Report of the city of Somerville 1939, Part 15

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1939
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 434


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233


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


January 1, 1940.


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :


The following report is respectfully submitted as the An- nual Report of the Board of Assessors for the year ending December 31, 1939 :-


RECAPITULATION - 1939


City Appropriations


To be raised by taxation


$5,499,010.36


To be taken from available funds In 1939


$522,229.65


In 1938, since 1938 tax rate was fixed


557,328.57


1,079,558.22 $16578,568.58


1934


Overlay Deficit


$115.39


1935 Overlay Deficit


10,679.57


1936 Overlay Deficit


9,894.40


1937 Overlay Deficit


6,881.64


27,571.00


1939


1938


State: Tax and Assessments


Estimates Underestimates


State Tax


307,269.00


153,630.00


Abatement of Smoke Nuisance ...


1,276.23


Auditing Municipal Accounts


150.08


Hospital and Home Care C.W.V ..


1,140.00


Veterans' Exemptions


115.73


90.99


Add'l. State Assessments


630,923.47


6,569.03


940,865.51


160,290.02 1,101,155.53


County Tax


146,714.75


243.58


Tuberculosis Hospital


57,149.74


203,864.49


243.58


204,108.07


Overlay (Current Year)


60,641.27


GROSS AMOUNT TO BE RAISED


$7,972,044.45


234


ANNUAL REPORTS


ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS


Income Tax


$312,066.08


Corporation Tax


58,355.79


Chapter 464 Acts of 1939


153,000.00


Motor Vehicle Excise


158,911.41


Licenses


95,371.00


Fines


5,041.75


Grants and Gifts


1,450.15


Special Assessments


1,859.57


General Government


13,281.81


Protection of Persons and Property


835.92


Health and Sanitation


21,731.24


Highways


1,141.00


Charities


374,723.71


Old Age Assistance


151,201.41


Soldiers' Benefits


10,844.60


Schools


53,721.23


Libraries


2,134.16


Recreation


633.69


Public Service Enterprises (Water)


438,741.93


Miscellaneous


883.99


Tax Title Interest Refund


1,693.57


Interest on Taxes and Assessments


78,164.39


Chapter 504-1939


149,357.09


Dog Licenses


3,551.16


Refund Boulevard Maintenance


1,549.50


Total Estimated Receipts


$2,090,246.15


Add'l. State Assessments (Overestimate 1938) 13,363.92 Total Available Funds 1,079,558.22


Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds


3,183,168.29


Net amount to be raised by taxation on polls and property


4,788,876.16


Number of Polls 32,063 @ $2.00 each 64,126.00


Total Valuation :


Personal Property $6,298,400


Real Estate 107,826,000


Personal Property Tax


260,753.76


Real Estate Tax


4,463,996.40


Total Taxes on Polls and Property.


$4,788,876.16


Tax Rate $41.40 per $1,000.


Highway Betterments


1,591.85


Sidewalk Assessments


140.81


Committed Interest


121.09


Water Liens


383.11


Total Assessments Committed 2,236.86


235


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


Total amount of all taxes and assessments on polls and property committed to the collec- tor in 1939


$4,791,113.02


The Board of Assessors wishes to thank the other depart- ments for their co-operation extended during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


MAURICE F. AHEARN JOHN A. COLBERT AMLETO M. DIGIUSTO FRANCIS J. TAGUE ALBERT A. WALSH


236


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION


February 15, 1940.


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the


Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen :


The Licensing Commission respectfully submits the follow- ing report for the year ending December 31, 1939.


During the year the Commission issued one hundred and twelve alcoholic beverage licenses out of a total of approxi- mately one hundred and forty-six applications.


On September 29, 1939, Mr. David Y. Ross was appointed to the Commission for a term of three years, which expires June 1, 1942.


Attached hereto is a table showing the number of different licenses granted and the total income of this department. After deducting the sum of $2,613.71, which was the expense of run- ning this department for the year, the total income would be $74,728.46.


REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1939


Licenses granted and fees received :


3 Garage licenses granted @ $2.00 $6.00


268 Lord's Day licenses granted @ $5.00 1,340.00


5 Transfers of Lord's Day licenses @ $.50


2.50


190 Common Victualler licenses granted @ $5.00 950.00


1 Transfer of Common Victualler license @ $1.00


1.00


1 Innholder license granted @ $5.00


5.00


112 Alcoholic Beverages licenses granted


74,641.67


59 Special Alcoholic licenses granted


59.00


75 Entertainment licenses granted


327.00


2 Dance licenses granted


10.00


Total Expenses


$77,342.17


2,613.71


Net total revenue of the department for 1939


$74,728.46


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN F. MCNAMARA, Chairman EUGENE M. FLANAGAN DAVID Y. Ross


Attest :


Commissioners


ALMA R. MORANDI, Secretary


237


BOARD OF HEALTH


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


ORGANIZATION 1939 JAMES A. REYNOLDS, Chairman CHARLES L. McCROSSAN, M.D. EDWARD L. McPARTLIN


Executive Clerk


Assistant Clerk OLIVE M. STANLEY


Bookkeeper KATHARINE C. HEALY


Agent GEORGE I. CANFIELD


Medical Inspector and Bacteriologist FRANK L. MORSE, M.D.


Inspectors of Animals and Provisions HENRY T. MURRAY - JAMES A. DWYER


Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian EINER W. JOHANSEN, V.S.


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar WILLIAM H. WALLIS


Assistant Inspector of Milk and Vinegar JAMES C. MOORE, Ph.G.


Technician GEORGIA H. MORELAND, Ph.G., Ph.C.


238


ANNUAL REPORTS


School Nurses


GRACE M. ANDREWS, R.N. MARTINA JENNINGS, R.N.


leave of absence from Nov. 1st MARGARET L. KINIRY, R.N. MARY CASEY, R.N. ANNE E. SMITH, R.N. temporarily appointed from Nov. 1st


Health Nurses


HELEN B. BERRY retired Oct. 1st


GRACE E. PICKERING, R.N. MARY V. RYAN, R.N. SUE M. JENNINGS, R.N. provisional appointment from Nov. 1st


Superintendent at the Contagious Hospital JULIA E. FITZPATRICK, R.N.


Medical Inspectors of Schools


JOHN D. BENNETT, M.D. EDGAR F. SEWALL, M.D.


HERBERT CHOLERTON, M.D. FRANCIS SHAW, M.D.


EMIL GODUTI, M.D. HARRY M. STOODLEY, M.D.


WILFRID C. MACDONALD, M.D. MICHAEL W. WHITE, M.D.


Supervising School Dentist ANTHONY F. BIANCHI, D.M.D.


School Dentists


WILLIAM E. DENVIR, D.M.D. GEORGE E. JONES, D.M.D.


ELMER L. PERRON, D.M.D. ARTHUR L. CAVANAGH, D.M.D.


FRED A. SWETT, D.D.S. RICHARD H. WALSH, D.M.D.


Dental Assistants


MARGARET T. CAVANAGH MARIE HULTMAN MARY C. KNOWLES


ELIZABETH KELLEY MARY L. MORAN HELEN F. KELLEHER


239


BOARD OF HEALTH


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS.


January 2, 1940.


To His Honor the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen


Gentlemen :


We respectfully submit the following as the Sixty-second Annual Report of the Board of Health in which is presented a statement tabulated and otherwise, of the sanitary condition of the city, and the business of the board for the year ending December 31, 1939.


NUISANCES


A record of the nuisances abated during the year, in com- pliance with notices issued by the Board, or under the Board's direction, is presented below :


Complaints received during 1939 631


First notices sent


106


Second notices sent


12


Total notices sent 118


Annually the yards and alleyways of the city are examined and the owners of the property where unsanitary conditions exist are required to remedy the same.


RECORDS OF LICENSES AND PERMITS ISSUED


GOATS - Three applications were received for permits to keep seven goats, which were granted. The fee is one dollar for each goat.


HENS - Eleven applications for permits to keep 118 hens were received. Nine applications to keep 94 hens were granted and two to keep twenty-four hens were refused.


240


ANNUAL REPORTS


GREASE - Fourteen applications were received for per- mits to collect grease which were granted. The fee is two dol- lars for each team.


MELTING AND RENDERING - Two licenses have been granted to carry on the business of melting and rendering for which a fee of one dollar is charged.


MASSAGE - Twenty-four persons have been licensed to practice massage in this city. A fee of one dollar was received for each license.


SALE OF ALCOHOL - Three persons have been licensed to sell methyl alcohol in this city. A fee of one dollar was re- ceived for each license.


BOTTLING CARBONATED BEVERAGES - Four per- sons were granted permits to engage in the business of bottling carbonated non-alcoholic beverages, soda waters, and mineral and spring water. A fee of twenty dollars is charged in each case, ten dollars of which is paid to the State.


