USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1931 > Part 26
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Somerville, Mass.
ANNUAL REPORTS
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School Clinics Closed
123
School Clinics Closed
42
August
59
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2 prophylaxis 64 extractions 15 "
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teeth extracted
433
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
January 2, 1932.
To the Board of Health,
Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I submit the following as my report for the year ending December 31, 1931.
The Inspector of Animals & Provisions makes inspections of all barber shops, theatres, public halls, stables, hen yards, slaughter houses, bakeries, candy factories and stores, at ir- regular intervals, for obvious reasons.
Number of visits to establishments 5171
For the purpose of consiseness the word "establishment" may be construed as including all places coming within the board's jurisdiction.
It is especially gratifying to note that the many complaints: received at this office and investigated, also the numerous minor and two flagrant infractions of the sanitary code, have been adjusted without recourse to the judiciary.
CONDEMNATIONS
Beef
232 Ibs
Beans - Baked
721bs:
Pork
162 Ibs
Coffee
10 Mbs.
Veal
7 Ibs
Crackers
120 Ibs
Lamb
9 1bs
Cheese
11/2 lbs
Poultry
99 1bs
Rice
20 1bs
Fish
50 1bs
Tea
17 Ibs:
Butter
51 lbs
Cocoa
12 lbs.
Vegetables
1836 1bs
Cake
148 lbs;
Fruits
2132 Ibs
Canned goods Asst.
60 cans,
Starch
1076 1bs
Cake
148 1bs
Flour
1450 Ibs
Eggs
30 doz.
Candy
122 lbs
Canned goods - Asst.
60 cans
Sugar
214 lbs
Bread
60 loaves
Salt
14 Ibs
Beverages-Carbonated
18 bottles
You will observe that the condemnations are considerably less this year than during 1930. This may be accounted for in a large measure, by improved refrigerating facilities, a con- siderable number of our stores having discarded the old style ice-box, and installed Frigid Air.
.434
ANNUAL REPORTS
The sanitary standard of our candy manufacturing es- tablishments has been raised, so that I feel reasonably sure that only clean and wholesome confections are produced in our city.
In the month of December I was informed by the Boston Board of Health that cabbage, sprayed with an excessive amount of arsenic had been offered for sale to Somerville deal- ers. Within fourteen hours every conceivable place that this product might be found was visited, netting a confiscation of three hundred and fifty heads, which were buried.
There have been the usual number of complaints received during the last half of 1931, but proportionately a fewer num- ber of notices have been sent. I believe a personal contact policy expediential, in that, it not only usually accomplishes the end in view, but it engenders a better feeling and gives op- portunity for a sympathetic understanding.
As a means of purifying the atmosphere of many of our places of business, we have required garbage containers to be kept without the buildings.
All establishments under our control are operating at, or above, a minimum sanitary standard; while a considerable number of these places approach the maximum, it is to be hoped, that with the return of better business conditions, we may further progress, until all places are functioning at a max- imum sanitary standard.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY G. MURRAY, Assistant Inspector of Animals and Privisions.
435
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND VETERINARIAN
Somerville, Mass.
January 2, 1932.
To the Board of Health,
Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1931.
I examined 126 dogs, 4 cows and several horses in the year 1931.
The purpose of the dog examinations was to see if the dog was in good health after it had bitten a person. The first ex- amination is made as near the time of biting as possible and again in 14 days. It is thereby seen that over 200 calls alone were made on dogs.
It was not necessary to put the 90 day restraint order in- to effect in Somerville. Rabies was very scarce, only five lab- oratory cases were confirmed.
Somerville has the rabies situation well in hand and the only recommendation that I would suggest is that all dog owners have their dogs inoculated against rabies and the rigorous enforcement by the police of the destruction of all stray dogs roaming the streets.
Respectfully submitted,
EINER WILLIAM JOHANSEN,
Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian.
436
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR Chemical and Bacteriological Laboratory, City Hall, Somerville, Mass. January 2nd, 1932.
To the Board of Health,
Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
During the year seven hundred and thirty-one stores were licensed to sell milk, eighty dealers were licensed to distribute milk and one hundred forty-one stores were registered to sell oleomargarine. Eight dealers located in Somerville are licensed to operate a milk pasteurizing plant. Two dealers sell cream exclusively. Twenty-two dealers purchase bottled pasteur- ized milk for distribution. Two out of town dealers sell raw milk from tuberculin tested cows. Three dealers sell raw certified milk and three dealers handle pasteurized certified milk. Three dealers have discontinued business. An average of 32,795 quarts of milk and 1,432 quarts of cream were dis- tributed daily in Somerville according to records submitted by the dealers.
