Report of the city of Somerville 1912, Part 21

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 528


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1912 > Part 21


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The record of permits to keep cows, swine, goats and hens, and to collect grease is as follows :-


Cows .- Twenty-one applications were received for permits to keep forty-nine cows. Twenty permits to keep forty-eight cows were granted, and one permit was refused.


Swine .- Ten applications were received for permits to keep twenty-two swine, nine of which were granted to keep twenty swine. The fee is one dollar for each swine.


Goats .- One application was received for permit to keep one goat, which was granted. The fee is one dollar for each goat.


Hens .- One hundred and twenty-six applications for per- mits to keep 2,280 hens were received. Eighty-two permits to keep 1,583 hens were granted, and forty-four permits were refused.


Grease .- Twelve applications were received for permits for fourteen teams to collect grease. Twelve permits were granted. The fee is two dollars for each team.


Melting and Rendering .- Two parties have been licensed to carry on the business of melting and rendering, under the pro- visions of the revised laws of 1902, chapter 75, section 111, for which a fee of one dollar is charged.


Pediers.


Two hundred and fifty-four certificates of registration were issued to hawkers and pedlers during the year under the pro- visions of ordinance number 29-a decrease of forty-nine over the year 1911. Each pedler is required to present a statement


283


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


from the sealer of weights and measures, showing that his measures and scales have been properly sealed, before a certifi- cate is issued to him. Pedlers are also required to present their vehicles at the police station the first Monday of each month for inspection by the agent of the board, that he may see if they are kept in a clean condition, and are properly marked with the owner's name and number. A fee of one dollar is charged for each registration.


Stables.


Under the provisions of sections 69 and 70 of chapter 102 of the revised laws of 1902, twenty petitions for licenses to erect and use stables were received, fourteen were granted, five were refused, and action on one is still pending.


Board of Infants.


Fifteen parties, whose applications were first approved by this board, have been licensed by the state board of charity to care for thirty children in this city, under the provisions of chapter 83 of the revised laws of 1902.


Deaths.


There were 983 deaths and seventy-five stillbirths in the city during the year, as specified in the following table, which shows a decrease of deaths under the previous year of fifty- two.


Deaths at Somerville hospital during the year


63


Deaths at hospital for contagious diseases and tuberculosis


32


Deaths at home for aged poor (Highland avenue), 36


Deaths at city home .


9


Deaths at other institutions


.


.


DEATHS BY AGES.


AGES.


Total.


Male.


Female.


Under one


142


70


72


Two to three


8


5


3


Three to four


13


8


5


Four to five


6


5


1


Five to ten


20


9


11


Ten to fifteen


7


3


4


Fifteen to twenty


22


12


10


Twenty to thirty


53


21


32


Thirty to forty


70


32


38


Forty to fifty


75


33


42


Fifty to sixty


101


40


61


Sixty to seventy


163


62


101


Seventy to eighty


165


76


89


Eighty to ninety


83


31


52


Ninety and over


17


7


10


Total


983


438


545


4


One to two


38


24


14


284


ANNUAL REPORTS. Mortality in Somerville in 1912.


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


I. GENERAL DISEASES. (A. Epidemic Diseases.)


Scarlet fever


1


1


Diphtheria


1


3


1


1


1


4


3


Typhoid fever .


1


3


Dysentery


..


1


La grippe


1


2


Measles


1


1


1


2


1


1


5


Pertussis


. ..


(B. Other General Diseases.)


Septicemia


2


1


1


1


2


....


. Rheumatism


Pernicious anæmia


2


2


1


1


1


1


....


Cancer of lip


1


1


Cancer of gall bladder


1


1


2


Cancer of bowel


1


1


Cancer of breast


1


1


1


1


1


2


. . .


Cancer of face


1


. .


..


1


2


1


1


1


1


7


Cancer of lung


2


1


4


1


8


Cancer of ovary


....


1


2


2


1


3


12


Cancer of jaw and throat


1


1


1


3


Cancer of uterus .


1


1


1


2


1


1


10


Cancer of pancreas


...


..


. .


.


..


. ..


. .


