Report of the city of Somerville 1892, Part 17

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 17


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28


The only supply which they are nearly all known to have had in common, and which the majority of the citizens of Somerville did not share with them, was the milk supply. It was observed very early that many of the families in which the cases occurred took milk from the same source. Careful inquiry proved that thirty out of the thirty- two cases had access to milk coming from one establishment. In the absence of any other probable cause, it was, therefore, concluded that the outbreak was due to infected milk.


298


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Inspection of the farms from which the milk appears to have come, however, not only revealed no cause for the fever, but showed these dairies to be unusually clean and well-kept. Upon one milk farm in the same town there was found one case of typhoid fever, but there was no evidence that the milk from the farm had had any- thing to do with typhoid fever in Somerville. In short, there was good reason to believe that the milk upon its arrival in Somerville was uninfected.


But if the milk was free from the germs of typhoid fever upon its arrival, it must have become infected while in the hands of the local dealers. It was known that one of these was among those affected with typhoid fever, but his case had been reported after many of the other cases, so that at first he was thought to have merely shared in the common misfortune. Closer investigation, however, revealed the fact that his illness really dated from a period early enough to have enabled him unwittingly to have infected the milk, and thus to have been the unconscious cause of the outbreak. Pro- fessor Sedgwick, after the most exhaustive investigation, has con- cluded that this was probably, in fact, what happened. It was affirmed that this patient had never actually handled the milk, but had only washed the cans and distributed a part of them to his cus- tomers. It was also objected that the cases were chiefly confined to Central Hill, while the route of the milk establishment extended over a much larger section of the city. But it may well be doubted if the operations of "tasting," "mixing," "setting up," etc., which took place at the central establishment after most of the milk had been carried there from the train upon which it arrived, were really so conducted as to exclude the possibility of infection of the milk by a person working in the same room and suffering with incipient typhoid fever. The appearance of most of the cases on Central Hill, comparatively near the milk-house in which the patient worked until he was obliged to go to bed, was readily explained when it was learned that some customers were often supplied with milk which had not been in the milk-house at all, but was delivered directly after its arrival upon the train. That this milk appears to have produced no fever, while that which unquestionably came through the milk- house appears to have been infected, strengthens the probability that the milk-house was the place where the contamination occurred. It


299


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


is also to be observed that after the milkman who had the fever took to his bed the trouble ceased.


TABLES. - The prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in the city during the several months of the year 1892 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 : -


300


ANNUAL REPORTS.


SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER REPORTED IN 1892.


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


20


-


-


5


40


February


42


-


3


4.7


8


2


25


1


April


77


2


2.6


6


2


33.3


2


May .


73


4


5.4


4


1


25


1


1


-


June .


19


July .


16


1


6.2


3


2


1


50


August .


5


-


1


-


-


1


-


8


3


37.5


November .


18


December .


21


3


14.2


1


I


-


1


-


Total .


371


14


3.7


39


8


20.5


74


11


14.8


DEATHS FROM SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


1883.


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


1888.


1889.


1890.


1891.


1892.


1883


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


1888.


1889.


1890.


1891.


1892.


1883.


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


1889.


1890


1891.


1892.


January


2


1


-


-


2


1


2


1


1


2


2


2


2


2


-


-


3


1


3


2


February .


March


April


5


1


1


1


1


4


1


2


'2


4


-


1


6


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1 2


2


1


1


September


1


1


1


1


4


3


2


1


1


1


3


2


3


1


4


2


1


2


4


October


1


1


6


2


11


1


1


4


5


2


1


4


1


3


4


2


1


1


2


3


1


1


3


December


1


1


10


-


1


3


5


1


4


3


2


1


5


2


3


1


1


-


1


Total .


6


8 14


3 31 15


7


5


2 14 31 21 28 20 11 21


28 21 18


8


13


8 11


3 11 17


7 10 11 11


-


1


-


1


-


-


September .


5


25


4


16


October


12


1


8.3


1


2


1


50


4


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


1


3


3


1


6


1


2


1


1


3


2


1


1


2


1


1


1


1


3


1


2


2


2


2


1


2


1


4


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


2


-


1


1


1


1


2


2


1


2


3


4


2


3


3


3


1


2


1


3


1


1


2


3


November


1


3


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


4


1


June


2


1


1


1


3


1


July


August


2 1 1 1 IHIHHIN


1


1


1


3


4


2


May


1


2


-


1


1


1


1 1 1


3 1 00


-


-


2


66.6


March


-


-


-


26


1


3.8


-


-


-


-


1 11


1 1


1


1888.


