USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1930 > Part 25
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August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
90 Other Diseases of the Heart
$20
25
19
16
14
5
10
13
15
21
21
20
199
91A Aneurysm
91B Arterio Sclerosis
26
12
16
19
14
9
8
12
7
11
10
13
157
92 Embolism and Thrombosis
93 Diseases of the Veins
96 Other Diseases of the Cir- culatory System
V. DISEASES OF THE RESPIRA- TORY SYSTEM.
99A Acute Bronchitis
99B Chronic Bronchitis
99C Bronchitis Unspecified)
10
13
11
11
3
3
3
1
3
4
7
69
3
6
6
5
3
1
2
2
2
5
35
1
1
1
3
102 Pleurisy
103 Congestion and Hemor- rhagic Infarct of Lung.
VI. DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
109B Diseases of the Pharynx and Tonsils
111B Ulcer of the Duodenum
112 Other Diseases of the
Stomach
113 Diorrhea and Enteritis (under 2 years)
1
1
1
1
4
1
.....
1
1
1
1
5
119
Other Diseeses of the In- testines.
122B Cirrhosis of the Liver.
124
Other Diseases of the Liver
125
Diseases of the Pancreas .. Peritonitis
VII. NON VENEREAL DISEASES OF THE GENITO-URINARY SYSTEM.
128 Acute Nephritis
2
1
5
129 Chronic Nephritis
2
1
1
2
4
3
2
1
3
3
22
131 Other Diseases of the Kid- neys
1
...
1
1
2
141 Other Diseases of the Fe- male Genital Organs ..
VIIJ . THE PUERPERAL STATE
143A Abortion
143 B Ectopic Gestation
143C Accidents of Pregnancy
1
1
.. ...
145C Other Accidents of Labor
146 Puerperal Septicaemia
147 Surgical Shock
1
..
....
....
2
3
1
1
.. ...
2
1
1
2
13
1
1
1
1
...
1
1
4
3
1
1
...
......
1
1
7
2
1
1
1
1
6
1
.....
..
......
1
100A Broncho Pneumonia
101A Lobar Pneumonia
2
1
3
1
1
1
2
5
1
1
1
117 Appendicitis
1
1
1
1
1
6
118B
Intestinal Obstruction
1
1
1
1
1
1
....
......
....
.....
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
...
.....
..
3
...
.....
1
1
1
...
......
1
1
1
1
1
1
......
1
1
1
3
.....
135 Diseases of the Prostate ...
1
1
1
2
..
...
2
1
1
1
126
1
1
......
1
...
... ...
381
BOARD OF HEALTH
MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1930-Continued
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
IX. DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND OF THE CELLULAR TISSUE.
152 Furuncle
154 Other Diseases of the Skin and Annexa.
X. DISEASES OF THE BONES AND OF THE ORGANS OF LO- COMOTION.
XI. MALFORMATIONS.
159A CongenitalHydrocephalus 159B Congenital Malformations
159C Others under this title
XII. EARLY INFANCY.
160
Congenital Debility
2
2
1
3
2
1
14
161A Premature Birth
161B Injury at Birth
2
1
5
162 Other Diseases peculiar to Early Infancy
3
1
1
1
6
XIII. OLD AGE.
164 Senility
XIV. EXTERNAL CAUSES.
168
Suicide by Hanging.
1
1
2
170
Suicide by Firearms
1
1
1
177
Other Acute Accidental Poisonings Accidental Burns ..
1
1
2
180
Accidental Suffocation
1
1
182
Accidental Drowning
1
1
185 Accidental Fall
·2
1
...
1
2
1
7
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
9
202
Other External Causes.
2
118
109
109
99
76
55
65
70
67
75
74
92
1009
-
.
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
..
..
1
4
3
3
2
1
1
3
6
3
27
4
1
1
1
7
1
171
Suicide by Cutting.
1
1
179
188C Automobile Accident.
