Report of the city of Somerville 1919, Part 16

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 406


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1919 > Part 16


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4 Boxes


Strawberries


18 Boxes


Strawberries


3 Crates


Meats.


Beef (corned)


. 239 Lbs.


Beef (fresh) .


324 Lbs.


Fowl


371 Lbs.


Hamburg Steak


84 Lbs.


Liver


29 Lbs.


Mutton .


361 Lbs.


Pork (fresh) .


203 Lbs.


Swine (whole)


2


Sausages (fresh)


10 Lbs.


Tripe .


8 Lbs.


Veal


306 Lbs.


Vegetables.


71 Bunches


Beans (shell)


3 Bush.


Beans (string)


6 Bush.


Beans (string)


5 Baskets


Beets


6 Bush.


Cauliflower


1 Bush.


Celery


1 Bush.


Corn


12 Bush.


Greens


10 Bush.


Lettuce


10 Bush.


Lettuce


7 Boxes


Parsnips


2 Bush.


Potatoes (white)


39 Bush.


Potatoes


(white)


1 Bbl.


Potatoes


(sweet)


: Bbl.


Radishes


1 Bush.


Rhubarb


50 Lbs.


·


264 Lbs.


Halibut .


·


Asparagus


8 Baskets


Lemons


234


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Squash


4 Bbl.


Tomatoes


9 Bush.


Turnips


1 Box


Turnips


2 Bush.


Macaroni


5 Team loads damaged at fire.


Slaughter Houses.


During the year weekly inspections have been made at all slaughtering establishments and these plants were never in a more sanitary condition than at present.


Owing to labor difficulties the number of animals slaughtered during 1919 in this city was somewhat less than during previous years.


Number of Animals Slaughtered in 1919.


Swine


1,150,585


Sheep


215,739


Calves


.


.


.


111,769


Cattle


28,181


1,506,274


Examination of Animals for Contagious Diseases. Glanders.


There has been a steady decrease of glanders in this city for several years which I believe is largely due to a thorough inspection and disinfection of stables and blacksmith shops, and to the discontinuance of public drinking fountains for horses. Every stable and blacksmith shop in the city is in first class condition.


In 1913 there were 55 horses killed for glanders; in 1914 thirty; in 1915, 10; in 1916, 13, but eight of these were in one stable; in 1917, 9; in 1918, 7, and in 1919 only 3 were killed, thus showing a very marked decrease in the disease.


Animals Examined.


Quaran-


Inspected


tined


Killed


Released


Horses


2,368


5


3


2


Swine


504


50


0


50


Cows


28


1


0


1


Goats


6


0


0


0


Dogs


3


3


1


2


2,909


59


4


55


.


.


.


During the absence of the agent of this board while serv- ing as Major, 12th Regt. of the State Guard in Boston from Sept. 10 to Oct. 25, 1919, I performed his duties in connec- tion with my own as far as possible.


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES M. BERRY, Inspector of Animals and Provisions.


235


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR AND ACTING BACTERIOLOGIST.


Chemical and Bacteriological Laboratory, City Hall Annex, Somerville, Mass.,


January 1, 1920.


To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen : -


I herewith present my annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1919.


On the above date there were in this city licensed to sell milk, 432 stores and 47 dealers, and 152 stores to sell oleomar- garine.


Of the 47 dealers, 19 are located in this city and 28 in the neighboring cities and towns, and 4 dealers have discontinued business.


There are approximately 25,000 quarts of milk and 1,900 quarts of cream distributed in Somerville daily, and 16 deal- ers are pasteurizing their milk according to Revised Laws Chapter 259, Acts 1917.


Table 1.


Months.


Licenses


Issued.


License


Fees.


Analytical


Fees.


Cash Paid


City Treas.


Analyses


on Account.


Income for


Dept.


January


10


5.00


5.00


10.00


15.00


February


19


9.50


9.50


15.25


24.75


March


19


9.50


1.00


10.50


41.50


52.00


April.