0


2


3


Cases


MAP OF SOMERVILLE


1893


SHOWING HEALTH DISTRICTS. 4


3000


3500


4000


4500


0 200 400 600 400 1000


I ALE


RAILROAD,


M


F


D


R


D


MALL


I


AVE


BOSTON


AND


BOSTON


LOWELL


COLLEGE


LNPZ


IN+ 6.


Nº 5.


AYE


AVE.


SAY


Nº 19.


V.


HARWICH TT


ROA


ALPINE IT.


axroma


RION


X


AWANYM


MOINSD


V


BRASION


TLAK


NOSENIS


k.1.2


ARLINGTON


A


SANTHELL ATE


PORTA


77M0 7


II


IV


Nº 22


NPI6.


SOMERVILLE


IN913.


LINK


Nº12.


C


A


M


B


R


I


D


E


MYSTIC


RIVER.


ST.


VIII


MYSTIC


AVE.


S


AUSSEN


T


0


BROADWAY


N


MAIN


OAKLAND


TUFTS


COLLEGE


NỘIS.


N113.


SPAMManas


PEARSON


DEAN


AVEA


GARENS


AIL


AVE.


ST


WAAL ST


TIEM


AND


HIGH


HAWON


RUMAS


C


SEWERS SHOWN THUS


LEX


HELIOTYPE PRINTING CA, BOSTON


MBRIDGE.


MILLER


AVE


RAYMOND


SADETON SI


ARLINGTO


VOUNE


₹.500


BROADM


N.1.


ASTER


301


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


DISTRICTS.


The accompanying map shows the boundaries of the ten health districts into which the city was divided by the Board of Health of 1878 ; also the locations of common sewers.


A record has been kept from year to year of the number of deaths, the death rate per thousand, the prevalence of dangerous diseases, and the number of nuisances abated in these several dis- tricts, and is continued in the following tables.


The estimated population in the several districts was originally based on the number of assessed polls in each, and upon the popula- tion of the entire city, as shown by the census every five years ; it being assumed that the growth in population has been at the same rate as the increase in the number of assessed polls, and has been uniform throughout the city.


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


Districts


I.


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. .


8,405


8,205


3,162


5,589


8,859


1,921


4,806


1,410


2,568


1,112


46,037


Dwellings .


1,310


1,221


578


932.


1,446


527


833


368


556


329


8,100


Average in each dwelling . . .


6.4


6.7


5.4


6


6.1


3.7


5.8


3.8


4.6


3.4


5.7


YEAR.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Deaths.


per 1,100.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Deaths.


Rate


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


1883


138


26


59


12


49


25


60


17


76


14


40


33


51


17


17


19


28


18


9


13


527


18


1884 .


148


27


55


10


42


20


52


14


69


12


32


25


35


11


14


15


27


16


8


11


482


16


1885 .


152


28


56


11


40


19


72


20


78


14


31


24


53


17


13


14


25


15


11


15


531


18


1886 .


115


20


51


9


38


17


59


15


85


14


37


28


44


co


11


11


20


11


19


24


479


15


1887


182


29


54


9


45


19


81


19


87


13


37


25


62


17


20


19


26


14


12


14


606


18


1888 .


148


23


68


11


44


00


62


14


117


18


33


22


50


16


14


28


14


13


15


579


16


1889.


125


16


67


9


48


17


85


17


105


14


28


17


62


19


15


26


12


17


17


582


15


1890 .


140


19


69


9


48


17


94


19


139


18


46


27


59


14


27


22


26


12


15


15


663


16


1891 .


169


22


71


9


68


23


103


20


120


15


75


42


77


17


33


25


33


14


12


12


761


18


1892 .


139


17


75


9


42


13


76


14


144


16


65


34


59


12


27


19


44


17


25


22


696


16


Average death rate per 1,000 for ten years.


23


10


19


17


15


28


15 -


17


14


16


17


·


In 1892.


.


.


Rate


Deaths.


Rate


Rate


Number of


Rate


Rate


Rate


Rate


Number of


per 1,000.


-


Cr co


303


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN SOMERVILLE IN 1892, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.


CONSUMP- - TION.


HEART DISEASE.


PNEUMONIA.


CHOLERA INFANTUM.


OLD AGE.


DISTRICTS.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


I.


25


2.98


13


1.55


14


1.67


16


1.91


3


0.36


II.