194 Excessive Heat ...
1
1
2
XV. ILL DEFINED CAUSES.
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
382
ANNUAL REPORTS DEATHS BY AGES
AGES.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Under one
105
65
40
One to two
16
10
6
Two to three
10
5
5
Three to five
16
10
6
Five to ten
26
17
9
Ten to fifteen
15
8
7
Fifteen to twenty
8
3
5
Twenty to thirty
40
18
22
Thirty to forty .
27
10
17
Forty to fifty
59
25
34
Fifty to sixty
123
70
53
Sixty to seventy
206
104
102
Seventy to eighty
210
98
112
Eighty to ninety
128
49
79
Ninety and over
20
6
14
Total
1009
498
511
Total Deaths During Last Ten Years
Year.
No. of Deaths.
Rate per 1,000
1921
986
10.38
1922
1,019
10.41
1923
1,108
11.30
1924
979
9.79
1925
1,110
11.20
1926
1,084
10.73
1927
931
9.04
1928
1,059
10.18
1929
947
9.10
1930
.
1,009
9.73
Average death rate per 100 for ten years
10.18
Table Showing the Five Principal Causes of Deaths in Somerville in 1930
HEART DISEASE.
ARTERIO SCLEROSIS
PNEUMONIA ALL FORMS.
APOPLEXY.
CANCER ALL FORMS.
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
Deaths.
Number per
10,000 of Pop.
Number of
Number per
10,000 of Pop.
199
19.32
157
15.24
104
10.09
91
8.83
90
8.73
Deaths.
Table showing comparison between 1929 and 1930 in Prevalence, Deaths and Percentage of Deaths of Scarlet Fever. Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever and Tuberculosis
TUBERCULOSIS ALL FORMS.
YEAR.
Cases
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage
of Deaths.
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage
Reported.
Number of
Deaths.
Percentage
of Deaths.
1929
411
1930
Deaths from Scarlet Fever, Diptheria, Typhoid Fever, and Tuberculosis in the Last Ten Years
TUBERCULOSIS ALL FORMS.
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930 1
1
I
4
1
1
5
3
1
5
2
2
1
11
11
..
:
..
5
2
:
..
:
2
3
1
1
February
·
I
3
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
March
1
1
5
2
1
2
1
. ..
...
...
5.
6
2
1
3
8
3
4
May
2.
1
..
...
..
...
1
...
1
1
. .
:
...
...
..
1
2
3
..
..
..
7
5
8
3
4
1
4
1
1
2
6
1
2
4
:
November
2
December
38 34 34 29
28
1
1
1
1
0
64
32
54
46.52 35
27 19 16|14
10
5
6
5.
-
2.
Total
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
SCARLET FEVER.
25. 75
132
34
127
5
3.9
1
0
0.
313
1
.3
203
29
14 28
2
18.18
11
28
14 97
187
.9
4
of Deaths.
Cases
Cases
Cases
BOARD OF HEALTH
6
7
5
7
5
4 5
2
January
.. 9
1
3
4
7
6
2
2
3
7
1
6
4
3
4
April
2
June
1
1
..
July
2.
2
3
2
1
5
4
3.
3
3
August
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
September. October.
1
1
..
6'
3
1
3
6
·2
1
2
1
3
1
..
2
1
3
3
2
1
3
3
4
3
7.
1
1
5
1
3
4 6
2
2
3
1
...
1
1
...
..
....
...
2
1
..
4
2
1
2
4
1
7,
1
~
:
4
1
9
6
1
3
3
1
7.
2
6
4
1
2
2
...
...
7
4
2
...
..
..
1
5 3
5
...
1
..
...
1
1
1
1
11
1
1
3
2
TYPHOID FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
SCARLET FEVER.
MONTHS.
383
0
1
4
..
2
of Deaths.