·


3


3


1


2


2


1


2


1


4


19


Tuberculosis


10


11


9


1


13


4


5


7


4


1


4


9


78


Tubercular meningitis


1


1


3


2


2


1


1


1


12


Tuberculosis of spine


1


1


Purpura hemorrhagica


1


1


2


Abcess of liver


1


1


Status lympliaticus


1


1


2


Hereditary syphilis


1


1


2


2


1


1


1


1


Toxaemia


II. DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.


Meningitis


2


1


1


1


1


6


. ..


....


. .


7


14


9


5


4


3


7


4


6


8


4


3


74


Paralysis


1


2


3


1


1


2


2


12


Acute mania


1


1


1


2


1


1


2


1


3


13


Epilepsy


2


2


Locomotor ataxia


1


1


2


1


1


2


1


1


1


1


1


3


Myelitis .


III. DISEASES OF THE CIRCULA - TORY SYSTEM.


Atheroma


Heart disease


9


12


6


13


6


9


6


5


6


9


8


10


99


Endocarditis


2


1


6


3


1


1


1


2


2


1


20


Myocarditis


3


4


2


3


1


1


3


2


4


23


Pericarditis


1


2


1


2


2


1


1


9


Heart exhaustion


..


....


.


. .


1


2


1


2


. . . .


19


IV. DISEASES OF THE RESPIRA- TORY SYSTEM.


Pneumonia


10


23


18


8


8


9


7


1


4


7


9


19


123


Bronchitis


3


5


1


3


2


1


1


2


1


2


23


Pulmonary œdema


1


1


1


2


1


3


1


10


Pleurisy .


Laryngitis


....


Pulmonary embolism


1


1


..


.


..


....


...


.. . .


..


. .


..


. .


..


1


Angina pectoris


....


1


1


Regurgitation .


5


1


3


1


1


.


1


2


3


1


1


Cancer intestines


1


1


Cancer liver and kidneys


..


Z


1


Cancer of stomach


1


1


....


. .


1


1


Tumor


1


1


1


3


Diabetes


.


1


1


Werlhoff's disease


Rachitis .


Addison's disease


Autointoxication


1


1


.. . .


.


1


Hemiplegia


1


Eclampsia


. . . .


Encephalitis


Cerebro embolism


1


1


1


1


Cerebro-spinal meningitis


. ..


1


1


7


1


1


1


3 8


. .


7


1


..


...


. .


2


1


1


14 4


2


..


...


Apoplexy


. .


...


. .


285


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1912 .- Concluded.


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


V. DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.


A cute indigestion


4


2


2


8


Colitis


11


Gastritis


1


1


4


Peritonitis


2


4


1


1


1


1


..


1


1


1


9


Ptomaine poisoning


1


1


Gastric ulcer


1


1


Enteritis


1


1


2


3


1


3


3


4


4


22


Hemorrhage of pancreas


1


1


3


1


8


Ulcer of duodenum


1


. .


1


Cholecystitis


1


1


2


Cirrhosis liver


VI. DISEASES OF GENITO-URI- NARY SYSTEM.


Bright's disease


1


1


1


1


2


1


1


10


Uraemia .


1


2


1


1


1


8


Nephritis


5


2


6


1


3


1


2


1


1


4


3


1


30


Pyelitis


Cystitis


VII. CHILDBIRTH.


Childbirth


1


1


Placenta Praevia


1


VIII. DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND CELLULAR TISSUE.


Gangrene


1


1


1


3


IX. MALFORMATIONS.


Hydrocephalus


1


1


X. EARLY INFANCY.


Malnutrition


1


1


1


1


1


1


2


1


9


Asphyxia neonatorum


2


Premature birth and congenital debility


4


2


5


6


4


3


3


4


~


2


3


4


42


Atalectosis


4


Cerebral hemorrhage


XI. OLD AGE.


Old age


2


1


1


1


1


1


1


8


Senile dementia


2


1


1


2


1


..


5


6


2


1


6


5


2


1


2


5


4


3


42


General malnutrition


1


XII. VIOLENCE.


Drowning


1


2


3


Railroad


2


2


1


..


Suicide


1


1


1


2


5


3


1


1


1


7


1


..


1


3


Accidental gas poisoning.


3


Fracture of skull .


1


1


2


1


5


Surgical shock


1


. .


1


1


Fall from window


1


1


2


Run over by fire engine


1


1


Heat prostration .


3


3


Trampled on by horse


1


1


2


1


...


