Report of the city of Somerville 1920, Part 15

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 422


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > Part 15


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Specimens and Supplies.


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 :-


R. A. Peckham, 154 Perkins street.


Edward Edwards, 25 Union square. Willis S. Furbush & Co., 1153 Broadway.


Hall Drug Co., Hobbs building, Davis square. Ernest B. McClure, 529 Medford street. John Morrison, 288 Highland avenue.


Richardson Pharmacy, 310 Broadway. George E. Wardrobe, 693 Broadway.


Hereafter the Agent of this Board will collect, daily, at five o'clock, p. m., all specimens left at culture stations for ex- amination, prior to that hour.


Physicians desiring reports on the following day, of speci- mens taken after this collection has been made must deposit the same at the City Hall Annex, in the receptacle provided, before nine-thirty p. m.


Results of all examinations of specimens received at the- City Hall Annex prior to nine-thirty p. m., will be reported to the physicians on the following morning.


225


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


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 dem- onstrated, 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 authori- ties. Every effort is made to protect the health of the chil- dren and to co-operate with the parents in keeping the children in as normal a condition as possible.


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


The districts and inspectors are as follows :-


District No. 1- Eastern Junior High, Prescott, Hanscom, Edgerly and Boys' Vocational schools. Inspector, Dr. Francis Shaw, 57 Cross street.


District No. 2. - Baxter, Knapp, Perry and Southern Jun- ior High 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.


Dr. Raymond resigned December 1, 1920, and Dr. Walter Jellis, 1028 Broadway, was appointed in his place to assume his duties January 1, 1921.


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


District No. 5. - Brown, Bingham, Forster and Northern Junior High schools. Inspector, Dr. H. M. Stoodley, 283 High- land avenue.


District No. 6. - Western Junior High, Lincoln, Highland, Cutler and Lowe schools. Inspector, Dr. H. Cholerton, 94 Col- lege avenue.


226


ANNUAL REPORTS.


District No. 7. - Glines and High schools. Inspector, Dr. Edgar F. Sewall, 281 Broadway.


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


During the year, 17,337 children have been referred to the inspectors during their daily visits, and 672 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 : -


Chicken pox


32


Infantile paralysis


1


Influenza


10


Measles


38


Mumps


72


Scarlet fever


17


Tuberculosis


28


Whooping cough


11


Total


209


2. Diseases of the nose and throat :-


Enlarged tonsils and adenoids


1014


Inflammatory diseases


190


Other abnormal conditions


19


Total


1223


3. Diseases of the eyes :-


Inflammatory conditions


67


Foreign bodies


6


Other abnormal conditions


22


Total


.


95


4. Diseases of the ears :-


Inflammatory conditions


33


Other abnormal conditions


12


Total


5. Diseases of the skin:


43


Herpes


.


.


42


Impetigo


133


Pediculosis


577


Scabies


58


Tinea


24


Miscellaneous conditions


157


Total .


1034


.


.


.


.


45


Eczema


.


227


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


6. Miscellaneous diseases :-


Diseases of the circulatory system ·


6


Diseases of the digestive system .


55


Diseases of the lymphatic system


51


Diseases of the nervous system


17


Diseases of the respiratory system


199


Wounds and injuries .


57


Diseases of the teeth .


419


Other conditions


37


Total


841


Total number of diseases reported .


3447


Vaccinations performed


48


Examinations for vaccinations


792


Certificate to work


150


Bacteriological Department.


The report of the work of this department is made by Frank L. Morse, M. D., on a subsequent page and becomes a part of this report.


Undertakers.


Under the provisions of Section 44 of Chapter 78 of the Revised Laws of 1902, twenty-two persons have been duly li- censed as undertakers.


Examination 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.


Health Nurses.


There are at present four nurses employed by this Board. Two of these are employed as school nurses and the work of the others, consists of follow-up work regarding tuberculosis cases and post-natal baby hygiene work.


The reports of the school nurses are made a part of the report of the School Committee and those of the other nurses are made a part of this report being submitted in detail in sub- sequent pages.


R. M. LAVENDER, Chairman, JOHN E. GILLIS, M. D. WARREN C. BLAIR,


Board of Health.


Attest:


LAURENCE S. HOWARD, Clerk.


.


.


228


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF HEALTH NURSES.


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1921.


To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :-


We submit the following report of work performed by us in infant hygiene, post natal and tuberculosis cases for the year ending December 31, 1920.


Infant Hygiene.


Infants reported as born in Somerville during 1920


1740


Infants born elsewhere resident in Somerville .


263


Pairs of twins born in Somerville


21


Still-births in Somerville


64


Infants who moved away from Somerville .


