Report of the city of Somerville 1903, Part 20

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 492


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1903 > Part 20


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 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34


Districts


I.


II.


III.


IV.


<


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


8,027


6,250


5,460


6,401


12,185


6,952


7,696


3,784


5,374


4,871


67,000


In 1903.


·


{ Dwellings


1,047


1,049


876


1,035


2,178


1,252


1,321


650


1,002


905


11,315


Average in each dwelling


7.7


6.0


6.2


6.2


5.6


5.6


5.8


5.7


5.4


5.4


6.0


-


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


1894


157


22


66


12


86


19


117


21


188


18


70


13


64


10


čo


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


8


40


17


823


16


1896


155


22


94


18


77


17


105


19


180


16


97


16


82


13


46


16


36


00 00


53


18


859 15


1898 .


161


23


67


13


79


16


88


17


194


18


92


15


93


14


28


00


50


12


28


880


15


1899


102


14


68


13


81


16


113


19


155


14


87


14


87


12


34


11


46


11


28


801


13


1900 .


134


17


92


15


87


16


115


19


229


20


82


13


82


11


41


12


54


12


51


15


967


16


1901 . .


133


17


12


70


13


67


11


178


15


65


10


66


co


47


14


58


11


73


20


831


13


1902


140


18


80


13


75


14


73


12


184


18


70


10


71


10


53


15


63


12


81


20


890


13


1903


158


20


79


13


76


14


89


14


151


12


96


14


90


12


64


17


65


12


87


18


955


14


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


19


14


16


17


16


14


12


14


11


16


924


17


1897 .


158


22


80


15


80


16


88


17


170


15


93


15


68


12


40


14


29


52


21


·


DEPARTMENT.


HEALTH


YEAR.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


Rate


Rate


Rate


Number of


Rate


Rate


per 1,000.


00


15


·


Rate


Rate


266


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table Showing the Five Principal Causes of Death in Somerville in 1903, with the Number and Rate in Each District.


PNEUMONIA.


HEART DISEASE.


TUBERCULOSIS.


CANCER.


NEPHRITIS.


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


1,000 of Pop.


1


21


2.62


14


1.74


14


1.74


8


1.00


5


0.62


II.


11


1.76


8


1.28


6


0.96


6


0.96


6


0.96


III.


13


2.38


6


1.10


6


1.10


4


0.73


4


0.73


IV.


11


1.72


6


0.94


9


1.41


2


0.31


3


0.47


V.


14


1.15


11


0.90


12


0.98


4


0.33


4


0.33


VI.


15


2.16


12


1.73


9


1,29


6


0.87


7


1.00


VII.


13


1.69


11


1.43


0.78


5


0.65


3


0.39


VIII.


7


1.85


8


2.11


1.32


3


0.79


1


0.26


IX.


5


0.93


9


1.67


1.12


3


0.56


6


1.12


X.


12


2.46


7


1.44


1.85


3


0.62


2


0.41


Total


122


1.82


92


1.37


82


1.22


44


0.66


41


0.61


Table of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and Typhoid Fever in Each District in 1903.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


DISTRICTS.


Reported.


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


1,000 of Pop.


I.


17


1


2.12


0,12


37


4


4.60


0.50


3


1


0.37


0.12


II.


10


1


1.60


0.16


21


1


3.36


0.16


3


1


0.48


0.16


III.


14


1


2.56


0.18


27


2


4.94


0.36


1


.


0.18


IV.


20


1


3.12


0.16


25


5


3.90


0.78


2


1


0.31


0.16


V.


17


2


1.39


0.16


24


4


1.97


0.33


9


2


0,74


0.16


VI.


16


2


2.30


0.29


21


·


3.02


3


.


0.43


VII.


10


..


1.30


19


1


2.47


0.13


8


4


1.04


0 52


VIII.


11


1


2.91


0.26


8


..


....


.


0.53


..


IX.


16


2.97


12


2.23


2


.


×


15


1


3.08


0.21


14


2


2.87


0.41


5


1


1.03


0,21


Total .


146


10


2.18


0.15


208


19


3.11


0.28


38


10


0.57


0.15


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of Pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of Pop.


Cases


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of Pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of Pop.


Cases


Cases


1,000 of Pop.


0.37


....


6999


2.11


2


267


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.