9


0.74


3


0,61


6


0.73


3


0.37


4


0.49


III.


11


3.48


5


0.95


3


0.95


4


1.26


2


0,63


IV.


16


2.86


8


1.43


7


1.25


2


0.36


3


0.54


V.


21


2.37


16


1.81


17


1,92


3


0.31


14


1,58


VI.


12


6.25


9


4.68


8


4.16


5


2.60


1


0.52


VII.


1,67


7


1.46


7


1.46


2


0.42


1


0.71


IX.


3


1.17


9


3.50


4


1.56


2


0.78


1


0.39


X.


4


3.51


5


4.40


1


0.9


Total .


113


2.45


76


1.65


67


1.46


37


0.81


35


0.76


TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1:92.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


DISTRICTS.


Reported.


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


I.


54


3


6.43


0.36


7


1


0.83


0.12


8


1


0.95


0.12


II.


80


3


9.75


0.37


4


2


0,49


0.24


III.


35


2


11.38


0.63


9


3


1.89


0.95


1


0.95


0.31


IV.


29


2


5.19


0,36


or


1


0.89


0.18


2


-


0.36


V.


69


3


7.78


0.34


9


1


1.02


0.11


34


5


3.83


0.56


VI.


28


14.57


4


2.08


8


1


4.16


0.52


VII.


1


9.17


0.21


1


-


7


1


1.46


0.21


VIII.


4,96


0.71


-


1


-


7


2


2.73


0.78


X.


-


3.59


1


0.9


2


-


1.8


Total .


371


14


8.06


0.3


39


8


0.85


0.17


74


11


1.61


.24


1,000 of pop.


1,000 of pop.


Cases


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


1,600 of pop.


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of pop.


Cases


Cases


+


-


21


IX.


7.79


-


0.78


VOLが


4.66


1


0.71


5


1,04


VIII.


7


1


0.9


1,000 of pop.


0.37


-


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.


1886.


1887.


1888.


1889.


1890.


1891.


1892.


Av'age for Seven Yrs.


DISTRICTS.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


I.


§ Cases


2.25


2.59 0.86 0.52 0.17


10.48 1.45 2.74 2.10 0.32 0.64


3.51 2.44 2.29 0.61 1.07 0.46


4.24 3.24 3.11 0.28 0.84 0.42


2.55 1.51 0.82 - 0.55 0.14


2.05 1.80 0.77 . 0.38 -


6.43 0.36


0.83 0.95 4.64 1.84 1.65 0.12 0.12 0.48 0.54|0.28


( Cases


1.77


2.12 0.89


1.82 0.66 1.16


4.07 0.94 0.78 0.47 0.31 0.31


2.32 2.17 1.01 0.43 0.29


0.42 2.37 0.69 - 0.42 0.28


0.79 1 45 1.18 - 0.66 0 39


9.75 0.37


0.49 0.37| 0.24 -


2.77 1.46 0.87 0.12 0.34 0.21


III.


Deaths .


0.46


0.46


-


1.71 0.43 0.43


0.81 2.43 2.43 0.4" 0.40 1.21


1.19 1.11 4.11| - 0.37


- 7.97 3.18 1.09 0.73 0.37 -


8 53 4.44 2.39 0.34 1 02 0.61


11.38 0.63


1.89 0.95 0.95 0.31


0.56 0.57 0.42


IV.


Deaths


4.38 0.26


0.77 0.77 0.26 0.26


3.85 2.16 1.20| 0.96 1.20 0.48


1.36 2.72 1.71 - 1.14 0.45


1.24 2.52 0.84 0.88 0.63 0.21


3.28 6.57 1.03 0.21 1.64


3.47 1 35 1.16 10.19 0.39 0.39 -


5.19 0.36


- 0.89 0.36 0.18


3.25 2.73 1.01 0.41 |0.78 0.26


V.


§ Cases {Deaths .


3.46


4.78 0.33


4.00 1.54 0.93 0.62 0.31 0.31


2.04 2.89 1.59 0. 5 0.15 0.45


4.04 4.58 0.95 0.94 0.13


6.34 2.34 0.91 0.26 0.26 0.26


-


- 0.12


7.78 0.34


1.02 3.83 0. 1 0.56


4.47 2.62 1.36 0.19 0.49 0.26


Cases


2.99


1.49


-


6.96 1.39 2.08 0.70


2. 3 1.98 1.32 -0.66 -


3.65 0.61 2.43 1


6.58 4.19 2.39 - 0.59 1.19 -


2.25 0.F6 2 81 - 0 56 0 56


14.57


2.08 4.16


5.66 1.76 2.17


VI.


