Report of the city of Somerville 1899, Part 24

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 430


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1899 > Part 24


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


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Typhoid Fever .- Seventy-three cases of typhoid fever have been reported during the year, fifteen of which have proved fatal. In 1898 there were fifty-four cases reported, eleven of which were fatal.


Typhus Fever, Smallpox, Cholera .- No cases of typhus fever, smallpox, or cholera have been reported the past year.


Number of houses placarded . 304


Premises disinfected by agent . 307


Tables .- The prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in the city during the several months of the year 1899 is shown by the following table, and in the table next fol- lowing is given the number of deaths from these three diseases, by months, during the last ten years :-


283


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever Reported in 1899.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


Cases


Reported.


Number of


Deaths.


Percentage


of Deaths.


Reported.


Number of


Deaths.


Percentage


of Deaths.


Reported.


Number of


Deaths.


Percentage


of Deaths.


January


7


. .


7


1


14.3


4


1


25


February


3


. .


. .


14


2


14.3


2


1


50


March


10


. .


. .


. .


. .


. .


. .


. .


..


....


15


13.3


September.


9


....


. .


13


2


15 4


October


36


....


..


. .


2-1


1


4.1


12


3


25


December


24


3


12.5


40


5


12.5


7


3


42.9


Total .


157


3


1.9


147


11


7.5


73


15


20.5


Deaths from Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever in the Last Ten Years.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


1890.


1891.


1892.


1893.


1894.


1895.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1899.


1890.


1891


1892.


1893.


1894.


1895.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1890.


1891.


1892.


1893.


1894.


1895.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1899.


January


1


2


2


2


2


4


12


2


1


2


2


. .


1


February


March


1


.


2


1 11.2


2


1


6


5


5


1


2


2


1


2


May


1


4


1


1


2


3


4


4


7


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


June


1


1


4


1


2


1


July


1


1


2


4


1


1


2


5


1


2


1


1


1


1


September


2


3


2


October


1


2


3


3


4


3


1


1


1


2


3


3


4


3


2


1


1


November


9


3


4


1


5


4


7


8


2


1


1


3


2


5


1


3


December


1


3


7


1


3


2


1


8


6


1


1


5


. .


..


..


2


1


1


1


3


Total


5


2 14 19 51 17


5603


21|18


8 11 28


43 54 44 10 11


10 11 11.13 13


10|26 11 11 15


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


1


3


1


5


4


6


3


2


3


1


1


3


1


2


2


1


2


1


2


4


2


2


6


2


2


2


.


. 2.


1


1


: :


1


April


1


1


1


4


3


·


2


1


.


1 :


1 :


1


2


.


.


May .


12


11


1


9.1


5


1


20


June .


22


6


July .


5


6


..


..


. .


1


1


100


August


10


. .


8


14


1


7.1


6


1


16.6


November


17


....


7


...


1


1


April


2


3


4


·


-


-


. .


.


1


August


1 1 :211


·


2


1899.


Cases


Cases


9


284


ANNUAL REPORTS.


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, and in the table near the beginning of this report.


The estimated population in the several districts was origi- nally based on the number of assessed polls in each, and upon the population of the entire city ; the ratio of polls to population being presumed to be the same in all the districts. Substantially the same method of estimating the population has been con- tinued, the census of every fifth year being taken as a basis for calculation.


The number of dwellings and of assessed polls May 1, 1899, has been obtained from the assessors' books.


MYSTIC


RI


VER


VII


Sewer


TUFTS


COLLEGE


٥٨٨٣ مجم٥


İET


421


PMC 09X21


248


HOF


246


17:248


4


L


AF


401


AF


12150


1ZP


P


951


TOP


SP


131:200


IX


51 17.260 7:2


Dra


CENTRAL FULL


12 ₽


-


12P


.AP


TANNERY


12₽


500


201300


Jor


121401 4


12P


7:240


12₽


2 390


2P 10F


@ 2


ALLOFSITH


DIOP


17:248


SP


134.200


KOF


OMERVILLE


SHOWING 1900 HEALTH DISTRICTS.


