USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1946 > Part 16
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Diseases of the Nervous System
0
Diseases of the Respiratory System
59
Wounds and Injuries
53
Other Conditions
33
Total
411
Total number of diseases
1711
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Under the provisions of Chapter 407 of the Acts of 1936, twenty-six 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 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 New Vo-
248
ANNUAL REPORTS
cational School, every Wednesday afternoon at the Bingham School and every Thursday afternoon at the Hodgkins School, except when the days were holidays. The average weekly at- tendance at the New Vocational School was 10, at the Bing- ham School 7, and at the Hodgkins School 15. The attendance for the year at these clinics was 1450. This work is of in- estimable value and the results are very far reaching.
249
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE HEALTH NURSES
Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1947
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, 1946.
INFANT HYGIENE
Infants as reported born in Somerville during 1946 1150
Infants born elsewhere resident of Somerville 1110
Pairs of twins born in Somerville 19
Stillbirths in Somerville 51
Infants reported with Ophthalmia Neonatorum 0
Infants reported with Conjunctivitis 1
Infants reported with Infantile Paralysis
0
There were 25 deaths of infants under one year of age in Somerville during the past year as shown in the following table :
Prematurity
9
Congenital diseases
5
Intestinal diseases
0
Accidental injury
3
Pneumonia and other diseases
8
Total 25
Total attendance at Baby Welfare Clinics during 1946 1450
New Registration during 1946 233
Average attendance during 1946
11
TUBERCULOSIS
Pulmonary tuberculosis cases reported during 1946 57
Other Forms of Tuberculosis reported in 1946 ... Number of patients admitted to the Middlesex
4
County Sanatorium at Waltham 53
Number of patients admitted to Lakeville
3
Number of patients admitted to North Reading 6
Number of patients admitted to Rutland 6
Number of patients admitted to Westfield 1
250
ANNUAL REPORTS
Xrays and examinations of patients and contacts are held every second and fourth Friday evenings of the month at the. Knights of Columbus Building, Highland Avenue, Somerville.
TABLE SHOWING AGES AND SEX OF CASES REPORTED DURING 1946
PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
Male Female Total
Under fifteen years of age
0
0
0
From fifteen to twenty years
1
1
2
From twenty to thirty years
5
11
16
From thirty to forty years
5
3
8
Over forty years
26
5
31
Totals
37
20
57
OTHER FORMS OF TUBERCULOSIS
Male Female Total
Under fifteen years of age
0
0
0
From fifteen to twenty years
1
0
1
From twenty to thirty years
0
0
0
From thirty to forty years
0
0
0
Over forty years
0
3
Totals
1
3
4
MISCELLANEOUS
Typhoid Fever cases reported
3.
RECAPITULATION OF VISITS
Baby Hygiene
2097
Tuberculosis
1544
Miscellaneous
1800
Total visits
5441
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE P. HIGHT, R. N. MARY V. RYAN, R. N. EILEEN A. DAILY, R. N.
Health Nurses.
251
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION .
Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1947
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith present the report of the Department of Medi- cal Inspection for the year 1946 including statistics of the Con- tagious 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 119
DIPHTHERIA-Before patients are released from quarantine two successive negative cultures must be obtained
18
CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL
365
Total number of visits
502
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL
In Hospital
Disease
Jan. 1, 1946
Admitted
Discharged Well or Improved
Dead
In Hospital Jan.1, 1947
Diphtheria
2
69
62
3
6
Scarlet Fever
8
110
112
0
6
Miscellaneous
0
24
20
3
1
Daily average 11.21
586 1/7 weeks treatment.
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS DIPHTHERIA
Negative
Positive
Total
January
12
3
15
February
13
6
19
March
23
4
27
April
10
0
10
May
5
1
6
June
18
3
21
July
18
4
22
August
19
2
21
September
112
14
126
October
345
124
469
November
59
31
90
December
54
18
72
Totals
688
210
898
252
ANNUAL REPORTS
TUBERCULOSIS
Negative
Positive
Total
January
11
0
11
February
8
0
8
March
4
0
4
April
2
0
2
May
6
0
6
June
2
0
2
July
3
0
3
August
0
0
0
September
0
0
0
October
1
0
1
November
1
0
1
December
0
0
0
Totals
...