102


Infants artificially fed before eight months old


700


Infants artificially fed before six months old .


500


Infants artificially fed before one month old


200


Infants afflicted with Ophthalmia Neonatorum


17


Infants affiicted with Conjunctivitis


11


·


There were one hundred and fifty-two deaths of infants under one year of age in Somerville during the past year as shown in the following table :


NATIONALITY OF PARENTS


Causes of Death


American.


Irish.


Italian.


Portugese.


Swedish.


Greek.


Total.


Premature births.


18


15


6


2


2


43


Contagious diseases.


18


20


3


5


46


Congenital causes.


16


17


4


37


Intestinal causes.


7


8


7


4


26


Totals


59


60


20


2


2


9


152


Infants dying elsewhere resident of Somerville


10


A


-


229


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Infants who died who were on breast feeding alone at time of death . · ·


18


Infants who died who were artificially fed at time


of death .


45


Infants who died who were both artificially and


9


Boarding places for babies inspected .


·


12


Infants under medical supervision at the two Baby Welfare Clinics


400


Total visits made to infants


8709


Tuberculosis.


Pulmonary tuberculosis cases reported in 1920 . Other forms of tuberculosis reported in 1920 . 20


Patients admitted to Sanatoria .


55


Patients previously reported in Sanatoria .


33


Patients now in Sanatoria


52


Patients who have moved away from the city


25


Patients now living in Somerville


288


Patients temporarily out of Somerville


26


Deaths from tuberculosis


69


In Sanatoria


52


At Home


17


1


69


Homes where there is or has been tuberculosis where there are school children


Previously reported ·


· 199


Found this year · . .


54


253


Children in homes where there is or has been tuber- culosis. Reported to School Department. Previously reported 360


Found this year 95


455


Houses from which second and third reports of tuber- culosis have come.


Previously reported


.


·


22


This year


23


.


45


1


breast fed at death


.


164


Deaths in Sanatoria ·


52


230


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLES SHOWING AGES AND SEX OF CASES IN THIS CITY. Pulmonary Tuberculosis.


SEX


Ages


Total


Male


Female


Under fifteen years.


11


8


19


From fifteen to twenty years.


5


15


20


From twenty to thirty years


27


31


58


From thirty to forty years


23


23


46


Over forty years.


40


27


67


Total


106


104


210


Other Forms of Tuberculosis.


Ages


1


SEX


Total


Male


Female


Under fifteen years


7


12


From fifteen to twenty


5


6


11


From twenty to thirty years.


5


10


15


From thirty to forty years.


4


8


Over forty years.


6


8


Total


21


33


54


Patients in Somerville Pulmonary 210 Other Forms 54 Suspects 31 Total visits made to Tuberculosis patients


1012


Miscellaneous.


Typhoid Fever cases reported (died 3)


16


Total miscellaneous visits .


79


Recapitulation of Visits.


Baby Hygiene


8709


Tuberculosis


1012


Miscellaneous


79


Total visits


9800


Respectfully submitted, H. B. BERRY, M. L. SCOTT,


Health Nurses.


295


231


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1921.


To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :-


I herewith present the report of the Department of Medical Inspection for the year 1920 including statistics of the Con- tagious Disease Hospital.


Visits.


Scarlet Fever - Each case must be inspected before release from quarantine to see that the condition of the patient is suitable for release .


· 186


Diphtheria - Before patients are released from quarantine two successive negative cultures must be obtained . .


73


Contagious Hospital


361


Total number of visits


620


Contagious Disease Hospital.


Diseases


In Hospital Jan. 1, 1920


Ad- mitted


Discharged Well or improved


Dead


In Hospital Jan. 1, 1921


Diphtheria


2


82


69


15


0


Scarlet Fever


4


58


59


1


2


Tuberculosis .


15


30


22


14


9


Miscellaneous


0


15


10


4


1


The daily average of patients was 7.6 in the contagious de- partment, 11.37 in the tuberculosis department, a total of 18.97.


LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS.


Diphtheria.


Negative Positive Total


January


94


31


125


February


.


72


3


75


March


79


6


85


April


79


22


101


May


43


15


58


June


39


12


51


July


55


4


59


August


28


2


30


September


25


0


25


October


30


0


30


November


70


4


74


December


107


12


119


Totals


721


111


832


.


.


232


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Tuberculosis.


Negative Positive


Total


January


.


.


18


13


31


February


19


4


23


March


13


5


18


April


18


9


27


May


18


6


24


June .


16


9


25


July


7


6


13


August


11


2


13


September


14


5


19


October


13


10


23


November


9


7


16


December


25


5


30


Totals


181


81


262


Typhoid.