H


COMBINED SYSTEM SEWERS SHOWN THUS SEPARATE SYSTEM SEWERS SHOWN THUS _


C


A


M


D


GE


D.


A


M


B


180


LADE SCALFIS


180


12


40₽


J21


12₱


288


bra


14


I2P


125


.150


300


22×338


1ZP


12P


96 8


1EP180


LINCOLN PARK


1308248 308


488


129


982


188-9


KA8


188


M


E


copaliberSever


WIFE


L


ForMe


JOP


263399 22*33B


18:278 26:396


VI


OF


ARLINGTON


UP 12/ AP


17x240


OUMaS


17:248


1747 48


240


AP


9/2191 99.


360


12*245 top tor


200


AP


Metr


Table of Deaths in Each District During the Last Ten Years.


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


7,404


5,891


5,024


5,928


11,498


6,404


7,144


3,208


4,303


3,196


60,000


Dwellings


1,001


1,006


818


982


2,080


1,190


1,230


567


804


686


10,364


Average in each dwelling


7.4


5.8


6.1


6.1


5.5


5.4


5.9


5.7


5.4


4.7


5.8


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


1890


140


19


69


0


48


17


94


19


139


18


46


27


59


14


27


22


12


15


15


663


16


1891


169


22


71


9


68


23


103


20


120


15


75


42


77


17


33


25


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


1893


161


18


80


9


63


16


94


16


180


20


64


20


72


14


23


13


26


9


27


18


790


15


1894 .


157


22


66


12


86


19


117


21


188


18


70


13


64


10


43


17


37


10


27


11


855


16


1895 .


136


19


76


14


91


20


94


17


184


17


77


15


67


16


29


12


29


00


40


17


823


16


1896 .


155


22


94


18


77


17


105


19


180


16


97


16


62


13


46


16


36


9


52


21


924


17


1897 .


158


22


80


15


80


16


88


17


170


15


13


15


68


12


40


14


29


00


53


18


859


15


1898


161


23


67


13


79


16


38


17


194


18


92


15


93


14


28


9


50


12


28


9


880


15


1899 .


102


14


68


13


81


16


113


19


155|


14


87


14


87


12


34


11


46


11


28


9


801


13


Average death rate per 1,000 for } ten years .


20


12


17


18


17


2


13


16


=


15


16


.


·


-


.


Rate


Rate


Number of


Rate


Number of


Rate


Deaths.


Rate


YEAR.


In 1898.


285


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


26 33


Rate


Rate


286


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table Showing the Five Principal Causes of Death in Somerville in 1899, with the Number and Rate in Each District.


PNEUMONIA.


HEART DISEASE.


PHTHISIS.


APOPLEXY.


TUBERCULOSIS


DISTRICTS.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1


18


2.43


4


0.54


8


1.08


7


0.95


5


0.68


II.


11


1.87


9


1.53


3


0.51


1


0.17


0.34


III.


14


2.79


2


0.39


12


2.39


2


0.39


5


0.99


IV.


12


2.02


10


1.69


10


1.69


8


1.35


3


0.51


V.


13


1.13


21


1,83


4


0.35


9


0.78


6


0.52


VI.


14


2.19


7


1.09


9


1.41


4


0.63


7


1.09


VII.


13


1,84


11


1.54


4


0.56


7


0.98


2


0.28


VIII.


4


1.22


3


0.94


4


1.22


IX.


6


1.39


4


0.93


1


0.23


2


0.47


4


0.93


X.


6


1.88


1


0.31


1


0.31


1


0.31


3


0.94


Total


111


1.85


72


1.20


56


0.93


41


0.68


38


0.63


Table of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever in Each District in 1899.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


DISTRICTS.


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


Cases


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


Cases


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


I.


17


9.40


00


2


2.43


0.27


6


.


0.81


II.


12


. .


2.04


..


III.


10


. .


1.99


26


3


5.09


0.59


2


2


0.39


0.39


IV.


19


3.21


18


2


3.04


0.34


6


1.01


V


38


2


3.31


0.18


20


. .