The following tables, 1, 2, 3 and 4 are a summary of the work of the department for the year :
Table 1 RECEIPTS
Months
License
+ Applications
License
Analytical
Fees
Cash Paid
City Treas.
Analyses on
Total Income
for Department
January
14
$ 7 00
0
$ 7 00
$161 00
$168 00
February
22
11 00
$3 00
14 00
173 50
187 50
March
22
11 00
1 50
12 50
207 00
219 50
April
17
8 50
4 50
13 00
166 50
179 50
May
614
307 00
1 50
308 50
246 00
554 50
June
150
75 00
3 00
78 00
167 00
245 00
July
25
12 50
50
13 00
216 75
229 75
August
20
10 00
6 00
16 00
191 50
207 50
September
*24
78 50
0
78 50
208 50
287 00
October
17
8 50
0
8 50
193 00
201 50
November
#17
18 00
0
18 00
214 50
232 50
December
18
9 00
0
9 00
209 50
218 50
Total
960
$556 00
$20 00
$576 00 $2,354 75 $2,930 75
* 7 Pasteurizing Licenses included.
1 1 Pasteurizing License included.
Account
Fees
437
BOARD OF HEALTH
Table 2 SAMPLES EXAMINED
Months
- Chemical Samples
Bact. Samples
Collected
Total
Collections
Lorenz
Tests
Samples
Submitted
Microscopical
Examinations
January
153
310
74
152
153
833
February
204
102
306
82
170
256
957
March
236
174
410
103
191
210
1026
April
390
235
346
65
148
346
1036
May
433
328
343
59
225
366
1186
June
207
110
317
77
163
337
1066
July
273
114
387
107
195
300
1131
August
253
132
385
132
177
224
975
September
121
117
238
52
216
139
879
October
158
96
254
68
182
123
869
November
214
237
451
97
215
264
1195
December
198
170
368
93
214
365
1158
Totals *2844
1968
4115
1009
2248
3083
9811
* This item includes samples of milk, cream, ice cream and vinegar.
Table 3 LEGAL NOTICES
Months
Bacteriological
0 0 0 3 0 0800os Lorenz
0 5 1000 Temperatures
Milk Plant and
Dairy Corrections
1 Total
January
2
13
0
0
0
0
9
March
53
April
0
12
22
39
May
21
1
0
25
June
44
2
0
46
July
64
1
39
35
140
August
22
0
0
34
63
September
4
31
0
9
6
50
October
1
22
1
0
23
47
November
2
23
1
0
0
26
December
0
12
1
0
28
41
Total
21
302
7
56
180
566
1 0 0 1 7 21OOOH AL Cemical
February
3
6
32
20
Total
Collected
438
ANNUAL REPORTS
Table 4 INSPECTIONS
Months
City Milk Plants
Railroad Terminals
Country Stations
p and Dairies
Restaurants and Stores
Total
January
90
18
26
134
February
105
21
15
141
March
69
15
386
470
April
80
12
17
109
May
97
7
14
118
June
81
43
102
226
July
75
18
61
154
August
76
27
65
168
September
40
37
51
128
October
67
67
30
164
November
69
8
72
149
December
96
31
37
164
Total
945
304
876
2125
During 1931 license fees and fees for analyses amounted to $2,930.75. There were in 1931, 9,811 laboratory examina- tions. Sediment and microscopical examinations were carried out as routine and the Reductase test applied as occasion de- manded.
Each month during the year pint samples have been taken from each milk dealer and analyzed for food value (fats and solids) and cleanliness (bacterial count and sediment), and microscopically for pathogenic organisms.
The higher the fats and solids the greater food value. The lower the bacterial count, greater care in production, better handling, or more efficient pasteurization is shown. By calling the office of the Milk Inspector these figures will be cheerfully quoted.