FROZEN DESSERTS AND ICE CREAM MIX - Twenty licenses to manufacture frozen desserts and ice cream mix were granted. The fee for retail manufacturing is five dollars and for wholesale manufacturing, depending on the number of gallons manufactured.


SALE OF FROZEN DESSERTS AND ICE CREAM MIX - Three hundred and twenty-seven permits were granted for the sale of frozen desserts and ice cream mix, and a fee of one dollar was received for each permit.


SALE OF POULTRY - There were six permits granted for the sale of live poultry in this city.


BOARD INFANTS - Ten applications having been made to the State Department of Public Welfare for licenses to care for children in this city, were referred to this board and under provisions of Chapter 119 of the General Laws, all were ap- proved.


LYING-IN HOSPITALS - One application was made to the State Department of Public Welfare for a license to main- tain a lying-in hospital in this city, which was referred to this


241


BOARD OF HEALTH


board under the provisions of Section 71, of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, and was approved.


MORTALITY


There were nine hundred and thirty-eight deaths and fifty- one still-births in the city during the year, as specified in the following table :


Deaths at Central Hospital


75


Deaths at Somerville Hospital


182


Deaths at Hospital for Contagious Diseases


1


Deaths at Home for Aged Poor (Highland Avenue)


28


Deaths at City Home


11


Deaths at other institutions


51


DEATHS BY AGES


Total


Male


Female


Under one


36


21


15


One to two


5


5


0


Two to three


1


0


1


Three to five


4


2


2


Five to ten


7


4


3


Ten to fifteen


4


3


1


Fifteen to twenty


10


8


2


Twenty to thirty


22


6


16


Thirty to forty


38


18


20


Forty to fifty


62


35


27


Fifty to sixty


114


63


51


Sixty to seventy


218


98


120


Seventy to eighty


253


101


152


Eighty to ninety


138


57


81


Ninety and over


26


8


18


Totals


938


429


509


242


ANNUAL REPORTS


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1939


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


I. Infectious and Parasitic


9 Pertussis


1


1


16 Acute poliomyelitis


1


18 Epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis


1


1


23 Tuberculosis of the re- spiratory system


1


2


1


1


1


1


7


24 Tuberculosis of the meninges and central nervous system


34 Syphilis


1


1


36 Purulent infection, sep- ticemia


1


3


11. Cancers and other Tumors


45 Cancer of the buccal


cavity and Pharynx ...


1


2


1


2


1


7


46 Cancer of the Digestive tract and Peritoneum


10


6


9


7


5


5


3


9


4


4


4


9


75


47 Cancer of the respira- tory system


1


1


1


1


3


1


1


2


11


48 Cancer of the uterus


1


1


2


1


1


6


49 Cancer of the Female Genital Organs


50 Cancer of the Breast


1


1


1


2


1


1


7


51 Cancer of the male genito-urinary organs


1


1


2


53 Cancer of other or un- specified organs


2


1


1


2


2


2


1


1


12


54e Non-malignant tumors of other organs


1


1


111. Rheumatic Diseases, Nutritional Diseases, Diseases of the En- docrine Glands and Other General Dis- eases


56 Acute rheumatic fever


1


1 1


57 Chronic rheumatism - osteoarthritis


1


1


59 Diabetes mellitus


2


1


3


1


1


8


67 Diseases of the Thymus Gland


1


1


1


3


IV. Diseases of the Blood and Blood - Making Organs


71A Pernicious Anemia


1


1


1


1


71b Other Anemias


72a True Leukemias


2


2


... ...


...


1


1


2


.. ...


...


..


... ..


1


1


1


1


1


243


BOARD OF HEALTH


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1939-Continued


January.


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


V. Chronic Poisonings and Intoxications


75 Alcoholism


1


..


..


...


...


..


1


VI. Diseases of the Nervous System and of the Organs of Special Sense


81 Other Diseases of the Spinal Cord


82A Cerebral Hemorrhage


6


11


9


10


8


3


7


5


10


12


11


11


103


82B Cerebral embolism and thrombosis


1


1


1


1


1


1


3


9


82d Hemiplegia and other paralysis (cause un- specihed )


1


1


1


3


87b Other diseases of the nervous system


1


1


89b Diseases of the mas- toid process


1


1


VII. Diseases of the Cir- culatory System


91a Acute endocarditis


92A Chronic Endocarditis


3


4


3


2


1


2


3


...