1.74


10


4


0.97


0.35


VI.


23


3.59


15


2.34


11


1


1.72


0.16


VII.


11


1


1.54


0,14


·


. .


15


A


2.09


0.56


VIII.


4


1.22


3,95


14


1


3.26


0.23


12


2


2.79


0.47


X.


6


. .


1.88


. .


. .


2.19


00


. .


1.88


Total .


157


3


2.62


0.05


147


11


2.45


0.18


73


15


1.22


0.25


. .


12


3


2.04


0.51


5


2


0.85


0.34


IX.


17


. .


....


86


2.49


..


Reported.


1,000 of Pop.


1,000 of Pop.


Reported.


1,000 of Pop.


1,000 of Pop.


Cases


..


1,000 of Pop.


1,000 of Pop.


1


0.31


1,000 of Pop.


1.26


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.


1893.


1894.


1895.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1899.


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.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


I.


[ Cases ¿ Deaths


8.86 1.13 1.36 0.57 0.23 0.11


13.98 1.44 1.15 2.73 0.57 0.14


4.47 5.19 0.86 0.86 1.04 . . . .


1.12 11.96 1.40 0.28 2.25 . ..


4.29 8.74 1.39 0.28 1.53 0.42


1.35 1.08 0.40| 0.13 .. ..


9.40 2.43 0.81 0.27 ...


6.21 4.57 1.06 0.65 0.86 0.10


II.


Cases Deaths


4.07 0.93 1.04 .. 0.23 0.47


4.45 1.30 0.74


2.10 4.27 1.86 0.19 1.11 0.74


0.72 10 73 1.61 1.25 0.72


3.36 7.07 0.53 0.18 0.53 0.36


0.85 1.36 1.02 0.17 0.34 ..


2.04 2.04 0.85 0.51 0.34


3.37 3.96 1.69 0.05 0.57 0.45


III.


Cases Deaths


0.53 0.27 ....


11.98 4.44 1.33 1.99 1.33 ....


5.32 7.77 1.33 0.22 0.66


1.49


5.97 1.07 0.21 0.43


3.77 6.27 0.42 0.21 1.05 . .


1.39 2.19 0.36 0.60 0.36


1.99 5.09 0.39 .. 0.59 0.39


5.08 4.65 0.93 0.42 0.67 0.17


IV.


J Cases Deaths .


5.70|0.35 0.34 0.86


14.37 3.73 0.74 2.24 1.49 0.18


5.41 5.60 1.49 10.74 1.68 0.37


2.14


7.32 1.97 1.25 0.36


3.34 3.51 1.04 0.71 1.17


1 69 1.01 0.84


3.21 3.04 1.01 0.34


0.55 0.78 0.47


V.


[ Cases ¿ Deaths .


5.47 1.13 1.71 10.11 0.23 0.57


5.75 2.49 1.34 0.38 0.67 0.38


4.13 6.05 0.48 0.09 |1.25 0.29


2.24 6.09 1.16 0.72 0.72 ...


1.42 3.27 0.62 0.09|0.35 0.18


1.38 0.69|1.04 0.17


3 31 1.74 0.97 0.18


...


0.35


3.39 3.07 1.05 0.12 0.46 0.38


VI.


§ Cases Deaths .


0.62 0.31 ..


0.18


3.03 2.08 0.57 0.19 0.38 .. . .


2.84


7.18|1 00 0.67 ....


2.71 7.05 0.95 0.17 0.95 0.17


0.93 1.08 0.77 0.15 . .


13.59 2.34 1.72 0.16


4.17 3.18 1.03 0.25 0.35 0.08


VII.


Cases Deaths .


*


.


0.19 0.19 0.19


0.31


|2.81 |3.44 1.09 0.31 0.31 ..


3.45 0.15


6.87 1.05 0.75 0.45


2.01 7.55 1.02 0.88 0.14


1.14 2.41 0.85 0.43 0.43


1.54 1. 6 2.09 0.56 0.14 .. ..


2.89 3.28 1.07 0.14 0.37 0.29


VIII.


( Cases Deaths .