Negative Positive


Total


January


2


0


2


February


.


5


0


5


March


3


0


3


April


6


0


6


May


3


0


3


June .


4


0


4


July .


12


0


12


August


5


0


5


September


12


0


12


October


12


1


13


November


5


0


5


December


3


0


3


Totals .


72


1


73


Examinations made for Malaria, Oph-


thalmia, Paratyphoid, Gonorrhea and Pneumonia


15


Total examinations


.


1182


.


.


Respectfully submitted, FRANK L. MORSE, Medical Inspector and Bacteriologist.


233


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1921.


To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :-


I submit the following as my report for the year ending December 31, 1920.


Inspections.


The following table shows the number of inspections made during the past year. In order to safeguard the consumer, all establishments handling foodstuffs are under constant super- vision. Bakeries, lunch carts and restaurants have been in- spected weekly.


All the factories in the city have been inspected monthly.


The Barber Shops are under very careful inspection and must be kept in a sanitary condition and the barbers are re- quired to keep themselves neat and clean and to properly ster- ilize their instruments.


Number of Inspections.


Bakeries


284


Premises where Cows are


Barber Shops .


331


kept 10


Billiard Halls and Bowling Alleys


157


Premises where Goats are kept . 11


Blacksmith's Shops .


17


Public Halls


31


Candy and Ice Cream


Rendering Plants


154


Plants


225


Slaughter Houses


421


Factories


242


Stores and Markets Stables


272


Hen Houses and Yards .


412


Swine Pens


26


Lunch Rooms and Cars .


525


Theatres


142


Milk and Cream Plants .


156


Vacant Lots


62


Pedlers Wagons and Stock


2449


Yards and Cellars


279


5114


Fish Markets .


586


Articles Condemned.


Owing to market conditions dealers have been obliged to purchase very conservatively and, therefore, no large surplus has been carried by any dealer.


234


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The following is a list of the articles condemned.


Fish.


Clams


1 Bush.


Finnan Haddie


12 Lbs.


Haddock


125 Lbs.


Halibut


24 Lbs.


Lobsters


19 Lbs.


Mackerel


39 Lbs.


Salmon .


. 24 Lbs.


Apples


3 Bush.


Bananas


15 Doz.


Blackberries


3 Qts.


Blueberries


12 Qts.


Canteloupes


14 Crates


Grape Fruit


1612 Boxes


Grapes .


12 Baskets


Lemons


2 Boxes


Oranges


5 Boxes


Raspberries


16 Cups


Strawberries


· 92 Qts.


Meats.


Beef (corned)


367 Lbs. ·


Beef (fresh) .


113 Lbs.


Fowl


.


465 Lbs.


Lamb


.


438 Lbs.


Liver


53 Lbs.


Pork (fresh)


12 Lbs.


Sausages


25 Lbs.


Shoulder (Corned)


14 Lbs.


Veal


152 Lbs.


Veal (whole)


114


Vegetables.


Asparagus


.


82 Bunches ·


Beans (string)


8 Bush.


Beans (string)


5 Baskets


Beans (string)


3 Crates


Beets


3 Bush. .


Carrots


1/2 Bush.


Cauliflower


2 Boxes


Celery


1 Box .


Greens


7 Bush.


Lettuce


4 Bush.


Lettuce


4 Boxes


Lettuce


2 Doz.


Parsnips


1 Box


Potatoes (white)


13 Bush.


Potatoes (white)


3 Baskets


Potatoes (white)


4 Bags


Potatoes (sweet)


1 Basket


Squash


6 Bbl.


Tomatoes


5 Bush.


Turnips


10 Bush.


.


.


Fruit.


.


.


.


·


.


.


.


.


.


235


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


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.


The number of animals slaughtered during 1920 in this city . was somewhat less than during previous years.


Number of Animals Slaughtered in 1920.


Swine


898,723


Sheep


262,752


Calves


97,110


Cattle


31,555


1,290,140


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 ten ; in 1916 thirteen ; but eight of these were in one stable; in 1917 nine; in 1918 seven ; in 1919 only three were killed and in 1920 not a case of glanders was reported, thus showing a very marked decrease in the disease.


Animals Examined.


Inspected


Quaran- tined


Killed


Released


Horses


2092


0


0


0


Swine


309


0


0


0


Cows


10


0


0


0


Goats


8


0


0


0


Dogs


2


2


0


2


2421


2


0


2


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES M. BERRY, Inspector of Animals and Provisions.


236


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. Chemical and Bacteriological Laboratory, City Hall Annex


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1921.