1


Homicide, throat cut


1


1


Total


94


109


96


76


94


72


65


61


68


75


80


93


983


Population (estimated)


81,000


Death rate per thousand.


12.13


....


·


2


3


1


2


2


1


1


. .


9


Biliary calculi


2


Cholera infantum


. ..


1


1


1


2


Intestinal obstruction


.


1


2


3


1


1


. .


1


. .


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


8


Arterio-sclerosis .


Burning .


1


1


3


Accidental burns from hot water


2


2


1


. .


1


Accidental poisoning


...


. .


. .


Run over by automobile


. .


....


1


Suffocation


1


1


1


1


1


5


2


. .


3


3


...


1


286


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Diseases Dangerous to the Public Health.


This board has adjudged that the diseases known as acti- nomycosis, anterior poliomyelitis, Asiatic cholera, cerebro- spinal meningitis, diphtheria, glanders, leprosy, malignant pus- tule, measles, ophthalmia neonatorum, scarlet fever, smallpox, tetanus, trachoma, trichinosis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, typhus fever, varicella, whooping-cough, and yellow fever are infectious, or contagious, and dangerous to the public health and safety within the meaning of the statutes. 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. On receipt of a card from a physician, the superin- tendent of schools, the principal of the school in the district in which the patient resides, the librarian of the public library and state board of health are notified.


Scarlet Fever .- One hundred fifty-seven cases of scarlet fever have been reported during the year, two of which resulted fatally. In 1911 there were 109 cases, three of which resulted fatally.


Diphtheria .- One hundred one cases of diphtheria have been reported during the year, fourteen of which were fatal. In 1911 there were 183 cases, fifteen of which proved fatal. Anti-toxin has been provided by the state board of health, and placed by this board in central locations for use by physicians. Culture tubes for diphtheria, and sputum bottles for suspected tuberculosis are obtainable at the same stations.


Warning cards are used in dealing with scarlet fever and diphtheria, and the premises are fumigated by the use of formaldehyde gas, immediately after the termination of the case. An inspection is made by the agent of the board of the premises where diphtheria is reported, and all sanitary defects discovered are required to be remedied as soon as possible.


Tuberculosis .- One hundred fifty-five cases of tuberculosis have been reported during the year. There were seventy-eight deaths from this disease.


Typhoid Fever .- Forty-three cases of typhoid fever have been reported during the year, four of which have proved fatal. In 1911 there were forty-three cases reported, six of which were fatal.


Number of persons with diphtheria or scarlet fever taken in ambulance to hospital by agent 113


Number of cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria for which 258


houses were placarded


Number of premises disinfected by agent 381


It will be seen by the foregoing figures that 381 premises were disinfected. Thirty-three disinfections were made at the request of attending physicians whose patients had been ill


287


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


with typhoid fever, cancer, or other diseases. Fifty-two schoolrooms were disinfected, thirty-six for scarlet fever, six- teen for diphtheria, and 129 premises for tuberculosis, in com- pliance with the regulations passed by this board.


Many library books have also been disinfected, and quan- tities of infected bedding and other material have been burned.


TABLES.


The prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in the city during the several months of the year 1912 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 :-


Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and Typhoid Fever Reported in 1912.


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


21


....


....


12


1


8.3


2


..


. .


February


12


1


8.3


10


2


...


...


March .


24


. .


. .


..


8


3


37.5


4


1


25.


May


15


1


6.6


11


June


13


....


...


10


1


10.0


4


....


....


July


10


....


....


5


. .


....


....


September


0


....


....


5


1


20.0


6


....


....


October


6


....


....


15


4


26.6


0


....


....


December .


21


....


...


10


3


30.0


0


....


....


Total


157


2


1.3


101


14


13.8


43


4


9.3


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


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


1903.


1904.


1905.


1906


1907.


1908.


1909.


1910.


1911.


1912.


1903.


1904.


1905.


1906.


1907.


1908.


1909.


1910.


1911.


1912.


1903.


1904.


1905.


1906.


1907.


1908.


1909.


1910.


1911.


1912.


February


2


1


March


1


1


81.800


1


1


1


1


2


1


1


1


3


June


1


1


1


:


.


.


1


1


2


2


1


1


1


1


.


2


1


1


1


2


1 1


1


1


2


2


1


4


November


1


.