Deaths .


0.75


-


-


4.22 0.60 0.30 0.30 -


8.45 0.85 1.41 0.56 0.28 0.28


5.59 1.07 1.07 0.27 0.53 -


3.45 4.68 0.41 - 0.98 -


5.26 3.37 0.95


1.80 0.88 2.47 -0.45 -


9.17 0.21


- 1.46 10.21


5.59 2.15 1.19 0.15 0.30 0.21


VII.


Deaths .


Cases Deaths .


1.01


17.05


- 3.79


-4.32


7.17 1.77


2.49 4.14 - 0.83


- 3.27 4.08 1.63


- 3 06 1.53 -0.76 -


4.96


0.71 1


5.13 1.71 1.64


VIII.


0.52 0.23 0.24


IX.


Deaths .


-


3.97 1.70 0.57 -


5.82 0.53 1.06 0.53 - -


7.51 3.00 2.00 1.50 0.59 1.00


- 4.63 1.85


- 1.79 2.23 0.45 0.45


4.20 2 94 -043


7.79 -


0.78 2.73 - 0.78|


4.76 2.58 1.40 0.29 0.78 0.25


X.


§ Cases Deaths .


5.15 10.30


8.40 4,80


-


4.54 2.27 3.40 - 1.13 1.13


2.10 8.40 - 4.20


- 4.13 1.03 2.06 - 1.03 - -


9 71 0.97 - 0 97


-


3.59


0.9 1.8


5.37 4.09 1.04 - 1.23 0.25


§ Cases Deaths .


3.47 0.09


2.87 0.63 0.63 0.09


5.94 1.29 1.20


3.42 2.09 1.75 0.91 0.32 0.32 0.42 0.59 0.48


4.94 3.34 1.57


4.01 2.89 0.97


2.97 1 62 1.26 0.18 0.72 0.18 0.07 0.54 0.24 0 05 0.42 0.25


8.06 0.3


0.85 1.61 0.17 0.24


4.69 2.13 1.28 0.29 0.49 0.26


1


-


-


-0.17


3.84 0.85 0.85


§ Cases


5.03


0.46


-


-


1


I


-


-


-


- 0.88


-


I


- 0.81


1


-


-


-


1


-


- 1.29


-


-


-


-


-


City


.


Deaths


-


1


1.65


-


-


1


-


-0.24


-10.52 0.21 0.26 0.32


Cases


5.43


1.89


§ Cases


6.24


ANNUAL REPORTS.


304


II.


Deaths


0.35


5.53 2.05 1.69


§ Cases


3.65 1.22 0 97


Typhoid Fever.


305


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


NUISANCES ABATED IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1892.


DISTRICT. Population ( estimated ). 1


I.


II.


III.


IV.


V.


VI.


VII. VIII.


IX.


X.


Total.


Cellar damp .


13


5


1


2


-


1


1


23


Cellar open


Cesspool offensive


-


1


3


2


1


-


-


1


1


2


-


2


5


Connection of drainage pipes defective


3


3


-


-


4


3


2


2


1


-


-


-


1


I


-


1


-


1


1


1.


1


Drainage defective


2


3


4


1


1


-


-


17


Drainage emptying on surface . Drainage not ventilated .


5


1


·2


4


1


4


1


3


11


Drain-pipe defective .


1


1


1


1


12 2


1


1


11


Goats kept without license


2


1


4


Hens kept in cellar


1


13


4


8


3


4


1


48


Manure pit too close to house Offal on land


1 :


Offensive odor in and about dwellings


Open cellar under stable


1


7121 7 2


1


1


1


1


1


8


Premises filthy .


1


1


2


2


11


Privy-vault defective


11


3


3


9


3


5


Privy-vault full


45


6


13


42


16


8


4


1


1


139


Privy-vault offensive


61


8


17


69


29


15


9


7


2


1


218


Removal of bodies of animals burned at fires


Rubbish in cellar


3


-


1 12111 2


1


1


1


-


3


Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive


4


1211 1 2


11:3 411 1 4 1


2


4


2


1


1


17


Water-closet offensive


2


1


1


1


I


1


5


Water in cellar


1


Total


228


70


60


173


107


61


60


33


17


15


824


-


-


1


112111147 1 2 1 1 4


2


25


Opening in drain-pipe in cellar


1


7


Pigs kept without license


3


13111 3111 - 1 1


1


1


1


1


11 |12||13 1 2 1 1 3


1


2


Hennery offensive


3


1


1


3


1211346 1 3 4 6


1124|11|12||| 2 1 1 3


I


1


1


7


Sewerage flowing under floor


1


4


Sewer-gas in house


3


1


1


Slops thrown on surface


1


Stable affected with glanders .