5.68 1.13 1.70 0.57 . ... 0.65


8.29 4.56 0.82 0.41 0.82 0.41


4.52 2.49 1.66


8.44 11 00 2.93 0.38 1.83 1 10


4.51 4.19 1.61 0.64 0.32 .


2.80 1.25 0.62 0.31 ..


1 22 2.49


5.07 3.88 1.34 0.19|0.47 0.39


IX.


§ Cases Deaths .


5.59 1.75 2.73


6.35 1.38 1.92 0.27 .. ..


2.77 2.49 1.65 .... 0.28 0.28


1.77 0.25


3.54 2.78 ... 0,51


1.69 4.56 0.72 ... 0.28 ....


0.70 0.93 1.63 0.23


3.95 3.26 2.79 0.23 0.47


3.26 2.56 2.03 0.08 0.11 0.29


X.


§ Cases Deaths .


8.89 2.73


6.49 2.59 1.73


8.23 4.76 2.60 0.43 .. . .


6 43


6.03 3.22 0 41 0.81 ...


1.04 2.43 0.36 ....


1.90 0.32 1.90 .... 0.32 ..


1 88 2.19 1.88


4.98 3.01 1.67 0.26 0.39 0.12


City


§ Cases Deaths .


6.28 1.12 1.18 0.38 0.22 0.26


8.59|2.09 1.10 0.96 0.53 0.24


4.12 4.68 1.16


2 53,


7.68 1 57 0.96 0.46


2.72 5.51 |0.86 0.11 0.76 0.19


1.33 1.93 0.90 2.62 2.45 1.22 0.17 0.18 0.05 0.18 0.25


4.03 3.54|1.14 0.27 0.52 0.25


.


... 0.17


..


. .


...


....


6.26 1.56 1.25


9.85 0.94 0.94 0.75


4.59 1.39 0.79


4.69 0.15


0.62


0.55


. ..


287


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


..


. .


0.18 0.18


...


.. ..


...


...


0.69 . . . .


1.36 1.37


..


0.32 0.81 0.19 0.09


5.12 3.51 1.06


9.58 0.79 1.59


288


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Undertakers.


The duty of issuing licenses to undertakers was transferred to Boards of Health by the following provision of law :---


[Acts of 1897, Chapter 437, Section 7.]


"Section 7. The boards of health of cities and towns shall, on or be- fore the first day of May in each year, license a suitable number of under- takers who can read and write the English language, to take charge of the funeral rites preliminary to the interment, removal, or cremation of a. human body. Such licenses shall be issued under such terms and upon such conditions as the board of health may prescribe, and may be revoked at any time by the board when such terms or conditions or any require- ments of law relative thereto have been violated by the undertaker; pro- vided, however, that an undertaker so licensed shall have the right to act thereunder in any city or town in the Commonwealth."


Under the above law, sixteen undertakers received licenses.


Appropriation for Health Department and Expenditures Therefrom.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$24,000 00


Sale of offal to Hannibal S. Pond


1,000 00


Permits to keep swine and goats and col- lect grease


44 00


Total credit


$25,044 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


For Agent's salary


$1,200 00


Salary of Superintendent of collection of ashes and offal .


900 00


Collection ashes


7,840 83


Collecting offal


11,456 00


Burying dead animals


87 50


Stable expenses (including repairs and lighting)


796 71


Hay and grain


2,927 67


Horse doctoring


11 50


Horseshoeing


404 17


Harnesses and horse clothing


405 86


Wagons and sleds, and repairing same


1,038 95


Vaccine virus


29 19


New horses


300 00


Tools, and repairing same


96 17


Culture tubes


8 95


Books, stationery, etc.


169 50


Incidentals


326 51


Total expenditure


$27,999 51


Amount overdrawn


$2,955 51


ALLEN F. CARPENTER, Chairman. ALVANO T. NICKERSON, ARTHUR R. PERRY,


Board of Health.


.


.


.


.


.


.


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.


OFFICE OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS, January 20, 1900.


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-I beg leave to submit the following report as inspector of animals and provisions for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1899.