: -:


: :


3


1


4


2


3


1


3


.


.


-


-


Total . .


10


3 4


1 12


4


9


5


3


2


19


14 17 15


9 11 27 20


15 14


10 11


9 11 11 9


8 6 64


-


-


-


-


-


1


-


-


-


1


-


January .


:


:


1


1


2


2


2


1


1


3


1


1


1


1


.


August


1


1


1


3 2


2


2


October


2


1


1


2


1


1


4


3


1


-. 1.


: :


1: :


December


3


1


: 11


:


-


-


-


-


-


|181


2 1


July


September


1


1


2


2


1


1


1


2


....


....


August


9


....


....


8


1


12.3


4


....


....


November


14


....


....


4


April


12


...


..


....


7


...


....


....


4


3


75.


3


...


5


5


1


-


-


-


-


1


: :


April


May


1


2


1


1


1


1


-


-


-


Cases


288


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table of Deaths During the Last Ten Years.


Year.


No. of Deaths.


Rate per 1,000.


1903


955


14.25


1904


964


13.87


1905


968


13.83


1906


1,004


13.94


1907


997


13.47


1908


903


11.96


1909


988


13.08


1910


1,043


13.45


1911


1,035


12.93


1912


983


12.13


Average death rate per 1,000 for ten years


13.29


Table Showing the Five Principal Causes of Death in Somerville in 1912.


PNEUMONIA.


HEART DISEASE.


TUBERCULOSIS.


APOPLEXY.


CANCER.


Number of Deaths.


Number per


10,000 pop-


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


Number of


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


123


15.1


99


12.2


78


9.6


74


9.1


55


6.8


Medical Inspection of Schools.


The medical inspection of the schools of Somerville, which was instituted in December, 1907, has been continued during the year. The value of the system has been constantly demon- strated, and the work has been done in a very satisfactory manner. There has been harmony of action between the board of health and the school board, and the school principals and teachers have very generally co-operated with the inspectors in making the system as successful as possible.


The inspectors make daily visits to the schools under their charge, and to them are referred all children who show evi- dences of disease or abnormal conditions. Children who are found to be unfit to remain in school are sent home, accom- panied by a slip properly filled out advising that the family physician be consulted. The inspectors also make an annual inspection of all the children in the schools, and any defects discovered are called to the attention of the parents. Monthly inspections of the school buildings and premises are made. and suggestions or criticisms are referred to the proper authorities. Every effort is made to protect the health of the children and to co-operate with the parents in keeping the children in as normal a condition as possible.


Deaths.


.


1


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


289


It is extremely desirable that one or more school nurses should be employed to supplement and make more effective the work of the inspectors, and it is to be hoped that funds will be available to carry out this project.


In accordance with the provisions of the statute, tests of sight and hearing are made by the principals or teachers.


During the year 7,484 children have been referred to the inspectors during their daily visits, and 825 have been sent home because of illness.


The following list will show the classes of diseases and de- fects which have been found in the schools, except defects of sight and hearing :-


LIST OF DISEASES AND NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED.


1. Infectious diseases :-


Measles


. 123


Whooping cough .


·


7


Chicken pox


35


Mumps . .


7


Total


2. Diseases of the nose and throat :- n


.


172


Enlarged tonsils and adenoids 533


Inflammatory diseases 141


Other abnormal conditions : 164


Total


838


3. Diseases of the eyes :- ·


Inflammatory conditions of the eyes and lids 62


Foreign bodies and injuries . 12


Other abnormal conditions .


83


Total


.


157


4. Diseases of the ears :-


Inflammatory condition .


7


Other abnormal conditions


7


Total


14


5. Diseases of the skin :-


Pediculosis


866


Impetigo


63


Scabies


10


Eczema


23


Tinea .


5


Herpes


13


Miscellaneous conditions


55


Total


. 1,035


6. Miscellaneous diseases :-


Constitutional diseases 41


Diseases of the digestive system .


31


Diseases of the respiratory system


65


Diseases of the circulatory system


30


Diseases of the lymphatic system


31


Diseases of the nervous system . .


17


Diseases of the urinary system .


.


1


Wounds and injuries


o


78


.


.


.


290


ANNUAL REPORTS.