Stagnant water on surface .


2


Ventilation under steps offen- sive


Waste-pipe defective


1


1


1


Waste-pipe not trapped


6


5


5


2


1


2


27


Water-closet defective


11


3


2


1


1


1134 1 3


110- 2 1


-


5


Water-closet insufficiently sup plied with water


1


6


4


3


16


Stagnant water in house cellar


2


3


9


1


111|11 1 1 1 1


1


7


I


1


1


Premises untidy


12


1


1


15


Drainage emptying in cellar


2


2


1


1


2


1


1


-


6


Cesspool overflowing


18


Connection of gas-pipes defect- ive


1


Cows allowed on streets and sidewalks .


3


Decomposed meat offensive


1 -


11116114 1 6 1 4


5


Manure exposed and offensive


Manure pit defective .


7.


1


1


3


3


1


-


11


1


6


Stable without drainage


4


-


--


1


2


27


2


2


2


1


Dogs kept in kitchen .


-


-


30


35


1


23


1


306


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


Pub. Stat., Chap. 80, § 18.


IN BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY OF SOMERVILLE, March 22, 1892.


WHEREAS, It is the opinion of the Board of Health of the city of Somerville, and it does hereby adjudicate that the following regu- lations are necessary for the public health and safety, respecting nui- sances, sources of filth, and causes of sickness within the city of Somerville, and that it is necessary to make the following regulations for the public health and safety ; now therefore it is


Ordered, That the following regulations, designated, respectively, as Chapters I. to X., both inclusive, be and hereby are made and adopted, and all regulations previously adopted by this board are hereby repealed :-


CHAPTER I.


CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.


SECTION 1. It is adjudged that the diseases known as small- pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus fever, and typhoid fever are contagious and dangerous to the public health and safety, and may easily be contracted from persons or apartments, or at funerals from dead bodies which may have been infected by such diseases, and that the following provisions of this chapter are necessary for the public health and safety in regard to said diseases.


SECT. 2. Householder to give Notice. - When a householder knows that a person within his family, or any member of his house- hold, is sick of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus fever, or typhoid fever, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the Board of Health.


SECT. 3. Physician to give Notice. - When a physician knows that a person whom he is called to visit is infected with small-pox,


307


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus fever, or typhoid fever, he shall im- mediately give notice thereof to the Board of Health.


SECT. 4. Pupils not to attend School. - No pupil shall attend the public schools while any member of the household to which such pupil belongs, or any occupant of the house in which such pupil resides, is sick of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever, or during a period of two weeks after the death, recovery, or removal of such sick person; and any pupil coming from such household shall be required to present to the teacher of the school which such pupil desires to attend a certificate from the attending physician or Board of Health of the facts necessary to entitle him or her to admis- sion, in accordance with this regulation.


SECT. 5. Dwelling to be Labelled. - Every dwelling where a case of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever is known to exist shall be immediately conspicuously labelled at its entrance with a card marked "Small-pox here," " Scarlet fever here," " Diph- theria here," or "Typhus fever here," as the case may be, such card there to remain until removed by said board or its agent, or by per- mission of said board.


SECT. 6. Label not to be removed or Persons to visit Dwelling. - No person shall, without permission from the Board of Health, re- move from any dwelling in said city any card affixed thereto by said board, or its agent, or any other person, indicating that any of said diseases exist in said dwelling ; nor shall any person obliterate or deface such card; nor shall the occupant of any dwelling to which such card may be affixed permit the same to be removed, obliterated, or defaced without immediately notifying said board ; nor shall any person, except members of the immediate family occupying the same, and those whose business calls them there, visit, or be permitted by the householder, or any other occupant thereof, to visit, a dwelling labelled with a card as aforesaid without the written permission of said board.