19


9.50


5.50


15.00


37.00


52.00


May


418


209.00


1.00


210.00


39.00


249.00


June


92


46.00


46.00


17.50


63.50


July


17


8.50


11.00


19.50


16.00


35.50


August


21


10.50


16.50


27.00


84.00


111.00


September


11


5.50


8.00


13.50


36.00


49.50


October ..


24


12.00


6.50


18.50


2.00


20.50


November


11


5.50


5.50


4.00


9.50


December


24


12.00


12.00


5.50


17.50


Total


685


342.50


49.50


392.00


307.75


699.75


Total


236


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table 2. Samples of Milk, Cream, Ice Cream and Vinegar Examined.


Months.


Chemical


Samples


Collected.


Bact.


Collections.


Lorenz


Tests.


Total


Collections.


Samples


left at


Office.


Total


Examina-


tions.


January


60


40


40


140


20


160


February


63


42


62


167


33


200


March


156


80


32


268


81


349


April


201


80


82


363


64


427


May


184


80


86


350


78


428


June


80


175


63


318


32


350


July.


114


82


74


270


32


302


August


177


66


27


270


135


405


September


83


46


83


212


77


289


October


104


60


104


268


4


272


November


112


74


42


228


5


233


December


241


60


28


329


11


340


Total.


1575


885


723


3183


572


3755


Table 3.


Months.


Chemical


Notices.


Bact.


Notices.


Sanitary


Notices.


Temperature


Notices.


Total


Notices.


Inspections.


January


3


1


1


5


10


February


3


2



9


5


March


6


2


5


13


6


April


16


13


5


34


12


May


18


11


9


38


17


June


14


17


12


43


15


July


30


24


24


78


29


August


30


4


12


46


24


September


7


2


4


13


8


October


15


7


5


27


17


November


10


4


18


32


10


December


5


6


3


14


27


Total


157


93


102


352


180


There were 4 court cases during 1919, all found guilty and paid a fine of $10.00 each.


237


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Each month during the year pint samples have been taken from every milk dealer and analysed for food value (fats and solids) and cleanliness (bacterial count and sediment) and the vearly average is shown in the alphabetical list of dealers which follows :


Bacteria Per C. C.


Butter Fat Total Solids Maximum


Legal


Legal


Past.


Name of Dealer


3.35%


12.00%


Allowed Raw 500,000 Past. 100,000


Raw


Acton Farm Milk Co.


3.75


12.14


684,000


Past.


A. H. Andrews


3.65


12.11


77,000


Raw


*J. Basher & Sons


3.25


11.44


290,000


Raw


H. E. Bemis


3.79


12.42


214,000


Raw


· * H. C. Bennison


3.53


12.07


182,000


Past.


E. E. Breen


3.70


12.32


294,000


Past.


F. S. Cummings


3.70


12.29


61,000


Past.


John Dillon


3.57


12.02


264,000


Raw


F. E. Edgerly


3.65


12.34


538,000


Raw


A. F. P. Gassett


3.83


12.33


564,000


Raw


F. E. Giles


3.65


12.13


200,000


Past.


J. E. & H. J. Giroux


3.74


12.28


297,000


Raw


B. J. Griffin


3.68


12.18


1,536,000


Raw


J. P. Griffin


3.66


12.22


730,000


Raw


J. M. Hager & Son


3.74


12.25


827,000


Past.


H. P. Hood & Sons


3.84


12.29


80,000


Past.


Kendall Brothers


3.67


12.24


337,000


Raw


Maple Farm Milk Co.


3.81


12.34


108,000


Past.


A. T. Martin


3.83


12.35


134,000


Past.


E. M. Monahan


3.84


12.38


628,000


Raw


W. F. Noble


4.24


12.97


584,000


Past.


P. O'Shaughnessy


3.80


12.37


2,558,000


Raw


S. E. Paige


3.67


12.16


423,000


Raw


H. A. Prescott


3.70


12.20


131,000


Past.


Seven Oaks Dairy Co.


3.98


12.64


63,000


Raw


M. P. Shattuck


3.51


11.94


848,000


Raw


H. L. Stone


3.67


12.11


244,000


Past.