38
0
38
Miscellaneous examinations
54
Total examinations
990
TUBERCULOSIS
During 1946 there were eleven deaths from tuberculosis, all from pulmonary tuberculosis and none from other forms.
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.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNIZATION
Diphtheria has shown an increase in the State this year. Ward 1 (East Somerville) had an outbreak this year, the re- sult of which the schools in that section were immunized. This section was immunized two years ago.
The department has clinics the last Saturday of every month throughout the year at the Knights of Columbus Build- ing, Highland Avenue, Somerville, for immunization. It is opened to all children from 6 months to 10 years of age. It consists of three inoculations. Pre-school children have the option of the combination inoculation consisting of diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine. The attendance at this clinic this year was 2,514.
Notices have been in local papers advising parents to have their children immunized; notices have also been sent to par-
253
BOARD OF HEALTH
ents whose children have reached the age of six months, to attend the clinic, or have their family physician immunize them. Many babies have been inoculated by their family doctor, but the exact number of inoculations have not been submitted to us.
The immunizations were accomplished without any ab- scesses or reactions. There were 8,176 children who came to the clinic to be immunized of which 1, 280 were "boosters" and 1,911 had the complete series.
Respectfully submitted,
WILFRID C. MACDONALD, M. D. Medical Inspector
254
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1947
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The following is a report of the work of the department of Inspection of Animals and Provisions for the year ending De. cember 31, 1946.
The word establishment may be construed as including all places coming under the board's jurisdiction.
Number of establishments visited
6063
Complaints investigated
953
Venereal disease delinquents visited
2
Notices sent
151
All complaints were satisfactorily adjusted.
CONDEMNATIONS
Tainted Pork
15 lbs.
Prunes
15 pkgs.
Beef Liver
5 1bs.
Misc. Canned
Beef Fat
2000 lbs.
Products
101 lbs.
Poultry
114 lbs.
Potato Salad
12 lbs.
Sausage
63 lbs.
Fish
20 1bs.
Lamb
20 1bs.
Walnuts
43 lbs.
Veal
7 lbs.
Figs
33 lbs.
Hamburger
21 lbs.
Cereals
21 lbs.
Turkey
25 lbs.
Currants
2 lbs.
Bacon
2 lbs.
Crackers
35 lbs.
Tea
0 lbs.
Melons
75 lbs.
Peaches
25 lbs.
Butter
8 1bs.
Oranges
2 doz.
Apples
10 lbs.
Cauliflower
20 lbs.
Pies
4 pieces
Candy Bars
2707
Box Candy
86 1bs.
Peanuts
25 lbs.
Peanuts
30 pkgs.
Raisins
461 pkgs.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID F. O'BRIEN, M. D.
255
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND VETERINARIAN
Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1947
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1946.
There were a total of 576 calls made in connection with dog bites during the year.
The inspection of the City Home farm animals was done by me as in the past few years.
Respectfully submitted,
EINER WILLIAM JOHANSEN, D. V. M.
Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian
256
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DENTAL HYGIENE
Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1947
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the report of the Department of Dental Hygiene for the year 1946 with the following statistics.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY F. BIANCHI, D. M. D Supervising School Dentist
-
-- SCHOOL CHILDREN-
CLINIC CASES HOSPITAL WELFARE CASES-
-- SOLDIERS' RELIEF CASES-
Number Examined
Old
January
674
182
76
0 912
687
264
180
1260
130
173
0
0
0
14
32
14
0
7
9
O
0
0
0
0
0
February
464
120
71
0
612
340
168
147
894
121
104
0
0
0
7
27
8
0
6
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
March
659
176
97
0
921
464
320
241
1172
131
204
3
3
6
21
47
22
0
19
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
April
712
184
70
0
864
527
321
171
1181
112
164
2
2
6
14
27
14
0
6
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
May
564
121
87
0
326
461
264
212
1096
141
121
7
7
19
11.