Chapter 408 of the acts of the legislature of the year 1899, which was approved May 25, 1899, revoked the authority previ- ously existing for the appointment of an inspector of animals and provisions, and provided (Section 17) for the appointment of an inspector of animals, subject to the approval of the board of cattle commissioners.


Section 20 of said chapter 408 is as follows :-


The duties of inspectors appointed under the provisions of chapter four hundred and ninety-one of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-four and of acts in amendment thereof, except so far as they relate to the duties, rules, and regulations of the board of cattle commissioners, as defined in this act, shall hereafter be performed by the boards of health of the various cities and towns; and said boards of health shall have full power in all matters included under the provisions of said chapter four hundred and ninety-one and of acts in amendment thereof, except that the board of cattle commissioners, in accordance with the provisions of this act, so far as not otherwise provided in section fourteen relating to glanders, farcy, and rabies in the city of Boston, shall have full control and authority in all matters relating to contagious diseases among do- mestic animals.


The undersigned was reappointed inspector of animals and provisions March 8. After the passage of the law above men- tioned, he was appointed, by the mayor and aldermen, inspector of animals, and June 16, 1899, he was appointed, by the board of health, an agent of that board, to assist in the performance of its duties under the provisions of Section 20, Chapter 408, Acts of 1899, above quoted.


The duties of the inspector of animals relate to contagious . diseases among domestic animals ; and he is required to examine the barns, stables, or other enclosures in which neat cattle are kept, with reference to their situation, cleanliness, light, ventila- tion, and water supply, and the general condition and cleanliness of the said neat cattle, and to make a detailed report of such ex- amination to the board of cattle commissioners.


The duties under the board of health require an inspection of animals to be slaughtered for food, and of the slaughtered car- casses, and have reference to all kinds of perishable provisions,- as meats, fislı, vegetables, fruits, etc., to be used as food.


As the requirements of the two positions are, to some extent,- identical, and because the separation of the duties was not made until the middle of the year, this report covers the whole matter.


290


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The following is a statement of the number of animals killed during tlie year at the five slaughtering establishments in the city : John P. Squire & Co. Corporation, Medford street, 760,328 swine ; North Packing and Provision. Co., Medford street, 900,490 swine; New England Dressed Meat and Wool Co., Medford street, 315,- 721 sheep, 47,137 calves, 12,087 cattle, 167 swine; Sturtevant & Haley Beef and Supply Co., Somerville avenue, 4,905 cattle; Rachel Gunsenhiser, 104 North street, 891 cattle, 920 calves; total number of animals slaughtered, 2,042,646. I have made 430 visits to slaughter houses, and a large number of the animals have been inspected.


There are 247 cows and 44 swine kept in our city for domestic purposes. One cow was quarantined and afterwards killed by order of the state board of cattle commissioners. All cow barns were measured during the year, under the rules of the cattle commissioners.


Four horses were quarantined. One of them was released, and the remaining three were killed by order of the commis- sioners. In addition to these animals, twenty-five horses, which were affected with contagious diseases, were killed, with the con- sent of the owners. There were less cases of contagious dis- ease among horses than in the previous year.


There are about 415 grocery and provision stores in the city, and 319 wagons from which produce and provisions are sold on the street. About 200 of these wagons are registered.


I have condemned and caused to be destroyed 14 cattle, 21 calves, 5 swine, 6,865 pounds of beef, 1,509 pounds of veal, 120 pounds of fowls, 240 pounds of fish, 4 bushels of clams, 38 lob- sters, 17 dozen bananas, 1 barrel of cabbages, 42 quarts of straw- berries.


I have endeavored to perform the duties of the office to the best of my ability.


Respectfully,


CHARLES M. BERRY, Inspector.


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Board ;of_ Overseers of the Poor.


Hon. GEORGE O. PROCTOR, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio.


HERBERT E. MERRILL .


Ward One.


EDWARD B. WEST, President


Ward Two.


JAMES H. BUTLER


Ward Three.


ALBERT W. EDMANDS .


Ward Four.


Committees.