*Swenson Brothers


3.54


12.00


345,000


Raw


*F. P. Thompson & Son


3.59


12.07


954,000


Raw


Toothacker Brothers


3.80


12.32


94,000


Past.


Turner Centre Creamery Co.


4.10


12.72


32,000


Past.


A. S. Tyler


3.76


12.24


1,074,000


Raw


E. L. Tyler


3.68


12.14


446,000


Raw


D. Whiting


3.69


12.20


287,000


Past.


J. K. Whiting Co.


3.80


12.38


41,000


Past.


C. A. Woodbury


3.65


12.14


404,000


Raw


Standard Standard


or


* Fined for having milk below standard.


The higher the fat and solids the greater the food value. The lower the bacterial count, the greater care in production, better handling or more efficient pasteurization is shown. The analysis of special grades of milk supplied on request.


238


ANNUAL REPORTS.


On February 10, 1919, Mr. William H. Wallis was ap- pointed by the Board of Health as Collector of Milk Samples for this department.


Table 4. - Infant Mortality.


Year.


Births.


Deaths under 1 year, all causes.


Deaths under 1 year, enteric diseases.


Enteric Death Rate per 10,000 population under 1 year.


Population.


1915


1898


142


25


2.90


86,000


1916


1952


132


23


2.58


89,000


1917


2035


136


18


2.00


90,000


1918


1981


188


18


1.97+


91,000


1919


Returns Incomplete.


118


19


2.00


95,000


.


Notwithstanding the increased cost of all foods during 1919 there was only one more death reported of children under one year of age from intestinal diseases than in 1918.


For several years this department has recommended that all milk be pasteurized and it is with pleasure that we are able to announce that over 90 per cent. of the milk distributed in Somerville is pasteurized.


Pasteurization is defined by a law which became opera- tive in 1917 and refers to milk which has been heated to 145° F. and held at that temperature for 30 minutes, then immediately cooled to below 50° F. There are many details relating to the process of pasteurization which should be given every dealer's particular attention and they are best brought out by a pam- phlet issued by the Dairy Division of the United States Dept. of Agriculture, extracts from which follow : -


Essential Factors In Pasteurization.


"Milk dealers should concern themselves with the effi- ciency of the pasteurizing process carried on by them and with the relative safeness of the pasteurized product.


230


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


The equipment necessary for proper pasteurization of milk should provide for :


1. Heating and holding the entire quantity of milk at the proper temperature (145 degrees F.) for the specified time (30 minutes).


2. Cooling the pasteurized milk to below 50 degrees F. immediately after the heating and holding process.


In order to facilitate proper pasteurization some form of recording thermometer to record the temperature of the milk during the process is usually installed. To check the accuracy of this thermometer frequent comparison should be made with an accurate standard thermometer. The point of attachment of the bulb of the thermometer varies with different apparatus and records secured should not be accepted as conclusive evidence that the entire quantity of milk has received the maxi- mum degree of heat recorded. When the temperature record extends over a period of time, as in the case of vat holders, the charts usually record from the time the milk enters the vat until the milk leaves it. In interpreting the record the time when the vat became filled should be known, and the time of holding the milk at the proper temperature gauged from that point to the time the vat begins to empty. Since all the milk should be held 30 minutes, this will result in some milk being held longer than the required time, as the temperature remains high while the vat is being emptied ; but it is the only positive method of assuring that all the milk receives the minimum re- quired treatment.


For ascertaining the actual holding time of the entire quantity of milk in any heating and holding apparatus, there seems to be no better way than by personal observation with an accurate timepiece.


When the temperature of heating is controlled by hand steam valves, the constant presence of the operator is necessary in order to avoid fluctuations in heating. However, with this kind of control slight variations of the temperature record chart may be expected. When automatic temperature controls are used the record on the chart will be more uniform."


240


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Diagnostic Examinations.


