinckley, and a license to slaughter and render to the New England Dressed Meat & Wool Company. There are now located within the limits of the city three of the larg-


290


ANNUAL REPORTS.


est slaughtering establishments in the country. To reduce to the minimum the disagreeable features inherent to business of this nature, it is necessary that the closest supervision should be had of them all, and to this end we would suggest that this board be given authority to employ a suitable person, who should devote all his time to the inspection of these and kindred works, believing that the results to be obtained will be beneficial to the city.


CLEANLINESS OF THE CITY.


In September last, fully realizing the importance of extra vigilance on account of the threatened cholera epidemic, the board gave un- usual attention to the cleanliness and sanitary condition of the city. Extra inspectors were employed, two of the sergeants and seven patrolmen of the police force were appointed emergency officers of the board, and to further assist us in our work an appeal was issued to the citizens for co-operation, and the results accomplished were so highly satisfactory that we believe the city was never in a better sanitary condition than at present.


FILLING FROM SOMERVILLE AVENUE.


During the past year South, Columbia, Harrison, Hanson, Clark, Durham, Skehan, Granite, and Bennett streets, and Carey and Conlon courts have been graded and filled with the macadam filling taken from Somerville avenue.


PERMITS.


The record of permits to keep cows, swine, and goats, to collect grease, and for the removal of manure, is as follows : -


Cows. - Thirteen applications were received for permits to keep fifty-two cows. No fee is charged for these permits.


SWINE .- Twenty-nine applications were received for permits to keep 201 swine. Twenty-seven permits were granted to keep 196 swine, and the two remaining applications for permits for five swine were refused. The fee is $1 for each swine.


291


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


GOATS. - Eleven applications were received for permits to keep twelve goats, all of which were granted. Fee for each goat, $1.


GREASE. - Three applications were received for permits to collect grease, which were granted. The fee is $2. Two of those licensed reside in Somerville, and one 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 eight were issued for the removal of manure from stables in the city in the day-time within the same period. No fee is charged for these permits.


PEDLERS.


One hundred and two certificates were issued to hawkers and pedlers under the ordinance numbered thirty of the Revised Ordi- nances of 1891.


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 John F. Elkins, at the contract price of $4,250 per annum.


On June 15 the following proposals were received to collect the ashes and house-dirt for the year commencing July 1, 1892 :-


Owen Cunningham & Son $8,500 00


T. F. Crimmings


6,200 00


Martin Gill .


6,150 00


John F. Elkins


5,865 00


Henry Gray


5,000 00


Jeremiah McCarthy


4,500 00


And the contract was awarded to Jeremiah McCarthy for $4,500.00.


292


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The collections are made weekly in each of the six districts : -


Monday in District 1. Tuesday in District 2. Wednesday in District 3. Thursday in District 4. Friday in District 5. Saturday in District 6.


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.


In March proposals were issued upon the same terms as in years past, requiring the contractor to furnish all wagons, sleds, etc., used in the performance of the work, and but one bid was received, from Henry Gray, for $7,400. This was rejected, and in the latter part of the same month second proposals were issued, with the modification, however, that the city would furnish all wagons, sleds, etc., and in response the following bids were received to remove house offal for two years, from June 26 :-


Jeremiah McCarthy $7,500 00 per year.


Henry Gray 7,400 00


John F. Elkins 6,900 00 66


Martin Gill


6,850 00 66


And the contract was awarded to Martin Gill.


The board then purchased of Henry Gray five second-hand wagons and three sleds for $550, and one wagon of Christopher Burke for $65. One new wagon has been ordered of A. S. Symmes, of Medford, which is to be delivered early next season.


The new contractor finding it impossible to obtain a suitable place for dumping the offal, the Board of Health finally leased for a term of two years a lot of land on Melrose street, belonging to H. S. Pond, and sub-let the same to Martin Gill, the contractor.


The work of this department for the past year has not been done


293


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


to the satisfaction of the board, some of it occasioned, no doubt, by the change of contractor, and his unfamiliarity with the work.


The board is of the opinion that it will be for the best interests of the city to assume, as soon as possible, the entire charge of the collection and disposal of house offal.


The amount of offal collected during the year 1892 was about 674 cords.


NIGHT SOIL.


The removal of night soil has been made by R. M. Johnson, of Arlington, and has been carried on by the " Odorless" process.


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.


About 507 loads have been removed during the past year.


An order book is kept at the Police Station on Bow street.


DEATHS.


There were 718 deaths and forty-seven still-births in the city during the year, as specified in the following table : -


294


ANNUAL REPORTS.


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1892.


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


ZYMOTIC DISEASES. Miasmatic.


Scarlet fever


Diphtheria .


8


Typhoid fever


11


Erysipelas


1


3


Diarrhea


Cholera infantum


37


Septicemia .


1


1


1


1


1


6


Dysentery


Rheumatism


CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.


.


Diathetic.


Cancer


3


1


3 1


1


1


20


Tumor


Tubercular.


Tuberculosis


1


-


1


-


-


1


1


3


1


1


8


LOCAL DISEASES.


Nervous System.


Apoplexy


Paralysis


Insanity .


1


2


10


Brain disease


1


1


3


3


3


2


4


31


Convulsions


3


1


1


1


2


1


1


1


1


12


Spinal disease


Hemiplegia


Organs of Circulation.


Heart disease


11


6 10


6 19


5


1


6


5


76


Aneurism


1


Angina pectoris


Cyanosis


1


1


1


Respiratory Organs.