1897.


1898.


1899.


1900.


1901.


1902.


1903.


Av'age for Seven Yrs.


DISTRICTS.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


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 .


4.29 8.74 1.39


1.35 1.08 0.40


9.40 2.43 0.81 0.27 .....


4.69|11.98 1.17 0.13 1.30 .. . .


1.29 9.46 1.17 0.26 0.78 .. . .


1.92 1.79 0.51 6.13 0.64 0.13


2.12 0.12


4.60 0.37 0.50 0.12


3.58 5.73 0.84 0.14 0.74 0.09


II.


§ Cases Deaths .


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


1.81


7.09 0.99 0.16


0.98 4.59 0.98 0.33 0.16


...


. .


0.16


2.56


4.94 0.18 0.36


2.54 5.21 0,66 0.11 0.76 0.17


IV.


§ Cases Deaths .


3.34 3.51 1.04 0.71 1.17


1.69 1.01 0.84 3.21 3.04 1.01


0,34


0.49


4.75|15.88 2.13 1.15


2.28 7.34 0.82 0.33


1.28 2.56 0.81 0.16 0.16


3.12 0.16


3.90 0.31 0.78 0.16


2.81 5.32 0.99 0.09 0.49 0.21


V.


§ Cases Deaths


1.42 3.27 0.62 0.09 0.35 0.18


1.38 0.69 1.04


3.31 1.74 0.97 0.18 0.35


4.13 5.08 0.95 0.69 0.43


1.37 4.26 0.86| 0.09 0.26 .


0.59 4.11 0.54 0.17 0.09


0.16


2 30


3.02 0.43


2.38 4.60 1.10 0.11 0.41 0.17


VI.


§ Cases Deaths .


2.71 7.05 0.95 0.17 0.95 0.17


0.93 1.08 0.77 0.15 .... .. ..


3.59 2.34 1.72


2.55


8.99 0.89 0.59 0.15 ....


2.83|3.29 1.94 0.29 0.45


1.74 6.41 1.(2 0.29 0.87 0.29


0.29


..


2.47 1.04 0.13 0.52


0.06 0.30 0.28


VIII.


§ Cases Deaths .


4.51 4.19 1.61


2.80|1.25 0.62


1.22 2.49


4.53


6.99 0.60 0.30 0.30


2.19 7.97 0.88 0.59|0.29


...


....


0.78 2.71 0,19


2 97


2.23 0.37


2.37 3.51 1.32


IX.


( Cases Deaths .


1.69 4.56 0.72 0.28


....


..


....


....


5.45


7.75 0.58 1.73


5.57 8.07 2.51 0.56 1.68 0.28


1.72 5.41 0.25 0.25 0.25


3.08 0.21


2 87 1.03 0.41 0.21


0.11 0.73 0.11


City .


§ Cases Deaths .


2.72 5.51 0.86 0.11 0.76 0.19


0.17 0.18 0.05 0.18 0.25 ....


0.11


8.39 1.16 0.79 0.15


2.07 5.39 1.24 1.20 3.45 0.43 0.08 0.46 0.19 0.46 0.29 0.09


2.18 0.15


3.11 0.57 0.28 0.15


2.26 4.22 0.91 0.14 0.42 0.17:


....


..


..


....


1.99 5.09 0.39 0.59 0.39


3.66 10.22 2.12 0.19


2.29 5.16 0.96 0.19 1.34 0.39


2.13 2.61 0.19


0.18


....


..


...


..


....


..


0.17


. . . .


...


..


1.35 2.69 0.68 0.14 0.14


0.59 3.02 0.13 0.26


.. .


....


. ...


....


....


0.56


2.73 0.27


4.78 0.96 0.27 0.14


....


0.56 3.84 0.29 0.29


2.91 0.26


2.11 0.53


2.67 4.12 0.65 0.04 0.26 0.18


....


0.64 0.32


0.31


0.70 0.93 1.63


0.23


3.95 3.26 2.79 0.23 0.47


....


2.95 4.14 1.22


X.


§ Cases Deaths .


1.04 2.43 0.36 .. .. 10.69 ....


1.90 0.32 1.90 0.32 .


....


....


1.33 1.23 0.90 2.62 2.45 1.22


3.73


. ·


0.28 1.53 0.42


.... 0.13


....