Frank L. Morse, M. D., Bacteriologist of this Board, re- turned from the service of the United States having been com- missioned as a Lieutenant Colonel and reassumed his duties August 15th. On December 10th he was taken ill and I again took up the Bacteriological work and submit the following re- port for the year :


Diphtheria.


Negative Positive


Total


January


.


147


31


178


February


139


46


185


March


151


48


199


April


109


31


140


May


.


80


44


124


June


56


22


78


July .


47


15


62


August


35


18


53


September


42


21


63


October


46


24


70


November


92


20


112


December .


70


5


75


Totals


1,014


325


1,339


Tuberculosis.


Negative Positive Total


January


24


5


29


February


15


5


20


March


14


5


19


April


15


15


30


May .


23


10


33


June .


14


18


32


July .


11


6


17


August


8


7


15


September


10


4


14


October


21


7


28


November


8


5


13


December .


24


3


27


Totals


187


90


277


241


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Typhoid.


Negative Positive


Total


January


4


0


4


February


0


0


0


March


0


0


0


April


6


1


7


May


5


0


5


June .


7


0


7


July


4


1


5


August


7


1


8


September


8


0


8


October


11


0


11


November


1


4


5


December


4


0


4


Totals


57


7


64


Examinations made for Malaria, Oph- thalmia, Paratyphoid, Gonorrhea and Pneumonia


18


Total examinations


1698


Respectfully submitted, HERBERT E. BOWMAN, Inspector of Milk and Vinegar and Acting Bacteriologist.


242


ANNUAL REPORTS.


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


-


Board of Overseers of the Poor.


FRED E. DURGIN, President. HENRY F. CURTIS, M. D., Vice-President. MICHAEL COLL.


Committees. 1


On Finance, Investigation and Relief, and City Home. MR. DURGIN, DR. CURTIS, AND MR. COLL.


Clerks. JEAN M. HUTCHINS. (Resigned July 26, 1919). JOSEPHINE M. SANDER. (Appointed Nov. 3, 1919). CORA F. LEWIS.


General Agent.


WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE. (Appointed Mar. 1, 1919).


Acting General Agent.


JEAN M. HUTCHINS. (Jan. 1 to Mar. 1).


City Physician. C. CLARKE TOWLE, M. D.


Warden and Matron, City Home. MR. AND MRS. J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN.


Office. City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue.


243


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1919.


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


Gentlemen, - The reports of the general agent, the war- den of the City Home and the city physician, with tables show. ing the work, are herewith submitted.


Respectfully submitted,


FRED E. DURGIN, HENRY F. CURTIS, MICHAEL COLL,


Overseers of the Poor.


244


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF GENERAL AGENT.


CITY HALL ANNEX, January 1, 1920.


To the Overseers of the Poor, Somerville, Mass : -


Gentlemen, - I submit the following as the report of the general agent for the year ending December 31, 1919: -


Table No. 1. FULL SUPPORT (During the year).


In City Home (men 33, women 37) 70


In City Home, December 31, 1919 51


In private families 17


In hospitals for the sick in other towns, cities and state 42


In care of state division minor wards (children) .


11


Table No. 2. PARTIAL SUPPORT (Outside Relief).


Families 272


Persons aided (including hospital cases)


1,057


Burials .


6


Permits to State Infirmary . 10


Average expenses to the city for each (carriage for three) . $4.40


Table No. 3. AID UNDER 1913 LAW (Mother's Aid).


Number of applications from widows or deserted women . 98


Number of families aided at close of year . .


74


Number of children


Amount allowed each family, from $2.00 to $14.00 per week .


297


Number of out-of-town families .


22


Number having no settlement .


24


COST TO CITY.


Somerville settlement . . $16,935 28


Settled in other cities and towns (reside here) . 5,028 18


State


5,155 51


Somerville families living in other cities and towns 1,701 26


$28,820 23


·


.


245


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Table No. 4.


REIMBURSEMENTS.