ON INVESTIGATION AND RELIEF .- Mr. West and Mr. Merrill. ON FINANCE .- Mr. Edmands and Mr. Butler.


General Agent. CHARLES C. FOLSOM.


Secretary. CORA F. LEWIS.


City Physician. ARTHUR R. PERRY, M. D.


Office. City Hall Annex, Highland avenue.


REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


OFFICE OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, CITY HALL ANNEX, December 31, 1899.


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-We herewith submit our annual report for the year 1899.


Appropriation.


The appropriation of $22,000 would have been sufficient for the year had not bills amounting to $925.41 for repairs on the "City Home" been sent to this department for payment. Also bills for furnishing the "Home" amounting to $1,110.23 were paid from the Support of Poor account.


Somerville Hospital.


The Somerville Hospital has been aided during the year to a somewhat less extent than the year previous, the exact sum for 1899 being $2,645.41, as against $3,134.76 in 1898. Quite a large sum has been collected from the state and from other cities and towns for the treatment at the hospital of patients who were not settled in this city.


City Home.


The Board of Overseers of the Poor feel very well satisfied with the year's work in their department, and wish to express their appreciation for the "Home" furnished by the city for those who are so unfortunate as to be unable to support themselves.


The property known as the Levi Russell estate, purchased by the city in 1898 for almshouse purposes, has been repaired and utilized for such purposes.


' The out building, known as the carriage house, has been moved around and connected with the house, and fitted up as a dining-room, men's sitting room, bathroom, and pantry, on the first floor, men's dormitory and two hospital rooms on the second floor, with the furnace rooms and laundry in the basement. In the main house and L on the first floor are situated the kitchen and the rooms occupied by the warden's family, and in the second


293


POOR DEPARTMENT.


story and attics are the women's apartments. All of the rooms are fitted up and furnished in a very neat and comfortable man- ner. There are in all thirty beds for inmates.


In September the Board, having received many applications for the positions, selected as warden and matron of the "City Home," as it has been named, Mr. and Mrs. J. Foster Colquhoun, who entered upon their duties October 15. It seems to the Board, after two and one-half months' service by these officials, that they were wisely selected for their positions.


The time since the inmates were admitted, viz., November 20, has been so short that no comparative statement can be made as to the cost per week for each inmate. During the year 1899 seven of the poor people, whom we were fully supporting, died ; we had planned for these in our new quarters, but feel quite sure their places will be filled very soon by others whose poverty may be caused by circumstances over which they have no control, or perhaps by habits inherited or acquired. We have in the "City Home" on December 31, 1899, seventeen inmates. There are as many more among those supported in insane hospitals, who could be cared for just as well in the "Home," they being "chronic cases"; but as a change in the law regarding the support of the insane is contemplated, we regard it as unwise to bring them here until the legislature acts upon the matter.


Tables.


The following tables will give an accurate account of our work for the year.


Respectfully submitted,


(Signed) GEORGE O. PROCTOR, Chairman, ex officio. HERBERT E. MERRILL, Ward One. EDWARD B. WEST, President, Ward Two. JAMES H. BUTLER, Ward Three. ALBERT W. EDMANDS, Ward Four.


Board of Overseers of the Poor.


294


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table No. 1 .- Full Support (During the Year).


In Almshouses .


19


In private families


25


In hospitals for the sick


106


In Massachusetts School for the Feeble-minded


4


Insane persons in private families .


3


Insane persons in hospitals


.


86


Table No. 2 .- Full Support (at present time, December 31, 1899).


In Somerville "City Home"


13


Insane in hospitals (we are reimbursed for 3) .


62


Insane in private families


.


.


1


In hospitals, sane


9


Table No. 3 .- Somerville Hospital.


Cases on city's account


89


Cases having settlement in Somerville


29


Cases having settlement in other cities and towns


19


Cases having no settlement (chargeable to State)


41


Persons supplied with nurse at their homes .


38


Money expended


$2,645 41


Amount to be reimbursed to the city


1,172 58


Net cost to the city .


$1,472 83


Table No. 4 .- Partial Support (Outdoor Relief).