384
ANNUAL REPORTS
DISEASES DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH
This board has adjudged that the diseases known as actinomycosis, anterior poliomyelitis, anthrax, Asiatic cholera, cerebo-spinal meningitis, chicken pox, diphtheria, dog bite, dysentery, German measles, glanders, hookworm disease, in- fectious disease of the eye, influenza, leprosy, malaria, measles, mumps, pellagra, plague, pneumonia (lobar only), rabies, scarlet fever, septic sore throat, small pox, tetanus, trichinosis, tuberculosis (all forms), typhoid fever, whooping cough, yel- low fever, are infectious 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 conveniently printed and addressed are supplied to them for the purpose. On receipt of card from a physician, the principal of the school in the district in which the patient re- sides, the librarian of the public library and state board of health are notified.
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 :
Edward Edwards, 25 Union Spuare R. A. Peckham, 86 Broadway Ernest M. Vose, 310 Broadway George E. Wardrobe, 716 Broadway Willis S. Furbush & Co., 1153 Broadway George R. Reed, Hobbs Building, Davis Square Somerville Drug Co., 288 Highland Avenue George E. Grover, 146 Broadway
Hereafter the Agent of this Board will collect, daily at five o'clock p. m., all specimens left at culture stations for examination, prior to that hour.
Physicians desiring reports on the following day, must deposit same at the City Hall, in the receptacle provid- ed, before nine-thirty p. m.
Results of all examinations of specimens received at the City Hall prior to nine-thirty p. m., will be reported to the physicians on the following morning.
385
BOARD OF HEALTH
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 principls 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. Month- ly inspections of the school buildings and premises are made, and suggestions or criticisms are referred to the proper author- ities. Every effort is made to protect the health of the child- ren and 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.
District No. 1 .. Inspector Dr. Francis Shaw, 57 Cross Street. Schools Prescott, Hanscom, Edgerly and Boys' Voca- tional School.
District No. 2
Inspector Dr. John D. Bennett, 779 Broadway.
Schools Baxter, Knapp, Perry and Southern Junior High Schools. .
District No. 3
Inspector Dr. Crawford K. Sweeley, 25 Curtis Street. Schools Bennett, Pope, Cummings and Proctor Schools.
District No. 4
Inspector Dr. Wilfred C. Macdonald, 189 Summer Street.
Schools Morse, Carr, Durell and Burns Schools.
386
ANNUAL REPORTS
District No. 5
Inspector Dr. H. M. Stoodley, 283 Highland Avenue.
Schools Brown, Bingham, Forster and Northeastern Junior High Schools.
District No. 6
Inspector Dr. H. Cholerton, 94 College Avenue.
Schools Western Junior High, Lincoln, Highland, Cutler and Lowe Schools.
District No. 7
Inspector Dr. E. F. Sewall, 281 Broadway.
Schools Glines, Grimmons and High Schools.
District No. 8
Inspector Dr. M. W. White, 21 Walnut Street. Schools Parochial.
During the year 6,707 children have been referred to the inspectors during their daily visits, and 1,168 have been sent home because of illness.
The following list will show the classes of diseases and defects 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
91
Diphtheria
3
Measles
136
Mumps
54
Scarlet Fever
6
Whooping Cough
23
Total
312
2. Diseases of the Nose and Throat :-
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
781
Inflammatory diseases
157
Total
938
387
BOARD OF HEALTH
3. Diseases of the Eyes :-
Foreign bodies
1
Inflammatory conditions
4
Other abnormal conditions
11
Total 16
4. Diseases of the Ear :-
Inflammatory conditions
2
Other abnormal conditions
5
Total
7
5. Diseases of the Skin: -
Eczema
12
Herpes
28
Impetigo
575
Pediculosis
558
Scabies
55
Tinea
3
Miscellaneous conditions
59
Total
1,290
6. Miscellaneous Diseases :-
Diseases of the Circulatory System
21
Diseases of the Digestive Organs
10
Diseases of the Lymphatic System
8
Diseases of the Nervous System
4
Diseases of the Respiratory System
78
Wounds and Injuries
85
Other conditions
38
Total
244
Total number of diseases
2,806
Vaccinations performed
72
Examinations for vaccinations
123
BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK
The report of the work of this department is made by Frank L. Morse, M. D., on a subsequent page and becomes part of this report.