Commonwealth of Massachusetts City of Boston


$15,613 38


941 91


Brockton


6


Cambridge


66


66


Everett


472 60


66


Haverhill


5 71


66


Lowell


44 28


Lynn


66


66


Malden


3 00


1 50


18 00


66


Newton


7 25


66


North Adams


21 65


Woburn


79 25


Town of Arlington


156 38


Duxbury


40 00


Hudson


24 00


Individual


19 29


$19,544 27


Table No. 5.


SOMERVILLE HOSPITAL (Patients On City Beds).


Patients having settlement in Somerville


53


Patients having settlement in other cities and towns


·


17


Patients having no settlement (chargeable to State)


26


Total number of patients sent to hospital .


96


Amount paid to hospital


· $5,218 44


·


·


443 10


1,602 97


00


Medford


Melrose


246


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table No. 6. POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1883 TO 1919.


Population (Estimated)


$15,959 80


1884


28,000


· 17,272 52


1885


*29,992


·


16,430 32


1886


32,000


14,341 83


1887


34,000


13,430 89


1888


36,000


13,375 98


1889


39,000


14,610 92


1890


*40,117


15,261 14


1891;


43,000


15,980 49


1892


46,000


17,015 30


1893


48,000


17,799 58


1894


50,000


19,733 13


1895


. * 52,200


20,755 46


1896


. 54,000


21,999 79


1897


56,000


25,681 47


1898


57,500


28,522 21


1899


. 60,000


28,924 39


1900


*61,643 ·


Miscellaneous, $23,697 62


29,226 45


1901


62,500


Miscellaneous, $28,667 04


36,063 68


1903 .


· 65,500


City Home, 7,548 39


1904 ·


69,500


Miscellaneous, $20,476 54 ) City Home, 6,563 11


27,039 65


1905


. * 69,272


City Home,


7,474 36


1906 ·


·


. 72,000


City Home, 6,806 79


1907 .


74,000


City Home, 7,001 23


Miscellaneous, $17,955 34


24,830 90


1909 .


. 75,500


City Home, 7,562 83


1910


.


. * 77,236


City Home, 7,695 89


Miscellaneous, $16,327 56


24,169 59


1912


·


City Home, 8,998 97


Miscellaneous, $21,827 73


32,773 68


City Home, 10,945 95


Miscellaneous, $35,619 68


46,819 93


Miscellaneous, $45,490 98


56,709 63


1916


90,000


City Home,


11,593 41


1917 .


. 90,000


67,071 10


1918 .


90,500


Miscellaneous, $63,420 48 City Home, 15,411 20


78,831 68


Miscellaneous, $67,682 53 1


1919


. 91,000


City Home,


15,789 34 S


83,471 87


.


63,500


City Home, 7,396 64


Miscellaneous, $30,470 20


38,018 59


Miscellaneous, $17,527 88


25,002 24


Miscellaneous, $18,237 53


25,044 32


Miscellaneous, $17,852 20


24,853 43


1908 ·


.


City Home, 6,875 56


Miscellaneous, $16,843 17


24,406 00


Miscellaneous, $16,110 42


23,806 31


1911


. 78,000


City Home, 7,842 03


Miscellaneous, $19,201 33


28,200 30


1913


. 82,000


1914


85,000


City Home, 11,200 25


1915


.


City Home, 11,218 65


Miscellaneous, $51,759 62


63,353 03


Miscellaneous, $53,653 33 City Home, 13,417 77


* Census.


.


27,000


·


City Home, 5,528 83


Miscellaneous, $29,171 15


35,793 58


City Home, 6,622 43


1902


. 75,500


·


·


81,000


. * 86,854


Year


1883


Table No. 7. EXPENDITURES IN DETAIL FOR THE YEAR 1919.


1919


Cash Allowance


Med. Att. and Medicine


Board.


Groceries.


Somerville Poor in other Cities and Towns.


Dry Goods and Shoes.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Cash Paid Out.


Telephone.


Stationery and Printing.


Somerville Hospital.


State Institu- tions.


Other Institu- tions.


Nursing.


Somerville Poor in other Cities and Towns 1913 Law.


