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
4°
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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