Pneumonia .


28


5


4


5


6 1 9112


1


2


1


1


17


Phthisis pulmonalis


15


9


10


9


9


10


9


13


9


8


6


113


Pleurisy .


Asthma .


Influenza


1


12


Laryngitis


Congestion of lungs


1


1


I


1


-


1


Digestive Organs.


Gastritis


Peritonitis


1


Liver disease


Gastric ulcer


1


I


1


1


1


9


Intestinal catarrh


I


Jaundice


1


Cholera Morbus


1


-


2


1


1


2


1


1


2


Whooping cough


ʻ


I


1


I


2


1 H


1 00


-


1


1


1


1


-


-


1


1


1


1 7


4 3


8


67


Bronchitis


12


5


1


1


1


31


Hemorrhage


3


1


2


2


3


1


1


1


1


1


-


1


1


TTHHINTHA


1


-


-


2 4


1


4


1


2


19


2


1


3


10


Meningitis


7


3


2


4


1


-


1


-


-


-


-


-


12


7


-


1


Enteritis


1191HHI


1


1


3


IHNIHHO


1


2.


1


-


17


Phlebetis


1 1 1-10-11


1


3


1


2


1


INTH


3


1


3


1


-


18


3.


1


14


295


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1892. - Continued.


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


Genito-Urinary Organs.


Bright's disease


Diabetes


Cystitis


Nephritis


1


Uræmia


Childbirth


1


1


1


1


DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.


Of Children.


Inanition


Premature


birth and congenital


debility


3


2


2


3


4


1


2


3


3


1


1


2


27


Of Old People.


Old age


12


1


5


3


3


3


1


3


1


2


1


35


General debility


Gangrene


I


-


1


-


1


1


1


VIOLENT DEATHS.


Railroad .


Suicide, hanging


Asphyxia


3


Sunstroke


Accidental drowning


Fall on stairs


Alcoholism


Fracture of skull, accident


1


1


3


Fracture of skull, suicide


Concussion of brain


Fracture of sterum and ribs


I


1


-


1


UNCLASSIFIED.


Abscess .


1


1


I


I


-


-


1


Anæmia


1


1


1


1


5


Carbuncle


Chlorosis


1


Exhaustion


1


1


1


2


Total


118


58


55


51


54


56


64


58


54


56


47


47


718


Stillborn


3


6


3


6


3


3


3


4


2


3


1


7


47


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


1


I


I


İ


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


I


Population ( estimated ) Death rate per thousand


46,037 15.6


-


I


1


1


1


1


1


1


4


1


1


1


1


I


1


Metritis .


1


-


1


5


2


1


3


1


1


2


1


1


2


1


1


14


3


2


5


1


1


296


ANNUAL REPORTS.


DISEASES DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH.


This board has adjudged small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhus 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, con- veniently printed and addressed, are supplied to them for the purpose.


SCARLET FEVER. - 371 cases of scarlet fever, generally of a mild type, were reported to us during the year, 14 of which resulted fatally .. This is an increase over 1891, when there were 127 cases and 2 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. - There has been a considerable decrease in the number of cases of this disease, there being only 39 cases and 8 deaths in 1892, while in 1891 there were 72 cases and 18 deaths.


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 also made by the agent of the board, and any sanitary defects discovered are required to be remedied as soon as practicable.


TYPHOID FEVER. - In 1892 there were 74 cases of typhoid fever reported and 11 deaths; a slight increase over the previous year, when there were 54 cases and 11 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.


The following report of the investigations in regard to the causes which led to the unusual prevalence of typhoid fever in Somerville in the early fall has been prepared by the Board of Health : -


In the last week of August of the present year the attention of the board was drawn to an unusual appearance of typhoid fever in Somerville. A brief investigation showed that there was danger of a serious epidemic, and, as the cause of the trouble was not apparent, the board appealed for assistance in its inquiry to the State Board of Health. The latter responded promptly, and instituted a most care-


297


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


ful and thorough investigation. Much time was necessarily occupied in tracing the cause of the disease, and the State Board has not yet prepared its final report. The following letter, however, has been received by us : -


OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, BOSTON, Mass., October 6, 1892.


To the Board of Health of Somerville: -


GENTLEMEN, - I am instructed by the State Board of Health to inform you that this board has carefully investigated the recent out- break of typhoid fever in Somerville, and finds that it was probably due to the use of infected milk, which had been accidentally con- taminated by a local milkman, who was suffering with typhoid fever. Since the special contamination and the fever subsided several weeks ago, no further anxiety from this source need be felt by the citizens. A full report will be published in the near future.


Respectfully yours,


SAMUEL W. ABBOTT, Secretary.


The State Board of Health, through its chairman, has also placed at our disposal all the information in its possession, and from Pro- fessor W. T. Sedgwick, biologist of the board, who personally con. ducted the inquiry, we have obtained the following details : -


During the twenty-one days between August 20 and September 10 there were reported to the Board of Health of Somerville no less than thirty-five cases of typhoid fever. It was found that one of these was an infected case ; one was a very old case tardily reported ; and one was probably a secondary case. Deducting these, we have thirty-two primary and indigenous cases to be accounted for. In respect to water supply and ice supply, these persons did not appear to be differently situated from the majority of the citizens of Somer- ville. They also had essentially the same air supply and sewerage as their neighbors, all of whom remained unaffected.




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