Total


January


$30.43


$51.08


$115.29


$373.60


$296.00


$114.00


$269.72


$309.73


$16.50


$4,482.37


$9.11


$7.58


$21.43


$33.00


$268.00


$10.00


$6,407.84


February


30.00


86.43


296.50


628.67


280.60


230.14


8.48


2281.45


15.26


6.93


702.86


88.50


10.50


4,666.32


March.


76.43


23.34


93.01


297.50


615.93


521.85


227.45


7.30


4155.40


7.60


4.75


445.72


201.15


10.00


6,687.43


April


74.44


27.64


379.68


344.00


497.69


395.64


12.09


40.83


2934.68


7.53


12.25


441.43


54.72


42.50


6.50


5,271.62


May


71.01


15.93


95.29


375.00


514.76


14.33


3669.76


4.84


5.53


445.71


14.00


80.00


5,306.16


June


76.51


431.12


326.50


142.00


409.04


13.33


2916.78


6.75


6.86


754.29


222.28


24.00


514.69


5,844.15


July


96.93


126.15


335.50


551.37


479.04


8.83


2877.26


12.77


1.53


368.57


10.00


12.50


4,880.45


August


108.35


95.29


240.90


989.40


5.00


373.80


16.66


3878.30


8.24


8.79


438.86


8.50


763.00


6,935.09


September


108.57


433.27


337.00


329.04


8.33


3182.40


7.87


8.50


524.43


296.56


10.50


5,246.47


October.


110.35


18.42


121.00


282.00


37.76


329.04


8.33


3048.30


7.81


15.00


435.00


202.00


37.50


13.00


4,665.51


November


147.43


52.51


97.85


328.23


147.85


6.50


445.80


227.99


29.38


3759.90


11.97


3.54


321.57


6.00


16.50


104.00


5,707.02


December.


145.78


667.86


134.00


522.20


434.60


138.90


28.36


3176.00


7.64


8.76


318.57


6.00


8.00


239.57


5,836.24


Totals.


$1076.23


$188.92


$2,742.24


$3,670.73


$4,286.87


$6.50


$261.00


$4,782.93


$1,146.30


$200.66


$40,362.60


$107.39


$90.02


$5,218.44


$299.72


$1168.49


$144.00


$1,701.26 $67,454.20


..


.....


.....


247


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR OF SOMERVILLE


Since the reorganization in 1885.


¡Hon. Mark F. Burns, chairman, ex-officio . 1885


1888


inclusive


¿Col. Herbert E. Hill


1885


1889


*Charles S. Lincoln, Esq., chairman . ·


1885


1887


66


¡Hon. Edward Glines .


1885


1887


+Charles G. Brett (president 1888-1892) .


1885 Apr. 1893


66


Edward B. West (president May, 1894-


February, 1912)


1888


to


1912


66


¡Daniel C. Stillson .


1888 Apr. 1892


+Hon. Charles G. Pope, chairman ex-officio


1889


1891


66


#Nathan H. Reed (president 1893 to April, 1894 . ·


1890 Apr. 1894


+Hon. William H. Hodgkins, chairman ex- officio


1892


1895


¡James G. Hinckley


May, 1892


1894


¡Albert W. Edmands


. May, 1893 Oct. 1918


+Herbert E. Merrill .


. May, 1894


1909


inclusive


*Ezra D. Souther


1895 Feb. 1898


(Died)


Hon. Albion A. Perry, chairman ex-officio


1896


1898


inclusive


James H. Butler


March, 1898


1899


Hon .George O. Proctor, chairman ex-officio


1899


1910


to date* inclusive


Philip Koen


1912 Nov. 9, 1916


Michael Coll


. November, 1916


to


date*


Fred E. Durgin .


October, 1918


to


date*


Table No. 8. RECAPITULATION (Miscellaneous).


Expenditures and transfers


$67,539 53 net


Reimbursements


19,544 27


Net cost to city


$47,995 26


·


* Present member. + Deceased.


Respectfully submitted,


WM. E. COPITHORNE,


General Agent.


·


.


·


(Died)


Henry F. Curtis, M. D.


·


.


248


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF WARDEN OF CITY HOME.