...


...


3


10


11


9


17


9


5


9


8


6


3


7


97


1


1


2


5


4


3


2


5


1


1


25


94A Angina Pectoris


1


1


1


1


4


6


7


11


12


6


4


1


12


3


9


7


11


89


95 Other diseases of the Heart


7


4


7


6


3


4


1


1


6


6


9


54


97 Arterio Sclerosis


4


7


9


12


8


6


8


13


16


4


4


4


95


99 Other diseases of the ar- teries


1


1


100 Diseases of the Veins (Varices, Hemorrhoids, phlebitis, etc.)


1


..


VIII. Diseases of the Re- spiratory System


105 Diseases of the larynx


106A Acute bronchitis


1


...


2


107A Broncho pneumonia


4


8


19


1


1


5


4


1


3


6


3


6


61


108 Lobar pneumonia


2


6


7


4


2


1


1


1


2


..


26


110 Pleurisy


111 Congestion, edema, em- bolism, hemorrhagic in- farct and thrombosis of lung


112 Asthma


114 Other Diseases of the Respiratory System


1


1


2


...


..


... ...


....


...


1


2


....


...


..


..


1


1


1


3


106B Chronic bronchitis


2


.....


...


..


...


.....


1


1


1


1


1


1


2


7


1


1


1


1


1


3


18


93A Acute Myocarditis


1


1


1


3


93c Chronic Myocarditis


93d Myocarditis, unspecified


......


... 94b Diseases of the Coron- ary Arteries


98 Gangrene


1


1


2


1


1


..


.....


... ...


.....


..


.....


1


1


244


ANNUAL REPORTS


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1939-Continued


January


February.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


IX. Diseases of the Diges- tive System


116 Diseases of the


esophagus


1


1


4


117b Ulcer of the duodenum ..


1


1


119 Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years of age) ..


1


1


120 Diarrhea and enteritis (over 2 years of age)


1


1


1


1


4


121 Appendicitis


1


2


1


1


2


1


8


122B Intestinal obstruction


1


1


1


2


...


...


1


1


1


1


1


3


8


125 Other Diseases of the Liver


1


2


1


1


1


6


126 Biliary Calculi


1


1


128 Diseases of the Pan- creas


1


1


129 Peritonitis, cause not specified


1


1


...


X. Diseases of the Genito- Urinary System


130 Acute Nephritis


1


3


......


1 1


2


2


3


2


·2


2


26


133 Other Diseases of the Kidneys and Ureters


137 Diseases of the Prostate


1


1


2


.....


...


XI. Diseases of Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperal State


140 Abortion with septic conditions


1


1


144 Puerperal hemorrhage


1


..


1


1


146 Peurperal Albumin-


uria and Eclampsia


1


1


1


12


XII. Diseases of the Skin and Cellular Tissue


151 Furuncle, Carbuncle


1


......


1


XIII. Diseases of the Bones and Organs of Loco- motion


154 Osteomyelitis


1


1


...


...


2


...


1


1


1


...


1


7


131 Chronic Nephritis


2


...


5


2


3


1


1


...


...


4


...


...


1


144a Placenta Praevia


149a Cesarean operation


...


1


122A Hernia


1


5


124 Cirrhosis of the Liver


2


... ...


1


117A Ulcer of the stomach ....


245


BOARD OF HEALTH


MORTALITY IN SOMERVILLE IN 1939-Continued


January


February


March


April


May


June


July


August


September


October


November


December


Total.


XIV. Congenital Malforma- tions


157B Spina Bifida and men- ingocele ...


1


1


157C Congenital malforma- tions of heart


1


XV. Diseases of Early


Infancy


158 Congenital Debility


2


1


2


2


1


2


...


2


2


14


161A Atelectasis


XVI. Senility Senility


1


..


XVII. Violent and Acciden- tal Deaths


163 Suicide by solid or liquid poisons or absorption of corrosive substances ..


1


1


164 Suicide by poisonous gas


1


1


1


3 wo


165 Suicide by hanging or strangulation ...


1


1


178 Accidental absorption of poisonous gas


1


1


2


181 Accidental burns


1


1


.....


..


2


182 Accidental mechanical suffocation


1


1


1


3


185 Accidental traumatism by cutting or piercing instruments


1


...


...


.....


....


2


3


3


1


2


1


1


3


1


2


3


22


210 Automobile accidents ....


1


...


..


XVIII. III Defined Causes of Death


Totals


....