SECT. 7. No public Funeral .- No public funeral, and no funeral attended by other persons than members, occupying the dwelling in which the funeral is held, of the immediate family of which the deceased was a member, or those whose business calls them there, 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 the Board of Health, and under such regulations


308


ANNUAL REPORTS.


as said board may prescribe ; and every householder, undertaker, or other person who shall attend or permit any funeral held in violation of the foregoing provisions of this section shall be liable to the pen- alty provided by law for violation of any regulation of the Board of Health. No person, except members of the immediate family of which the deceased was a member, and those whose business calls them there, shall, without the written permission of said board, be admitted to the house where such death has occurred until after the interment has taken place and the premises have been fumigated.


SECT. 8. Undertaker to prepare Body and notify Board of Health, and Burial to be made immediately. - In case of any person dying o small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever the undertaker, his assistant, or agent shall immediately, upon the death of such person, or immediately upon his being notified of the death, or called upon to perform any services, wrap the entire body, including the face, in a sheet satuated with a ten per cent. solution of chloride of zinc, and shall immediately place it in a tight coffin, which shall be securely fastened and shall not thereafter be opened. He shall notify the Board of Health or its agent of the time when the body is to be removed, and shall sign a certificate containing a true state- ment of the facts, that he has complied with the foregoing provisions of this section; and he, and every other person having charge or custody or the right of disposal of the body, shall cause the burial to take place immediately, and in all cases within not more than eight hours after the time of death, unless further time shall be allowed by the said Board of Health.


SECT. 9. Patient or Body not to be carried in Public Carriage. - No owner, driver, or other person having charge of any hackney car- riage or other vehicle used as a public conveyance shall receive, or permit to be placed, or convey in any manner, in or upon said carriage or other vehicle any person sick or infected with small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever, or the body of any person who has died of either of said diseases, except by written consent of the Board of Health and under such regulations as said board may prescribe.


SECT. 10. Dwelling not to be visited until Fumigated. - Upon the death, removal, or recovery of a person sick of small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or typhus fever, no person except members of the immediate family of which such sick person was a member, and those whose business calls them there, shall thereafter visit, or be permitted


309


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


by the householder or any other occupant thereof to visit, the dwell- ing in which such person was sick as aforesaid until such dwelling shall have been fumigated or disinfected by the Board of Health or its agent, or to their or his satisfaction.


CHAPTER II.


STABLES AND THE REMOVAL OF MANURE.


SECTION. 1. Washing of Carriages and Horses, Care of Stables and Yards, and Accumulation of Manure. - The owners or occupants of livery or other stables within the city of Somerville shall not wash or clean carriages or horses, or cause them to be washed or cleaned, in the streets or public ways; they shall keep their stables and stable yards clean, and no manure shall be allowed to accumulate or remain uncovered outside of the stable building.


SECT. 2. Removal of Manure at certain times, without permit, prohibited .- 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.


SECT. 3. Manner of removing Manure. - No manure shall be removed or carried through the streets of this city except in a tight canvas-covered vehicle, with the covering so secured to the sides and ends of the vehicle as to prevent the manure in process of removal from being dropped or left in any street or way of the city. No manure shall be loaded into a vehicle in or upon any street, lane, or passageway, nor upon or across any sidewalk, without a written per- mit from the Board of Health.


CHAPTER III.


PRIVY-VAULTS, CESSPOOLS, AND DRAINS.


SECTION 1. To be cleansed .- If the owner, agent, or occupant of any premises where a privy-vault, cesspool, or drain may be situ- ated shall neglect or refuse to cleanse such vault, cesspool, or drain after being notified by the chief of police or by the Board of Health


310


ANNUAL REPORTS.


or its agent that the same has become offensive, he shall be liable to the penalties provided by law.


SECT. 2. Not to be emptied except as authorized by the Board of Health. - No privy-vault or cesspool shall be emptied except by such parties, in such manner, and at such time as shall be specially authorized by the Board of Health. The owner, agent, or occupant of the premises where any privy-vault or cesspool may be situated shall always be liable for the expense of emptying the same.


SECT. 3. Carting of Night-soil or other offensive matter through Streets. - No person, unless specially authorized by the Board of Health, shall drive any cart, or other vehicle, containing, or used for conveying, night-soil or other offensive matter, in any street of the city, between the hours of 4 A. M. and 10 P. M., during the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September; nor between the hours of 5 A. M. and 9 P. M., during the months of October, Novem- ber, December, January, February, and March; provided, however, that this regulation shall not be understood to conflict with the regu- lations of this board concerning "Stables and the Removal of Manure," nor to restrict the removal or carting of night-soil in carts such as are used in making such removal by what is commonly known as the "Odorless " process, provided such removal be made or cart- ing done without emitting offensive odors in the streets.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.