To the Board of Health,


Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :-


I herewith present my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1920.


On the above date there were in this city licensed to sell milk, 490 stores and 50 dealers, and 145 stores to sell oleomar- garine.


Of the 50 dealers 22 are located in this city and 28 in the neighboring cities and towns, and 3 dealers have discontinued business.


There are approximately 28,000 quarts of milk and 2100 quarts of cream distributed in Somerville daily, and 16 dealers are pasteurizing their milk according to Revised Laws Chapter 259, Acts 1917.


Three dealers discontinued business, 3 new dealers (dis- tributors) applied for a license and there are 6 dealers who handle cream exclusively.


Table 1.


Months.


Licenses


Issued.


License


Fees.


Fees.


Cash Paid


City Treas.


Analyses


on Account.


Income for


January


19


9.50


9.50


12.00


21.50


February


9


4.50


4.50'


2.00


6.50


March


13


6.50


3.00


9.50


18.50


28.00


April


12


6.00


1.50


7.50


53.50


61.00


May


394


197.00


2.00


199.00


40.50


239.50


June


125


62.50


9.00


71.50


71.50


July


19


9.50


1.50


11.00


17.50


28.50


August


12


6.00


11.00


17.00


27.50


44.50


September


12


6.00


13.50


19.50


23.00


42.50


October ..


29


14.50


1.50


16.00


22.00


38.00


November


28


14.00


14.00


6.00


20.00


December


13


6.50


6.50


22.50


29.00


Total


685


342.50


43.00


385.50


245.00


630.50


Income from license fees, analytical work, etc.


Witness fees returned to City Treasurer .


Fines in Somerville Court .


355 00


Total income for department .


1007 30


·Total


Dept.


-


Analytical


$630 50


21 80


237


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


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


100


80


16


196


22


218


February


155


43


71


269


4


273


March


212


33


35


280


36


316


April


224


180


38


442


107


549


May


210


46


64


320


75


395


June


271


37


51


359


18


377


July.


200


42


48


290


34


324


August


134


36


36


206


72


278


September


262


135


37


434


70


504


October


217


35


40


292


37


329


November


244


40


44


328


12


340


December


230


58


38


326


40


366


Total


2459


765


518


3742


527


4269


Table 3.


Months.


Chemical


Notices.


Bact.


Notices.


Sanitary Notices.


Temperature


Notices.


Total


Notices.


Inspections.


January


2


17


19


21


February


8


4


3


15


19


March


6


2


3


11


8


April


11


7


1


4


19


11


May


19


12


9


22


44


23


June


23


5


4


6


54


16


July


12


7


11


8


36


40


August


26


12


8


54


28


September.


12


12


7


31


16


October


7


8


.


2


17


25


November


2


3


6


11


10


December


7


23


4


34


30


Total


135


95


75


40


345


247


1


The above is a summary of the Laboratory Work during 1920.


238


ANNUAL REPORTS.


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


Bacteria Per C. C. Butter Fat Total Solids Maximum


Legal Standard Standard


Legal 12.00%


Allowed Raw 500,000 Past. 100,000


Past. or Raw


A. H. Andrews


3.69


12.21


84,200


Past.


Brandon Farms Milk Co.


3.70


12.26


415,000


Past.


John H. Bergman


3.68


12.37


330,000


Raw


H. E. Bemis


3.77


12.37


175,000


Past.


E. E. Breen


3.60


12.16


122,000


Past.


F. S. Cummings Co.


3.72


12.34


122,000


Past.


*John H. Dillon


3.64


12.16


79,000


Raw


F. C. Edgerly


3.67


12.23


237,000


Raw


*A. F. P. Gassett


3.56


12.04


298,000


Raw


J. E. & H. J. Giroux


3.71


12.27


75,000


Raw


*B. J. Griffin


3.66


12.19


447,000


Raw


J. P. Griffin


3.73


12.28


354,000


Raw


F. E. Giles


3.84


\12.15


42,000


Past.


*J. M. Hager


3.75


12.29


170,000


Past.


M. B. Harris


3.65


12.13


375,000


Raw


H. P. Hood & Sons


3.64


12.18


48,000


Past.


Kendall Brothers


3.69


12.24


161,000


Raw


J. J. Mulkerin


3.60


12.22


300,000


Raw


*E. M. Monahan


4.07


12.60


287,000


Raw


*Maple Farm Milk Co.


3.76


12.36


191,000


Past.


W. F. Noble


4.14


12.84


36,000


Past.