....


... .


....


....


III.


§ Cases Deaths .


3.77 6.27 0.42 1.39 2.19 0.36


0.21 1.05|


0.60 0.36


1.35 .. ..


0.16


....


VII.


§ Cases Deaths .


2.01 7.55 1.02


0.88 0.14


1.14 2.41 0.85 0.43 0.43


1.54 1.96 2.09 0.14


·


3.71 6.81 1.09 0.22 0.22


2.81 4.04 2.63


1.39


1.97 0.74 0.33 0.16


1.94 3.02 0.82 0.06 0.23 0.23


1.32 2.13 0.32


1.60


3.36 0.48 0.16 0.16


1.71 3.95 0.74


0.05 0.27 0.19


DEPARTMENT.


HEALTHI


1.30


1.52 3.55 0.97


0.13 0.13


....


1.88 2.19 1.88


·


....


....


Typhoid Fever.


268


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Undertakers.


Under the provisions of section 44 of chapter 78 of the re- vised laws of 1902, sixteen persons have been duly licensed as undertakers, and two petitions for such licenses refused.


Examiners of Plumbers.


The public statutes provide for a board of examiners of 1 plumbers, consisting of the chairman of the board of health, the inspector of buildings, and an expert at plumbing, to be ap- pointed by the board of health. This board appointed Duncan C. Greene, the inspector of plumbing, to fill the place of expert. The number of licenses granted will be found in the report of the inspector of buildings.


Regulations.


The following health regulations have been adopted since the publication of the Somerville Municipal Manual of 1901, which contained the regulations then in force : -


CITY OF SOMERVILLE. IN BOARD OF HEALTH, November 4, 1901. 5


Ordered, that the following regulation be and hereby is adopted :-


REGULATION FOR BARBER-SHOP.


The place of business shall be kept at all times in a cleanly condition. Mugs, shaving-brushes and razors shall be sterilized by immersion in boiling water after every separate use thereof. A separate clean towel shall be used for each person. Alum, and other material used to stop the flow of blood, shall be used only in powdered form, and applied on a towel. The use of powder puffs is prohibited. The use of sponges is prohibited. Every barber-shop shall be provided with running hot and cold water. No person shall be allowed to use any barber-shop as a dormitory. Every barber shall cleanse his hands thoroughly immediately after serving each customer.


The penalty provided for violating the above regulation is a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE. IN BOARD OF HEALTH, July 21, 1902.


Ordered, that the following regulation be and hereby is adopted :-


The Board of Health hereby adjudges that the exercise of the trade or employment of keeping one or more cows in the city of Somerville is a nuisance, hurtful to the inhabitants, injurious to their estates, dan- gerous to the public health, and attended by noisome and injurious odors, and hereby prohibits the keeping of one or more cows within the limits of the City of Somerville, without a written permit from this board.


Every person keeping a cow shall cause the place where it is kept to be well ventilated and drained, and kept at all times in a cleanly and wholesome condition. Such permit may be revoked at any time when such revocation shall appear to the board to be necessary for the public health and safety. All such permits shall expire on the first day of May annually.


Chapter XI. of the regulations of this board is hereby repealed.


269


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE. IN BOARD OF HEALTH, August 19, 1902. S


Ordered, that the following regulation be and hereby is adopted :-


No person other than members of this board and its agent and per- sons authorized by one of said members, or by said agent, shall approach nearer than one hundred and fifty feet of the hospital buildings now or hereafter located near North street in Somerville, and used for the recep- tion of persons having smallpox.


Whoever violates the foregoing regulation shall forfeit not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each offence.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE. IN BOARD OF HEALTH, November 9, 1903. S


Ordered, that the following regulation be and hereby is adopted :-


The Board of Health hereby adjudges that the exercise of the trade of employment of keeping one or more hens in the City of Somerville is a nuisance, hurtful to the inhabitants, injurious to their estates, dan- gerous to the public health, and attended by noisome and injurious odors, and hereby prohibits the keeping of one or more hens within the limits of the City of Somerville, without a written permit from this board.


Every person keeping hens shall cause the place where they are kept to be well ventilated and drained, and kept at all times in a cleanly and wholesome condition. Such permit may be revoked at any time when such revocation shall appear to the board to be necessary for the public health and safety. All such permits shall expire on the first day of May annually.