61


93


117


105


81


65


51


71


74


72


71


77


938


...


...


...


1


1


159 Premature Birth


2


...


...


186A Accidental fall


207 Other railroad accidents


1


...


1


2


1


3


3


4


4


20


...


.....


1


..


1


2


1


1


246


ANNUAL REPORTS


TOTAL DEATHS DURING LAST TEN YEARS


Year


No. of Deaths


Rate per 1,000


1930


1,009


9.73


1931


938


9.05


1932


930


8.95


1933


989


9.51


1934


900


8.66


1935


862


8.21


1936


965


9.58


1937


899


8.92


1938


968


9.61


1939


938


9.31


Average death rate per 1,000 for ten years


9.15


TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATHS IN SOMERVILLE IN 1939


HEART DISEASE.


CANCER ALL FORMS.


ARTERIO SCLEROSIS.


APOPLEXY.


PNEUMONIA 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


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


293


29.1


122


12.1


95


9.4


103


10.2


87


8.6


Table Showing Comparisons Between 1939 and 1939 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


Reported.


Number of


Deaths.


Percentage


Reported.


Number of


Deaths.


Percentage


of Deaths.


1939


Deaths from Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, and Tuberculosis in the Last Ten Years


TUBERCULOSIS ALL FORMS.


SCARLET FEVER.


MONTHS.


1930


1931


1932


1933


1934


1935


1936


1937


1938


1939


1930


1931


1932


1933


1934


1935


1936


1937


1938


1989


1930


1931


1932


1933


1934


1935


1936


1937


1938


1939


1930


1931


1932


1933


1934


1935


1936


1937


1938


1939


1


1


1


4


3


1


2


1


2


1


...


1


1


-


2


January


..


..


.. .


4


1


1


February


6


..


..


.. .


1


1


1


.. .


I


2


1


May


1


1


1


1


4


..


...


2


3


3


1


0


0


1


.. .


August


1


1


I


...


...


.. .


I


3


1


...


3


1


..


...


..


...


4


0


4


1


1


2


0


0


0


28


7


3


3


7


1


O


0


1


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


0


29 24 15 17 21


16


10


11


6


8


BOARD OF HEALTH


247


Total


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


SCARLET FEVER.


Cases


Cases


Cases


89


6


6.7


3


1


33.3


194


0


0


3


1


33.3


1938


172


0


0


1


0


0


1


0


0


84


8


9.5


TYPHOID FEVER.


1


2


2


3


1


1


2


0 1


7.


4


1


2


1


2


0


1


...


2


1


2


3


1


1


1


2


1


March


2


5


2


2


3


1


1


1


1


1


2


1


1


1


1


1


2


1


1


1


1


....


2


3


1


...


..


4


1


1 1


2


0


1


1


...


July


...


..


3


1


2 1


6


2


1


1


١٠٠٠


2


1


L


1


2


0


3


2


...


2


2


2


1 3


1


0.


1


...


November


..


..


..


-


December


..


...


June ..


2


1


...


...


...


..


..


2


...


September


October.


. .


..


..


...


...


4


1


0


1


...


..


....


..


1


..


..


1


....


1


1


..


April


..


..


..


...


:


1


-


..


: :


:


..


1


...


..


of Deaths.


of Deaths.


of Deaths.


DIPHTHERIA.


248


ANNUAL REPORTS


DISEASES DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH


This board has adjudged that the diseases known as actinomycosis, anterior poliomyelitis, anthrax, Asiatic cholera, epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, chicken pox, diphtheria, dog bite, dysentery, German measles, glanders, hookworm disease, infectious disease of the eye, leprosy, malaria, measles, mumps, pellagra, plague, pneumonia (lobar only), rabies, scar- let 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 an 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 con- veniently printed and addressed are supplied to them for the purpose. On receipt of a card from a physician, the principal of the school in the district in which the patient resides and the State Board of Health are notified.


SPECIMENS AND SUPPLIES


Outfits for specimens to be examined for tuberculosis, diph- theria and typhoid fever and diphtheria antitoxin, vaccine lymph and nitrate of silver solution, and other supplies, may be obtained at the laboratory and at the following places.


Fermoyle Pharmacy, 217b Highland Avenue Furbush & Shute, Inc., 1153 Broadway Grover's Pharmacy, 146 Broadway McClure's Pharmacy, 528 Medford Street George R. Reed & Son, Inc., Hobbs Building, Davis Square Leonard F. Tibbetts, 152-154 Highland Avenue


Ernest M. Vose, 310 Broadway


George E. Wardrobe, 716 Broadway


Physicians desiring reports on the following day, must de- posit specimens at the City Hall, in the receptacles provided before 9 P. M.