-


Diseases of teeth


1,160


Other conditions


126


Total


1,580


Total number of diseases reported 3,796 Vaccinations performed . . 594


Examinations for vaccinations 739


The districts and inspectors are as follows :-


District No. 1 .- Prescott, Hanscom, Davis, and Edgerly schools. Inspector, Dr. Francis Shaw, 57 Cross street.


District No. 2 .- Baxter, Knapp, Perry, and Bell schools. Inspector, Dr. Edward J. Dailey, 46 Bow street.


District No. 3 .- Bennett, Pope, Cummings, and Proctor schools. Inspector, Dr. L. H. Raymond, 146 Highland avenue.


District No. 4 .- Morse, Carr, Durell, and Burns schools. Inspector, Dr. W. L. Bond, 322 Highland avenue.


District No. 5 .- Brown, Bingham, and Forster schools. In- spector, Dr. H. M. Stoodley, 283 Highland avenue.


District No. 6 .- Lincoln, Hodgkins, Highland, Cutler, and Lowe schools. Inspector, Dr. H. Cholerton, 94 College avenue. District No. 7 .- Glines and High schools. Inspector, Dr. R. F. Gibson, 76 College avenue.


Parochial Schools .- Inspector, Dr. M. W. White, 21 Walnut street.


Hospital for Contagious Diseases.


Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria .- The hospital has continued to demonstrate its value to the city during the past year. The institution is now well equipped and in every way modern and convenient.


Miss Edith M. Grant has continued as matron, and has done excellent work. The hospital has been carried on economically, and in every particular the results have been satisfactory to the board.


The statistical report is included in the report of the medi- cal inspector.


Tuberculosis Hospital.


The tuberculosis hospital has been in operation since March S of the year 1911, and has proved conclusively the necessity and desirability of such an institution in our city.


There have been eighty-eight patients received at the hos- pital during 1912.


The conditions shown and the results obtained in the cases received prove, also, the need of continued work along this line on a broader basis. Recent figures show that there are ap- proximately 40,000 cases of tuberculosis in Massachusetts, and that there are accommodations for not more than 4,000 pa-


291


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


tients. The state is making every effort to save its people, and each city and town should feel itself, in a manner, responsible for the progress of this work. It is to the credit of the city of Somerville that we are among the first who have established a hospital for tuberculosis, and that our hospital has been ap- proved by the trustees of hospitals for tuberculosis.


The good work accomplished and the outlook for the com- ing year promise even greater results in the future, both from the standpoint of the work actually done, and the help rendered to the patients, and, last, but by no means least, the informa- tion and instruction, which is a great factor in the treatment of this disease, is being steadily pursued and given out, that those who are discharged from the hospital may know how to safe- guard and care for others as well as themselves, and prevent, so far as is possible, the spread of tuberculosis in the city.


It is very necessary that another building similar in size and construction to the present building should be built at once, as the accommodations are not adequate to provide for patients desiring admission.


Mental Disorders.


Under the provisions of Chapter 394 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1911 the Board of Health is required to provide a place for the care of and to care for persons suffering from certain mental disorders prior to their commitment to an in- stitution. At the present time this Board has no proper place at its command for the detention and care of these cases. A very suitable arrangement could be made for this work in the building suggested above.


Bacteriological Department.


The work of this department was performed by Frank L. Morse, M. D., medical inspector of the board, whose report is appended to this report.


Specimens will be received at the laboratory at the city hall daily, including Sunday, at any time, and they will be exam- ined and reported upon the morning following their reception


SPECIMENS AND ANTI-TOXIN.


Outfits for specimens to be examined for tuberculosis, diphtheria, and typhoid fever, and diphtheria anti-toxin, vac- cine lymph and nitrate of silver solution may be obtained at the laboratory and at the following places :-


Adams Pharmacy, Willow and Highland avenues.


R. A. Peckham, 154 Perkins street.


Bay State Pharmacy, 173 Washington street.


Edward E. Edwards, 25 Union square. Fred W. Gay, 524 Somerville avenue.


John Morrison, Highland avenue, corner Cedar street.


292


ANNUAL REPORTS.


1


Percy A. Hall, 2 Studio building, Davis square.


Henry W. Perry, 529 Medford street, Magoun square.


Eugene B. Carpenter, 10 Broadway.


Richardson Pharmacy, 310 Broadway.


George E. Wardrobe, 693 Broadway.