Health Department Account.


CREDIT. 1


Appropriation


$43,827 80


Receipts :-


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, conta- gious diseases


115 82


Middlesex Paper Company, paper


1,413 00


City of Cambridge, contagious diseases


465 00


Hannibal S. Pond, offal


1,100 00


Milk inspector, milk fees


132 04


Permit fees


68 00


Public Buildings


Maintenance, School-


houses, janitors


39 00


Total credit


$47,160 66


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Salary of agent


$1,200 00


Salary of superintendent of collection of ashes and offal


1,100 00


Salary of inspector of animals and pro- visions


800 00


Salary of inspector of milk and vinegar


800 00


Salary of bacteriologist


622 58


Collecting ashes


13,761 75


Collecting offal


11,982 00


Stable expenses


1,438 00


Amount carried forward


$31,704 33


270


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward


$31,704 33


Wagons, sleds, and repairing same


1,570 95


Tools and repairing same


237 40


Harnesses and horse clothing


360 01


Horses and horse doctoring


1,291 46


Hay and grain


4,488 94


Vaccine virus


10 20


Burying dead animals


122 00


Books, stationery, printing and postage


108 15


Office expenses, milk inspector


20 36


Bacteriological laboratory


26 70


Telephones


137 21


Smallpox cases


725 03


Smallpox hospital


· 514 50


Incidentals


249 76


Compulsory vaccination


4,526 71


Board of agent's horse


319 00


Care of diphtheria and scarlet fever cases,


57 38


Horseshoeing


690 57


Total debit


$47,160 66


ALLEN F. CARPENTER, Chairman, ALBERT C. ALDRICH, M. D., EDMUND S. SPARROW,


Board of Health.


REPORT OF BACTERIOLOGIST.


Somerville, January 26, 1904.


To the Board of Health of the City of Somerville :-


Gentlemen,-I herewith present the report of the bacteriol- ogist for the year 1903.


During the latter part of December, 1902, in accordance with your vote, a laboratory was established at the city hall and regu- lar bacteriological examinations were commenced upon January 1, 1903.


During the year, 817 examinations were made of cultures for the diphtheria organism, 137 examinations made of sputum from patients suspected of having tuberculosis, 72 examinations to detect the Widal reaction in typhoid fever, and seven examina- tions for making a diagnosis of malaria in patients showing symptoms of that disease.


With the beginning of the year your board established regu- lations, which required, in cases of diphtheria, that no patient should be released from quarantine until two consecutive nega- tive cultures had been obtained from the patient, one by the attending physician and one by a physician representing the board, thus making the work more extensive than had been pre- viously required. Culture stations were also established at four different parts of the city, which were later increased to six in number, to more generally accommodate the physicians of the city, at which places, in connection with the laboratory, culture outfits and sputum bottles could be obtained. The outfits for typhoid fever and malaria were to be obtained at the laboratory only. To avoid delay in the examination of specimens, it was required that all specimens should be sent to the laboratory at the' city hall, thus obviating any delay through the culture stations. Specimens left at the city hall as late as midnight are placed in the thermostat immediately, making it possible for a result to be obtained early the next morning.


Diphtheria .- Eight hundred and seventeen cultures have been examined for diphtheria, 387 being in males, and 430 in females. Diphtheria being a disease of children, 282 of these examinations have been made in children under five years of age, 199 in those from five to ten years of age, 125 from ten to twenty and 185 in adults over twenty years. In twenty-six cases the age of the patient was not stated. Three hundred and sixty examina- tions were made for the diagnosis of the case, ninety-four prov- ing positive, and 266 negative. Of the positive results fifty-six were of cases in which the attending physician's diagnosis of diphtheria was confirmed, eleven in which the clinical diagnosis was tonsilitis, and twenty-seven in which no definite diagnosis was made. Of the 266 negative examinations, thirty-five were obtained in which the clinical diagnosis was diphtheria, 122 in which the diagnosis was tonsilitis, and 109 in which no diagnosis had been made.


272


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Four hundred and fifty-seven cultures were taken for release of patients from quarantine, ninety-five of which were positive, and 362 negative. The importance of taking release cultures is demonstrated by these figures, over fifty per cent. of the patients showing the presence of the bacilli in the throat after the clinical evidence of the disease has disappeared. In five examinations there was no growth upon the serum tube.