Results of all examinations of specimens received at the City Hall prior to 9 P. M., will be reported to the physicians on the following morning.


249


BOARD OF HEALTH


MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS


The medical inspection of the School of Somerville which was instituted December 1907 has been continued during the year. The value of the system has been constantly demonstrated 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, the school principals, and teachers have very generally co-operated with the inspectors in making the system as successful as possible.


The inspectors are required to make daily visits to the schools under their charge, and to them are referred all child- ren who show evidences of disease or abnormal conditions. Children who are found to be unfit to remain in school are sent home, accompanied by a slip properly filled out advising 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 authorities. Every effort is made to protect the health of the children and to co-operate with the parents in keeping the children in as normal a condi- tion as possible. In accordance with provisions of the statute, tests of sight and hearing are made by the principals and teachers.


DISTRICT NO. 1


Inspector Dr. Francis Shaw, 167 Broadway


Schools Prescott, Hanscom and Vocational Schools.


DISTRICT NO. 2


Inspector Dr. John D. Bennett, 72 College Avenue


Schools Baxter, Knapp, Perry and Southern Junior High Schools.


DISTRICT NO. 3


Inspector Dr. E. Goduti, 434 Broadway


Schools Bennett, Pope, Cummings and Proctor Schools.


DISTRICT NO. 4


Inspector Dr. Wilfrid C. Macdonald, 150 Summer Street Schools Morse, Carr, Durell and Burns Schools.


250


ANNUAL REPORTS


DISTRICT NO. 5


Inspector Dr. H. M. Stoodley, 277a 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, Hodgkins, Cutler and Lowe Schools.


DISTRICT NO. 7


Inspector Dr. E. F. Sewall, 380 Broadway


Schools Glines, Grimmons and High Schools


DISTRICT NO. 8


Inspector Dr. M. W. White, 21 Walnut Street


Schools Parochial Schools


During the year 11,613 children have been referred to the inspectors during their daily visits and 430 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


18


Measles


72


Mumps 64


Scarlet Fever


4


Whooping Cough


22


Total 180


2. Diseases of the Nose and Throat :-


Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids


606


Inflammatory Diseases


90


Other Abnormal conditions


9


Total 705


3. Diseases of the Eyes :-


14


Inflammatory conditions


9


Other abnormal conditions


30


Foreign bodies


Total 53


251


BOARD OF HEALTH


4. Diseases of the Ear :-


Inflammatory conditions


5


Other abnormal conditions


0


Total


5


5. Diseases of the Skin :-


Eczema


15


Herpes


48


Impetigo


273


Dermatitis


8


Pediculosis


296


Scabies


74


Tinea


0


Miscellaneous conditions


73


Total


787


6. Miscellaneous Condition :-


Diseases of the Circulatory System


51


Diseases of the Digestive System


18


Diseases of the Lymphatic System


100


Diseases of the Nervous System


0


Diseases of the Respiratory System


170


Wounds and Injuries


68


Other Conditions


59


Total


466


Total number of diseases


2,196


Vaccinations performed


25


Examinations for Vaccinations


190


BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK


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.


FUNERAL DIRECTORS


Under the provisions of Chapter 407 of the Acts of 1936, twenty-four persons were duly licensed as funeral directors.


HEALTH NURSES


There are at present seven nurses employed by this Board, four 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 con- nected 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.


252


ANNUAL REPORTS


INFANT HYGIENE CLINICS


During the past year under the supervision of this Board, clinics have been held every Tuesday afternoon at the New Vocational Schoolhouse, every Wednesday afternoon at the Hodgkins Schoolhouse and every Friday afternoon at the Bing- ham Schoolhouse, except when the days were holidays. The average weekly attendance at the New Vocational Schoolhouse was 34, at the Hodgkins Schoolhouse 22, and at the Bingham Schoolhouse 21. The attendance for the year at these clinics was 3824. This work is of inestimable value and the results are very far reaching.


We wish at this time to pay tribute to Helen M. Berry, Health Nurse in this Department who resigned on September 30, 1939, after more than twenty years of faithful and efficient service.


253


BOARD OF HEALTH


REPORT OF THE HEALTH NURSES


Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1940.


To the Board of Health


Somerville, Mass.




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