During the year, creameries and dairies located in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Northern New York and Massachu- sets have been inspected and many corrections have been re- quested, some imperfect equipment has been condemned, one creamery using polluted river water was required to use town water and several dairies were excluded on account of unsan- itary conditions. One dairy was reinstated after corrections had been made and most of the creameries have made the re- pairs and installed equipment requested.
and
439
BOARD OF HEALTH
GRADE A DAIRIES
The major part of this grade of milk is produced in Mass- achusetts but some is produced in Vermont and New Hamp- shire. The requirements for the production of Grade A Milk are much more strict than for the regular Market Milk.
CERTIFIED MILK
Certified milk is produced both in Massachusetts and in New Hampshire.
WESTERN CREAMERIES
During the year there have been a few permits issued to Western Creameries to ship cream for manufacutring pur- poses to this city as New England is unable to supply sufficient cream for Massachusetts needs. These certificates are issued after the dealer has filed with this department a questionnaire properly filled out which assures this department that the creamery is equipped according to Massachusetts standards and the milk is not over 24 hours old when separated. This questionnaire is accompanied by a voucher from the state or city department who supervises the sanitary conditions at the plant.
During 1931 there has been an appreciable improvement in the average quality of the milk sold in this city both from the basis of chemical standard and bacteriological standard.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That all operators of pasteurizing equipment be ex- amined, as to the purposes, legal requirements and methods of control of all types of pasteurizing machines and if successful in obtaining a passing mark they should receive a certificate authorizing them to operate such machines. This examination could be conducted by the State College or Health Department.
2. That the raw milk from each producer be examined at the creamery or milk plant receiving same, at least once in two weeks by the "Reductase Test".
3. That ice cream dealers be required to register with this department on blanks provided and that a fee of one dollar be charged for such registration.
440
ANNUAL REPORTS
4. That dealers manufacturing and pasteurizing ice cream mix only be required to take out a license to maintain an estab- lishment for the pasteurization of milk products similar to the pasteurizing licenses required of milk dealers.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. BOWMAN, Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.
441
INDEX
INDEX
--
Appeal, Board of, Report of 144
Assessors, Board of, Report of
137
Valuation of Real Estate and Personal Property
137
Supplementary Assessments
137
Valuation of Exempted Property
137
Warrants
138
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
138
City Auditor, Report of
18
Balance Sheet
21
Cash Statement
24
Taxes-Special Assessments
27
Departmental Bills
30
Water Department Accounts
31
Statement of Estimated Revenue
32
Appropriations
36
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
46
County of Middlesex
47
Revenue and Expenses
48
Temporary Loans
49
Funded Debt
50
Taxes
51
Special Assessments
52
Maturities on Funded Debt
53,54
Interest Requirements on Present City Debt
53, 54
Interest Requirements on Funded Debt
54
Borrowing Capacity
55
Abatements, Refunds, State Income Tax, etc.
56,57,58
Overlay Accounts
59
Excess and Deficiency Account
60
Receipts and Expenditures, Classifications of
61,66
Schedule of Public Property
105
Somerville Retirement System
108
City Clerk, Report of
277
Receipts
277
Payments
278
Licenses and Permits
279
Births
279
Marriages
280
Deaths
280
Ordinances
282
442
INDEX
City Engineer, Report of
204
Engineering Department
204
General Financial Statement
204
Streets Accepted as Public Ways
207
Table of Street Construction
209
Underground Conduits
211
Sewer Division
212
Maintenance Account
216
Parks and Playgrounds Division
216
City Government and Officers for 1931
288
City Solicitor, Report of 199
City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Report of
110
Revenue and Expense, Statement of
111
Borrowing Capacity
111
Cash Statement
112, 113
Taxes
115
Street Sprinkling Assessments
122
Overlay and Abatement
122
Betterment Assessments
123
Departmental Accounts
126
Revenue Loans
127
Bonds
130, 131, 132
Memorandum of Payments on Account of Debt 132
133
Commissioner of Public Buildings (see Public Buildings Commissioner) 220
Commissioner of Streets (see Street Commissioner) .... 296
Commissioner of Water (see Water Commissioner) 171
Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights, Report of 302
Inspection of Wiring in Buildings
302
Fire Alarm System
303
Police Signal System
304
Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets
304
Street Lighting
305
Traffic Lights
305
Election Commissioners, Board of, Report of
270
List of Assessed Polls and Registered Voters
273
Election Statistics
274
Record of Votes Cast at State Primary
275
Record of Votes Cast at State Election
276
Treasury Department
443
INDEX
Employment Bureau, Report of
198
Fire Department, Chief of, Report of
188
Alarms of Fire
188
Manual Force
192
Apparatus
192
Hose
192
Fire Inspections and Prevention
195
Recommendations
195
Conclusion
197
Health, Board of, Report of
Organization, Offices, etc.