UNDERTAKERS
Under the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 114 of the General Laws, 20 persons have been duly licensed as under- takers.
38S
ANNUAL REPORTS
EXAMINATIONS OF PLUMBERS
The public statutes provide for a board of examiners of plumbers, consisting of the chairman of the Board of Health, the inspector of buildings, and an expert at plumbing, to be appointed by the Board of Health. This board appointed Dun- can 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 six nurses employed by this board. Three of these are employed as school nurses and the work of the others consists of follow-up work regarding tuberculosis cases and post natal hygiene work, together with the other work connected with this board.
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 subsequent pages.
INFANT HYGIENE CLINICS
During the past year under the supervision of this board, clinics have been held every Tuesday afternoon at the Edgerly Schoolhouse, every Thursday afternoon at the Bennett School- house, and every Friday afternoon at the Bingham School- house except when the days were holidays. The attendance for the year at these clinics was 3,721.
The average weekly attendance at the Edgerly School- house was 27, at the Bennett Schoolhouse 6, and at the Bing- ham Schoolhouse 42.
This work is of inestimable value and the results are very far reaching.
LOUIS J. GRANDISON, JAMES A. KILEY J. JOSEPH O'DONNELL
Board of Health
Attest :
LAURENCE S. HOWARD, Executive Clerk
389
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF HEALTH NURSES
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1931.
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, 1930.
Infant Hygiene
Infants reported as born in Somerville during 1930 .. 1,318
Infants born elsewhere resident in Somerville .... 730
Pairs of twins born in Somerville 18
Sets of triplets born in Somerville 0
Still-births in Somerville 56
Infants reported with Ophthalimia Neonatorum 3
Infants reported with Conjunctivitis 8
Infants reported with Infantile Paralysis
2
· There were 105 deaths of infants under one year of age in Somerville during the past year as shown in the following table :
Prematurity .. 30
Congenital Diseases
24
Intestinal Diseases
1
Accidental Injury
6
Pneumonia and other Diseases
44
Total 105
Total attendance at Baby Welfare Clinics during
1930
3,721
New registrations during 1930
520
Average attendance during 1930
25
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis cases reported during 1930 120
Other forms of tuberculosis reported in 1930 83
Patients admitted to Sanatoria 66
Patients previously reported in Sanatoria ...
60
Deaths in Somerville (pulmonary 23 Other forms 6) 29
Deaths in Sanatoria 12-Discharge 25 37
Patients now in Sanatoria
116
Patients temporarily out of Somerville 20
Patients who have moved out of Somerville
51
390
ANNUAL REPORTS
TABLE SHOWING AGES AND SEX OF CASES REPORTED DURING 1930
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Ages
SEX
Total
Male
Female
Under fifteen years.
6
3
9
From fifteen to twenty years
13
11
24
From twenty to thirty years.
20
18
38
From thirty to forty years
11
5
16
Over forty years.
22
11
33
Totals
72
48
120
Other Forms of Tuberculosis
Ages
SEX
Total
Male
Female
Under fifteen years
27
38
65
From fifteen to twenty years
1
3
4
From twenty to thirty years.
1
3
4
From thirty to forty years.
5
3
8
Over forty years
2
0
2
Totals
36
47
83
Miscellaneous
Typhoid Fever cases reported
11
Recapitulation of Visits
Baby Hygiene
5,534
Tuberculosis
1,120
Miscellaneous
1,168
Total visits
7,822
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN B. BERRY GRACE E. PICKERING, R. N. MARY V. RYAN, R. N.
Health Nurses
391
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION
Somerville, Mass.
Jauuary 2, 1931.
To the Board of Health,
Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith present the report of the Department of Med- ical inspection for the year 1930 including statistics of the Contagious Hospital.