P. O'Shaughnessy


3.69


12.23


329,000


Raw


*H. A. Prescott


3.68


12.24


181,000


Past


S. E. Paige


3.69


12.21


162,000


Raw


*Thomas Ronayne


3.86


12.35


257,000


Raw


M. P. Shattuck


3.65


12.09


171;000


Raw


*H. L. Stone


3.64


12.12


188,000


Past.


Seven Oaks Dairy Co.


3.85


12.43


143,000


Raw


*Swenson Brothers


3.85


12.42


215,000


Raw


Toothaker Brothers


3.85


12.47


102,000


Past.


*F. P. Thompson & Son


3.75


12.24


284,000


Raw


Turner Centre Cr. Co.


4.11


12.84


59,000


Past.


*A. S. Tyler


3.69


12.18


144,000


Raw


*E. L. Tyler


3.53


11.97


336,000


Raw


D. Whiting


3.79


12.43


166,000


Past.


J. K. Whiting


3.77


12.37


189,000


Past.


C. A. Woodbury


3.68


12.25


110,000


Raw


Walker-Gordon


4.40


13.22


24,000


Raw


Name of Dealer


3.35%


* Found guilty of violation of milk laws.


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.


233


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Court.


In addition to the distributors fined, Carl H. Morgan, 2-4 College Avenue, West Somerville, Manuel C. Rogers, 7 Union Square, Somerville, Herbert C. Woodward, 1297 Broadway, Somerville, conducting lunch rooms, were also found guilty.


Summary of Court Cases.


Watered milk


4


Not of good standard quality .


18


Foreign substance


4


Total


26


Court cases in Somerville


23


Court cases in Framingham


1


Court cases in Concord


1


Court cases in Lowell


1


Total


26


Fines imposed and paid .


$455.00


In General.


By comparing the average standing of the various dealers: with last year's list, it will be seen that there has been con- siderable improvement in both average food value and bac- teriological content.


Constant supervision, sampling and notifying, more effi- cient pasteurization and refrigeration with an energetic prose- cution of all cases of violation, whether intentional or acciden· tal, I believe is responsible for this improvement.


During 1920 it became necessary to inspect creameries in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont as the nearby supply of milk failed and distributors were forced to purchase from creameries at a distance.


Creameries are run on a co-operative plan. The farmers. in a district forming a creamery association, sending their milk to the plant where it is mixed with the milk produced at other farms in that district and shipped as whole milk to various points in New England. The surplus is utilized for butter and cheese and some skimmed milk is sold back to the farmers for stock feeding. This method has proven very satisfactory in some places.


Where the milk can be delivered promptly at the cream- ery it. usually receives better care than it would at the individ- ual farms, but constant supervision is necessary as routine work becomes irksome and carelessness often results, which can be promptly corrected if an inspector appears at unex- ected intervals.


240


ANNUAL REPORTS.


During September it was found that farmers were sending milk to Somerville dealers that was below the legal standard for fat and solids (food value) so the collector was sent into the country to take samples from the individual dairymen. Samples were taken from over 150 farms and over 50 percent of the samples were found to be below the Massachusetts stand- ard. The fact that a special law provides that, "Producers may not be prosecuted for low standard milk until two low samples have been found and that twenty days must elapse before the second sample can be taken," prevented prosecutions in these cases, but the fact that only two producers were found with low standard milk on a second visit speaks for itself. On the first visit two farmers were found to be watering milk. These cases were prosecuted, one in Concord, Mass., and one in Low- ell, Mass., and in each case they were found guilty and paid a fifty dollar fine. On the second visit to these farms no adul- terated milk was found.


Infant Mortality.


For the past ten years a table has appeared in this report showing the steady decrease in infant mortality, i.e., deaths of babies under one year of age from enteric diseases. In the fu- ture this subject will be treated in the section devoted to the Public Health Nurses' report.


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


241


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Board of Overseers of the Poor.


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


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


Clerks.


.JOSEPHINE M. SANDER


CORA F. LEWIS


General Agent. WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE.


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


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


Office. City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue.


242


ANNUAL REPORTS ..


Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1920.


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


Gentlemen :- The Overseers of the Poor submit herewith. reports of the General Agent, the Warden of the City Home- and the City Physician, with tables showing the work. Respectfully submitted,


FRED E. DURGIN, MICHAEL COLL,


HENRY F. CURTIS,


Overseers: of the Poor ..


243


"SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


REPORT OF GENERAL AGENT.


City Hall Annex, January 1, 1921.


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


Gentlemen :- The following as the report of the general agent for the year ending December 31, 1920, is herewith sub- mitted :


Table No. 1.


FULL SUPPORT (During the year).


In City Home (men 32, women 42) 74 . .


In City Home, December 31, 1920 .


.


40


In private families 17 .




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