Tuberculosis .- One hundred thirty-seven examinations have been made of sputum suspected of containing the tubercle bacil- lus, twenty-six of which were positive and 111 negative. In thirty cases, a definite diagnosis of this disease had been made by the attending physician, but in four of them the organism could not be detected. In the remainder of the cases, seventy-four were stated as not showing evidence of the disease, and in thirty- three cases no statements were made giving information as to its character. Although printed directions accompany each outfit, telling how the specimen should be obtained, it has not been un- usual for specimens to be sent to the laboratory containing only saliva from the mouth with no secretion from the lungs or bron- chial tubes. Physicians should be urged to give definite in- structions to each patient, relating to the collection of the sputum, for in some instances a negative report would mislead both physician and patient. Consumption, to-day, is recognized as an infectious disease, and all persons afflicted with it should be instructed in the modern methods for preventing its spread. In some cases this is not done by the attending physician, and it would seem wise for your board to require that this disease be reported to you, as other infectious diseases are to-day, and that printed instructions and advice be sent to each patient ill with the disease. The decrease in the death rate of consumption, and the cure of persons afflicted with it, is due to the improved and in- telligent manner with which cases are treated, and the preven- tion of further spread of the disease is a subject which is of im- portance to all local boards of health.


Typhoid Fever .- Seventy-two examinations of the blood of patients suspected of having typhoid fever have been made, twenty-seven of which proved positive. In twenty-nine cases a positive diagnosis of this disease had been made by the attending physician ; in six, it was definitely stated not to be typhoid fever ; and in the remainder, no statement was made relating to the diagnosis.


Malaria .- Seven examinations were made of the blood of patients suspected of having this disease, all of which proved negative, and the disease cannot be considered as one of promi- nence in this city.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK L. MORSE, M. D.,


Bacteriologist.


-....


.


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.


Somerville, January 1, 1904.


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


Gentlemen,-I submit the following report as inspector of . animals and provisions for the year ending December 31, 1903.


I have inspected, examined, condemned, and caused to be de- stroyed,-3,863 pounds fresh beef, 169 pounds corned beef, 453 pounds veal, 34 calves, 9 livers, 221 pounds fresh pork, 94 pounds mutton, 569 pounds poultry, 1,192 mackerel, 1,263 herring, 1,167 pounds cod and haddock, 65 pounds halibut, 723 pounds pollock, 14 boxes smelts, 181 pounds swordfish, 39 lobsters, 116 crabs, 3 bushels clams, 15 quarts clams, 1 bushel oysters, 212 cabbage, 39 . bushels potatoes, 17 bushels sweet potatoes, 11 barrels greens, 13 barrels squash, 4 bushels parsnips, 5 bushels carrots, 5 boxes celery, 14 crates tomatoes, 683 bananas, 54 boxes berries, 15 boxes lemons, 3 barrels and 8 boxes oranges, 8 bushels apples, 6 bushels pears.


Twelve hundred and ninety-three horses have been ex- amined for contagious diseases, of which fifty-one were quaran- tined, forty-nine being subsequently killed, and two released.


One hundred and forty-five cows kept within the confines of the city have been examined, as required by the state board of cattle commissioners. One, which was quarantined, was after- ward killed, it having tuberculosis. All cow barns in the city have been measured.


The bakeries and restaurants throughout the city have been inspected. I find great improvement in them as to cleanliness.


Stores, markets and peddler carts to the number of 1,448 have been examined.


The number of animals killed at the five slaughtering estab- lishments in the city was as follows: 1,127,458 swine, 329,517 sheep, 54,969 calves, 23,494 cattle ; total, 1,535,438.


I have performed the duties as agent for the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals to the best of my ability.


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES M. BERRY,


Inspector of Animals and Provisions.


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR.


Somerville, January 1, 1904.


To the Board of Health :-


Gentlemen,-I herewith submit my report for the year end- ing December 31, 1903.


I have issued 258 licenses to sell milk, cream, and condensed milk. I have collected and analyzed 575 samples of milk from stores, and 241 from wagons on the street, making a total of 816 samples collected and analyzed.


I found it necessary to send only sixty-one notices that milk was below the standard, which shows that our supply of milk is the best of my three years in the office.