Visits
Scarlet Fever-Each case must be inspected before release from quarantine to see that the condi- tion of the patient is suitable for release. ... Diphtheria-Before patients are released from quar- antine two successive negative cultures must be obtained
315
131
Contagious Hospital
439
Total number of visits
Contagious Disease Hospital
In Hospital
Discharged Well or
Jan. 1, 1930 Admitted Improved
Dead
In Hospital Jan. 1, 1931
Diphtheria
3
117
88
28
4
Scarlet Fever
12
150
145
1
16
Tuberculosis
0
12
5
1
6
Miscellaneous
......
0
21
18
3
0
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS Diphtheria
Negative
Positive
Total
January
87
2
89
February
101
3
104
March
92
2
94
April
83
14
97
May
86
10
96
June
49
5
54
July
22
6
28
August
41
10
51
September
44
1
45
October
57
3
60
November
67
53
120
December
135
51
186
Totals
864
160
1,024
885
Disease
392
ANNUAL REPORTS
Tuberculosis
Negative 18
Positive
Total
January
0
18
February
9
4
13
March
11
2
13
April
15
1
16
May
6
2
8
June
5
0
5
July
8
4
12
August
5
2
7
September
6
1
7
October
7
7
14
November
6
0
6
Decmber
6
1
7
Totals
102
24
126
Typhoid
Negative
Positive
Total
January
3
3
6
February
0
0
0
March
1
0
1
April
3
1
4
May
1
0
1
June
1
0
1
July
1
0
1
August
2
0
2
September
3
0
3
October
1
0
1
November
1
0
1
December
0
0
0
Totals
17
4
21
Examinations made for Malaria,
Ophthalmia, Paratyphoid,
Gonorrhea and Pneumonia
65
Total Examinations ..
1,236
TUBERCULOSIS
During 1930 there were 29 deaths from Tuberculosis in- cluding all forms, 23 of which were of the pulmonary type.
All patients ill with the disease coming to the attention of the Board have either been supervised at their homes by the Public Health Nurses, or have been placed in sanatoria when such treatment was needed.
Owing to the long waiting list for the admission of tuber- culosis patients at the State Sanatoria and the delay caused thereby the tuberculosis ward at the Contagious Hospital, which was closed on September 1, 1921, on account of the small number of patients, was reopened October 6, 1930, and
393
BOARD OF HEALTH
12 patients were cared for during the balance of the year, awaiting their admission to the Rutland State Sanatarium.
The tuberculosis ward at the Contagious Hospital was opened from June 23 to August 30, as a Preventorium for child- ren who were undernourished or lived in families where tub- erculosis cases existed.
During this time 105 children were residents at the Pre- ventorium for a total of 1,115 days, the average stay being 10 1/2 days. Much good was accomplished among these child- ren, marked improvement being observed in their physical condition, and it should be maintained each summer.
INFANT HYGIENE CLINICS
On January 1, 1922, the Board with the approval of His Honor the Mayor, assumed the care of the Infant Hygiene Clinics previously maintained by Somerville Chapter of the American Red Cross. These clinics have been held on Thurs- day afternoon at the Bennett School and Friday afternoon at the Bingham School throughout the year. On September 29, 1925, a clinic was established at the Edgerly School and has been held on Tuesday afternoon weekly. An average at- tendance of 42 at the Bingham School, 6 at the Bennett School and 27 at the Edgerly School has been attained. 520 new babies have been under supervision at the clincs where ad- vice has been given to the mothers by the attending physician, and in many instances the infants have been visited at home by the Public Health Nurses in order that the advice may be properly followed out. This work is unquestionably of great value in conserving the health of new-born infants.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK L. MORSE,
Medical Inspector and Bacteriologist.
·
394
ANNUAL REPORTS
January 2, 1931.
To the Board of Health Somerville, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :-
Herewith, I submit my first annual report of the Depart- ment of Dental Hygiene for the schools of Somerville. Includ- ed therein appears a table of statistics compiled from our records.