City Home, January 1, 1920.


To the Overseers of the Poor, Somerville, Mass : -


Gentlemen, - I submit the following as the report of the Warden of the City Home for the year ending December 31, 1919 : -


Table No. 1.


Number of weeks' board of inmates .


2,243-5


Number of males admitted during 1919


11


Number of females admitted during 1919


15


Number of males discharged during 1919


6


Number of females discharged during 1919


4


Number of males supported during 1919


33


Number of females supported during 1919 .


37


Number of males died during 1919


4


Number of females died during 1919 .


3


Number of inmates in home December 31, 1919


51


City Home Hospital.


Number of weeks' board


· 620-4


Number of patients admitted


18


Number of patients in hospital, December 31, 1919


12


Table No. 2.


Reimbursements


.


$10,690 87


.


Net expenditures


5,098 47


15,789 34


Appropriation


15,635 00


Service transfer .


154 34


15,789 34


Respectfully submitted,


J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN,


Warden.


·


249


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.


OFFICE OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN,


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1920.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen : - Gentlemen, - The work of your City Physician during the year 1919 is presented in the following abstract : -


Office consultations and treatments


118


Total outside visits


529


Confinements


13


Vaccinations


47


Visits at City Home


59


Attended at police station


29


Examinations :-


For legal department


33


For highway department


19


For police department .


34


For fire department


19


.


.


Respectfully submitted, L. H. RAYMOND, Acting City Physician.


250


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF RECREATION AND PLAYGROUND COM- MISSION.


City Hall, Somerville, January 1, 1920.


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


Gentlemen-The Recreation and Playground Commission for 1919 consisted of the same membership as that for 1918, namely, Mrs. A. H. Weeks, Mrs. Charles E. Mongan and Messrs. Ernest W. Bailey, J. Foster Colquhoun, Charles S. Clark and George L. Dudley.


. At the beginning of the year it was decided that it would be expedient to develop as thoroughly as ways and means would permit the several activities which the Commission had carried on during the previous year. These consisted of civic social work, under the leadership of a civic social worker employed by the Commission, summer garden work to be carried on in connection with the public schools, and supervised playground work to be conducted during the summer vacation. An appro- priation of $4100 was requested, of which $4050 was received, to enable the Commission to prosecute its work.


The work of social service was conducted in the main in the Neighborhood House on Maple Street. Here was the head- quarters of the civic social worker and here were organized various activities for the benefit chiefly of the women and girls of that neighborhood. This work was ably supported by the women's clubs of the city who contributed both money and workers. Assistance was given also to a social service center. movement at the Bingham School which was organized and con- ducted by Miss Elizabeth J. O'Neill, master's assistant in that school. In addition to providing the social worker for this undertaking, the Commission rendered some assistance in the maintenance of expenses of the Neighborhood House.


When in the latter part of May, Miss Elizabeth H. Gold- thwaite resigned her position as social worker, it was decided not to fill that position until after the summer vacation. In the Fall, decision was made in favor of another line of social service work and not to continue the employment of a civic so- cial worker.


The Commission recommends that social centers be con- ducted in the Clark Bennett Schoolhouse with the Neighbor-


251


PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.


hood House used as an auxiliary thereto, and in the Bingham School house. For this purpose a worker should be obtained who can organize these social centers and direct their opera- tion.


The school garden work was conducted more successfully this year than ever before. By reason of co-operation with the School Committee, the garden supervisor was able to organize groups of garden workers in the several schools of the city and to have them ready to begin outdoor work as soon as the season was sufficiently advanced. Details of this enterprise are given in the report of the garden supervisor, William B. Moore, which is printed herewith.


The summer playground work was conducted as efficiently as could be expected in view of the small amount of money ex- pended upon it. Owing to the fact that for several years very little additional equipment and very little additional playing material have been bought, it was necessary to conduct the play work within narrow limitations. As will be seen by reading the report of the director, Stephen H. Mahoney, printed here- with, more apparatus and playing material as well as better pay for the play supervisors should be provided during the com- ing season.




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