Families aided


286


Persons aided


1,153


Burials


21


Permits to the Tewksbury almshouse


.


. .


9


.


.


.


.


1


POOR DEPARTMENT.


Table No. 5 .- Reimbursements in Detail.


Commonwealth of Massachusetts .


$2,428 14


City of Boston .


982 98


" Brockton


38 86


Cambridge


765 80


Chelsea


95 28


" Everett


45 72


66


Gloucester


10 90


66


Haverhill


16 70


66


Lowell


113 55


66


Lynn


24 83


66


Malden


144 89


66


Marlboro


1 25


Newburyport


15 00


Springfield


1 30


66


Woburn


47 75


6 Worcester


10 00


Town


of Arlington .


33 55


66


66 Canton


3 40


66


66


Hingham


39 16


Merrimac


11 40


66


North Andover


50 79


Plymouth


54 23


Reading


15 00


Stoneham


25 93


66


Tewksbury


2 30


Guardians and Relatives


800 37


Money refunded


19 04


Total


. $5,827 40


Table No. 6 .- Recapitulation.


Appropriation


$22,000 00 5,827 40


Total receipts


$27,827 40


Total expenditures


28,924 39


Account overdrawn


$1,096 99


Net expenditures


23,096 99


.


Reimbursements


.


-


295


Salem


29 28


TABLE NO. 7 - EXPENDITURES, IN DETAIL, FOR THE YEAR 1899.


1899.


Rent.


Board.


Groceries.


Towns and Cities.


Public Institutions.


Boots and Shoes.


Dry Goods.


Burial.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Medicine.


Total.


January .


$11 00


$169 29


$505 19


$316 27


$2,137 83


$7 40


$8 10


$45 00


$284 61


$192 16


$61 68


$115 20


$3,853 73


February


11 00


214 40


336 79


183 77


192 57


21 10


45 00


284 62


159 98


81 01


81 64


1,611 88


March


11 00


247 25


559 80


87 16


2,300 85


19 95


10 00


258 34


131 63


34 25


69 27


3,729 50


April .


·


·


11 00


124 07


264 38


237 15


326 89


258 33


18 80


79 20


1,319 82


May .


11 00


114 51


235 97


51 93


486 58


15 75


8 25


258 33


4 50


49 61


75 20


1,311 63


June


11 00


180 07


319 28


94 58


2,297 44


7 70


·


3 50


258 33


21 07


67 83


1,847 51


August


11 00


147 04


224 03


266 30


149 05


20 00


258 33


2 13


30 08


51 85


1,159 81


September .


11 00


276 78


345 13


378 79


2,143 64


18 50


14 50


80 00


258 33


105 75


825 32


69 25


2,088 02


November


7 00


105 15


377 65


26 43


271 23


86 79


30 00


314 93


162 98


740 80


34 04


2.157 00


December


7 00


27 15


335 57


219 94


1,001 09


13 85


3 68


15 00


326 34


86 11


675 07


74 63


2,785 43


Totals


.


$124 00


$1,877 59


$3,930 66


$2,522 21


$12,202 67


$104 25


$124 82


$300 00


$3,327 17


$845 24


$2,730 70


$835 08


$28,924 39


TABLE NO. 8. - GROSS EXPENDITURES FROM 1886 TO 1899, INCLUSIVE.


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


1893. $17,799.58


1894. $19,733.13


1895. $20,755.46


1896. $21,990.79


1897. $25,681.47


1898. $28,522.21


1899. $28,924.39


.


·


.


·


·


·


·


· · .


· ·


·


·


·


·


.


.


11 00


159 37


212 02


473 03


641 36


55 00


258 34


·


.


·


168 26


77


3,760 70


October .


11 00


112 51


214 85


186 86


254 14


308 34


24 75


51 20


3,299 36


July .


.


.


·


·


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.


OFFICE OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN, January 2, 1900.


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-I present the following as a summary of the work done by me as City Physician for the year beginning Janu- ary 13, 1899, and ending December 31, 1899 :-


Number of visits made . 3,427




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