Since this is a public report and since it seems to me desir- able that the citizens of Somerville may know something of the organization of our department, as well as its aims and purposes, I feel that it would not be out of place at this time to give a brief account of the reorganization of our school dental forces during the past year of 1930.
Prior to 1930, the school dental work was carried on by two dental clinics, located in the Proctor and Knapp Schools respectively. Good as the work done by these clinics undoubt- edly was, it long ago became apparent that these two clinics were wholly inadequate to care for the dental needs of the Schools of Somerville. But from this humble beginning came the inspiration which has now been realized in the present system.
Accordingly in 1930, it was decided to enlarge the work and put it on a more scientific and comprehensive basis. In furtherance of this idea the Board of Health decided to es- tablish three additional clinics and to appoint a Dental Super- visor to take general charge of the whole undertaking. I was chosen as Dental Supervisor, the location of the three addi- tional clinics was determined upon, equipment was purchased and installed, operating dentists and nurses were chosen, and the whole system opened for service with the beginning of the school year in September of 1930. The details were as follows :
First the establishment of three additional clinics in the Hodgkins, Prescott and Glines Schools made our total of den- tal clincs five in number, as the Proctor and Knapp Schools were already functioning. A hospital clinic at the Central Hospital, conducted twice a week for the accommodation of those cases which require general anaesthesia or special care, which cannot be provided for at the school clinics was then added. The addition of the hospital clinic has been of great ad- vantage to the regular dental program because we are con- stantly confronted with many cases of multiple extractions
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BOARD OF HEALTH
which cannot be taken care of in the regular school clinic and can be handled properly only at a hospital. This clinic is in operation on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10 to 12 a.m., and many children have already benefited by its work. When- ever a child requires such treatment the local clinic makes such recommendation and in such cases, whenever general anaesthesia is required, the child is accompanied by its parent or guardian.
The five school clinics operate daily from 9 to 12 a.m. These clinics are equipped with modern dental outfits and operated by five capable dentists and five assistants. Each clinic has supervision over five surrounding schools. Our work in these clinics is limited to the first three grades and our system is to start from the third grade and work down so that every child who is now attending the third grade and has ap- plied for treatment may enter the fourth grade next year with some knowledge of mouth hygiene and free from all oral in- fections. It has been the custom this year also to treat those cases of incipient tuberculosis that were found positive in the recent Chadwick examinations. These cases are given prefer- ence over all other children, regardless of what grade they are in, if they are properly recommended by the school nurses. This department has also taken care of a few worthy cases that were recommended by the Public Welfare department.
It is my desire at this writing to thank the school nurses, masters, Pastors and the superintendent of schools for their kindness and co-operation given to us in our attempt to estab- lish this program. Their sympathetic appreciation of the ends for which we are striving and their very helpful suggestions have been very much appreciated. It is indeed gratifying to all of us who are trying to sponsor this work.
Our recent dental survey of all the elementary grades showed that out of eleven thousand seven hundred and eighty- five (11,785) children examined, over fifty-five thousand (55,000) defective teeth were found. I believe that by the establishment of a grade limit to our work, we shall perform a definite, reparative, preventive and educational service, so that no child who enters the fourth grade shall lack that knowledge which he or she should possess in order to carry on the beneficial lessons there acquired. It seems unwise to ex- tend this work to the upper grades, except in emergency cases, first, because of the lack of school dentists, and second, because such extension would seem an unwarrantable infringement upon the field of the private practitioner. Our purpose is not
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
communistic or socialistic in nature, but seeks to provide a plan whereby on the one hand, worthy cases within a certain group may be provided with dental care and treatment, and on the other hand, the legitimate rights of the individual may not be unfairly encroached upon. To this end we have done our sincere best.
The following table is explanatory of the amount of work done during the past year. The first six months under the two previous dental clinics, and the latter part under the super- vision of the five clinics and the supplementary hospital ser- vice.
Months
Examinations
New Patients
Former Patients
Emergencies
Number of
Number of
Teeth Filled
Number of
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