Willis S. Furbush & Co., 1153 Broadway.


After the specimen is collected, it must be taken to the cul- ture station or sent directly to the laboratory at the city hall.


Undertakers.


Under the provisions of section 44 of chapter 78 of the revised laws of 1902, twenty-one persons have been duly li- censed as undertakers.


Examiners of Plumbers.


The public statutes provide for a board of examiners of plumbers, consisting of a 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.


Financial Statement for 1912. HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$9,800 00


Appropriation


2,000 00


Refund from Commonwealth of Massa-


chusetts


12 86


Received from


Contagious Hospital ac-


14 40


Total credit


$11,827 26


Salaries


$4,241 93


Burying dead animals


106 00


Books, stationery, postage, etc.


218 77


Bacteriological laboratory


36 90


Board of agent's horse .


327 00


Horseshoeing


33 50


Repairing harnesses


5 50


Repairing vehicles


28 15


Telephones


127 88


Care of diseases dangerous to the public


health (settled in Somerville)


5,568 99


Incidentals


123 50


Total debit


$10,818 12


Amount unexpended .


$1,009 14


count


DEBIT.


293


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Inspection of Animals and Provisions.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


DEBIT.


Salary of inspector .


$1,200 00


Sundry expenses


54 81


Total debit


$1,254 81


Amount overdrawn .


$4 81


Inspection of Milk and Vinegar.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


DEBIT.


Salary of inspector .


$1,300 00


Office and laboratory expenses


135 97


Maintenance of inspector's automobile


350 59


Total debit


$1,786 56


Amount overdrawn .


$86 56


Inspection of School Children.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


.


$1,550 00


Salaries of inspectors


$1,500 00


Printing


30 85


Total debit


$1,530 85


Amount unexpended .


$19 15


Contagious and Tuberculosis Hospital.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$12,000 00


Appropriation


2,000 00


Transfer from Excess and Deficiency ac- count


982 37


Total credit


$14,982 37


DEBIT.


Salaries


$7,863 14


Groceries and provisions


6,667 50


Supplies


1,092 19


Incidentals


429 45


Total debit


$16,052 28


Amount overdrawn


$1,069 91


.


$1,250 00


$1,700 00


DEBIT.


294


ANNUAL REPORTS.


1


RECAPITULATION. Appropriations Overdrawn.


Inspection of Animals and Provisions . $4 81


Inspection of Milk and Vinegar .


86 56


Contagious and Tuberculosis Hospital 1,069 91


Total overdrawn


$1,161 28


Appropriations Unexpended.


Health Department .


$1,009 14


Inspection of School Children


19 15


Total unexpended


$1,028 29


Net amount overdrawn


$132 99


WESLEY T. LEE, M. D., Chairman, JACKSON CALDWELL, WILLIAM P. FRENCH,


Board of Health.


REPORT OF THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR.


Somerville, January 1, 1913. To the Board of Health of the City of Somerville :-


Gentlemen,-I herewith present the report of the medical inspector for the year 1912, including the statistics of the con- tagious disease hospital and the bacteriological laboratory.


Scarlet Fever. During the year 157 cases of this disease were reported in the city, an increase of forty-eight in number over the previous year. Every case has been inspected, before the house was fumigated, and 125 visits were made at resi- dences to determine when desquamation was complete.


Diphtheria. During the year 101 cases of diphtheria have been reported in the city, a decrease from the previous year, when 183 cases were reported. The same restrictions are placed upon all cases, and before patients are released from quarantine two successive negative cultures must be obtained. It is optional with the attending physician to take the first culture, but the second must be taken by the medical inspector, and during the year 111 visits were made at houses for this pur- pose.


Typhoid Fever. During the year forty-three cases of this disease were reported, no change in number from the previous year.


Tuberculosis. One hundred and fifty-five cases of tuber- culosis were reported during the year, an increase of one over the year previous. In November, 1906, following a conference with the overseers of the poor, these cases, which had been pre- viously cared for medically by the city physician, were trans- ferred to the board of health and the medical inspector in- structed to care for them. During 1912 such cases have been transferred to the new tuberculosis hospital for treatment.


Ophthalmia Neonatorum. Thirty-four cases of this disease were reported to the board during 1912, all of which were visited and such action taken as was necessary to prevent blindness, four of them being removed to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for treatment.




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