I have collected and tested thirty-six samples of vinegar, and have made no complaints, as they all practically stood the test of Massachusetts standard.


I have inspected butter wagons as I found them on the street. None of these are licensed to sell oleomargarine, but several stores have been so licensed.


Three hundred and ninety stores and 135 wagons have been licensed to sell milk. Five wagons have been licensed to sell cream, one to sell skimmed milk, and two condensed milk. There are about 2,800 cans, or 5,600 gallons of milk delivered to families in the city every day, and about fifty cans of cream.


I have had one butter complaint from a citizen, and found upon analysis it was renovated butter, and so reported to the complainant. He was not sure of the store where he bought it so nothing further was done.


Several citizens have brought samples of milk for analysis, reports of which have been made to them. I wish to repeat my last year's invitation to any citizen who thinks the milk he re- ceives is not up to the standard, to have it tested free of charge by bringing a sample to my office. Milk of the quality required by law is what every one is entitled to receive, and my duty is to see if they get it. Therefore, I ask every citizen's co-operation.


I have paid to the city treasurer the following amounts :-


For licenses


$129 00


For postage stamps


1 18


For cans and stoppers sold


1 86


Total


$132 04


275


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


The city treasurer has received from court fines imposed through the prosecutions of this office the sum of $188, as fol- lows :-


1 milkman, for coloring milk $50 00


1 milkman, for selling poor milk


10 00


6 storekeepers, for selling poor milk, $10 each 60 00


1 storekeeper, for watering his milk 50 00


1 storekeeper, for selling poor milk 15 00


1 storekeeper, for selling milk without license


3 00


Total


$188 00


making the total returned to the city from this office $320.04. I spent eight days in court.


My office, at 310 Broadway, is open every day from 7 A. M. to 10 P. M.


Respectfully, JULIUS E. RICHARDSON, Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.


Telephone, 21837 Somerville.


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Board of Overseers of the Poor. EDWARD B. WEST, President. ALBERT W. EDMANDS, Vice-president. HERBERT E. MERRILL.


Committees. ON FINANCE, INVESTIGATION AND RELIEF, AND CITY HOME. - Mr. West, Mr. Edmands, and Mr. Merrill.


Secretary. CORA F. LEWIS.


General Agent. CHARLES C. FOLSOM.


City Physician. ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D.


Warden of "City Home." J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN.


Matron of "City Home." MRS. CATHERINE COLQUHOUN.


Office. City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


OFFICE OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1903. )


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


Gentlemen,-According to our usual custom, we herewith submit our annual report for the year 1903.


Owing to the increase in expenditures, especially for the support of the insane, the appropriation amounting to $21,630 was not sufficient to pay the bills of this account, by some $1,491.11. The aid to families has been about the same as in 1902, although less coal was given; but the high prices the first of the year more than balance the smaller quantity, making the cost about the same. Families have been aided to dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, and groceries, in about the same quan- tities as in 1902. Aid in burials has cost the city about one-half of what it did last year. There have been 218 families aided dur- ing the year, comprising 1,119 persons. The city home and Somerville hospital are of great value in the work of the depart- ment. Nine state paupers have been committed to the state hos- pital at Tewksbury.


The amount paid out for the support of the insane poor, in- cluding the feeble-minded and dipsomaniacs, has been $16,651.44. We shall need about one-quarter of this amount for this purpose the next year, owing to the fact that the bills for their support will be paid by the state after January 1, 1904. The last quarter of this year, from October 1 to December 31, however, will have to be provided for in the appropriation of 1904. The law authoriz- ing the state to take charge of the insane January 1, 1904, was passed in 1900, and is as follows :-


1900. Chapter 451.


AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CARE OF THE INSANE BY THE STATE BOARD OF INSANITY AND TO ESTABLISH THE STATE COLONY FOR THE INSANE.


SECTION 1. The Commonwealth, from and after the first day of January in the year nineteen hundred and four, shall, by the officers and boards authorized thereto, have the care, control and treatment of all insane persons who are now cared for by the Commonwealth, or by any city or town, or by any board of officers thereof, or who may be com- mitted to the institutions of the Commonwealth established by law for the care of the insane; and no city or town shall hereafter establish any asylum or other institution for the care of the insane, nor after said date




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