407
Nuisances
410
Permits and Licenses
410
Stables
411
Board of Infants
411 412
Mortality Statistics
413
Diseases Dangerous to Public Health
418 418 419
Medical Inspection of Schools
421
Undertakers
421
Examination of Plumbers
422
Infant Hygiene Clinics
422 422
Health Nurses, Report of
422,424
Medical Inspection, Report of
426
Dental Hygiene, Report of Department
430
Inspection of Animals and Provisions
433, 435
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar
436
Inaugural Address-Hon. John J. Murphy
3
Inspector of Buildings (see Building Commissioner)
220
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, Report of the
436
Law Department, Report of 199
Licensing Commission, Report of
142
Mayor-Inaugural Address
3
Medical Inspection, Report of
426
Visits
426
Contagious Disease Hospital
426
Laboratory Examinations
426
Diphtheria
427
Tuberculosis
428
Infant Hygiene Clinics
428.
List of Probable Causes
189
407
Lying-in Hospitals
Specimens and Supplies
Bacteriological Work
Diphtheria Immunization
444
INDEX
Municipal Employment Bureau, Report of
198
Ordinances .....
.... ........ 282
Police, Chief of, Report of
148
Arrests
148
Crimes and Offenses Against the Person
148
Crimes and Offenses Against Property
149
Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order
149
Recapitulation
150
Miscellaneous Report
151
Roster of Department
153
Changes in the Force
156
Police Matron, Report of
157
Liquor Officers, Report of
158
Automobile and Traffic Department
159
Recommendations, etc.
161
Public Buildings Commissioner, Report of
Inspection of Buildings
Plumbing
Gas Inspections
Coal
223
Elevators
223
School Buildings
223
"Fire Department Buildings
229
Libraries
229
Highway Buildings, Sanitary Buildings
229
Contagious Hospital
229
City Home
230
Police Buildings
230
Park Buildings
230
Bath House
230
Municipal Buildings
230
In General
230
Public Grounds (City Engineer)
204
Public Library
231
Board of Trustees and Officers-Committees
231
Organization of Library and Staff Personnel
232
Report of Trustees
235
Report of Librarian
238
Statistics
243
Public Welfare, Department of
163
Members of the Board, Committees, Officers, etc.
163
Report of General Agent
165
Full Support
165
Partial Support
165
Aid Under 1913 Law (Mothers' Aid)
165
Cost to City
165
Reimbursements
166
220
220
222
222
445
INDEX
Somerville Hospital
167
Population and Gross Expenditures
167
Overseers of the Poor Since 1885
168
Recapitulation
168-
City Home, Report of Warden
169
City Physician, Report of
170
Recreation Commission
247
Report of Director
248
Financial Statement
267
Retirement System 108
Sanitary Department, Report of
146
Collection of Ashes and Paper
146
School Department
307
Superintendent of Schools, Report of
310
Appendix, Contents of
334
Graduates-High School
370
Junior High School
377
Vocational Schools
389
School Committees
308,390
Somerville Teachers' Club
331
Teachers in Service
392
Sealer of Weights and Measures, Report of 134
Sewers (see City Engineer)
212
Soldiers' Relief Commissioner, Report of
140
Street Commissioner, Report of
296
Appropriations
296
Snow and Ice
296
Bridges
297
Underground Wires
297
Crushed Stone
297
Sidewalks Maintenance
297
Street Sprinkling
297
Street Cleaning
297
Suppression of Moths
297
Shade Trees
298
Sidewalks Construction
299
Highways Construction, Permanent Pavement
299
Reconstruction and Resurfacing
300
Miscellaneous
300
Permits
300
Traffic Control
300
Recommendations
301
446
INDEX
Water Commissioner, Report of
171
Revenue and Expenditures
173
Cost of Water Works
174
Water Works Income and Distribution
175
Water Distribution System, Construction
176
Hydrants, Gates, etc.
178
Water Services
179
Water Meters
181
Summary of Pipes and Fixtures
182
Water Assessments and Consumption
182
Summary and Statistics
185
Construction and Renewals
187
Metropolitan Water Assessment
187
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