18
11
0
7
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
June
329
58
71
0
464
262
171
162
512
107
71
2
2
1
CO
16
9
0
9
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
July
SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED
August
SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED
September
SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED
October
11,201
SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED
November
512
162
51
0
594
392
227
165
847
114
119
1
1
3
7
7
5
0
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
December
497
278
71
0
847
464
452
162
1171
62
312
4
4
4
3
4
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
4411
1281
594
0
5540
3597
2187
1440
8133
918
1268
19
19
39
85
178
85
0
59
38
0
0
0
0
0
0
Surgery :- None
Patients
Patients
Emergency
Cases
Cases
Total Number
of Patients
Number of
. Extractions
Number of
Cleanings
Number of
Treatments
Number of Cer.
Number Given
Novocain
Number
Given Gas
Number of
Patients Number of
Extractions
Number of
Number of
Extractions
Patients at Number of
Number at
Hospital Number
Number
Given Gas
Number of
Number of
at Clinic
at Hospital
Number
Novocain or
Ethyl Chloride
Number
Given Gas
New
Ethyl Chloride Novocain or
Patients
Extractions
Number Patients
Number Patients
Special
Fillings
Number of
tificates Granted
Patients
Clinic
257
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
January 2, 1947
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
Five hundred and twenty-three stores are licensed to sell milk, sixty-three dealers are licensed to distribute milk and one hundred and twelve stores registered to sell oleomargarine. Six pasteurizing plants located in Somerville are licensed to operate and forty-two plants in cities and towns outside Somer- ville, are under the supervision of this department. An average of 40,000 quarts of milk and 1,000 quarts of cream are distri- buted daily in Somerville. Three hundred and twenty-five stores are licensed to sell and twenty-two dealers are licensed to manufacture frozen desserts.
The following tables 1, 2 and 3 are a summary of the work of the department for the vear :
258
ANNUAI. REPORTS
TABLE 1 Receipts
License
Applications
License
Fees
Cash For
Analyses
Cash Paid
City Treasurer
Analyses
on Account
Total Income for Department
January
21
$13.50
0.00
$13.50
$170.00
$183.50
(a) February
60
533.00
0.00
533.00
160.00
693.00
(b) March
71
95.50
0.00
95.50
205.00
300.50
(c) April
29
154.50
0.00
154.50
215.00
369.50
(d) May
588
376.00
0.00
376.00
175.00
551.00
June
182
109.50
0.00
109.50
214.50
324.00
July
22
15.50
1.00
16.50
218.00
234.50
(e) August
20
32.50
0.00
32.50
156.00
188.50
(f) September
22
23.50
0.00
23.50
218.50
242.00
(f) October
14
23.00
0.00
23.00
243.00
266.00
November
17
15.50
0.00
15.50
126.50
142.00
December
4
3.00
0.00
3.00
168.50
171.50
Totals
1050
$1,395.00
$1.00
$1,396.00
$2,270.00
$3,666.00
(a) includes 12 Mfr. Frozen Desserts & Witness Fee
(b)
5 Mfr. Frozen Desserts & 71 Pasteurizing
(c)
3 Mfr. Frozen Desserts
(d)
1 Pasteurizing and Witness Fees
(e)
2 Pasteurizing andWitness Fees
(1)
1 Pasteurizing and Witness Fees
TABLE 2 Examinations
Chemical samples
Collected
Bacteria
Samples
Collected
Total
Collections
Sediment
Tests
Samples
Submitted
Microscopical
Examinations
Examinations
January
77
78
155
77
414
78
724
February
79
82
161
79
378
80
698
March
99
101
200
99
505
102
906
April
81
121
202
81
400
83
766
May
70
72
142
70
601
90
903
June
82
80
162
80
552
140
934
July
75
76
151
0
466
0
617
August
106
108
214
80
339
95
728
September
55
56
111
56
452
40
659
October
64
66
130
64
549
66
809
November
63
61
124
61
276
62
523
December
31
31
62
31
330
33
456
Totals
882
932
1814
778
5262
869
8723
.
Total
259
BOARD OF HEALTH
TABLE 3 Inspections
Dairy, R. R.
Milk Stations
Creameries
Milk and
Ice Cream
Plants
Restaurants
and Stores
Total
Inspections
January
2
32
26
60
February
4
27
34
65
March
6
66
22
94
April
3
39
69
111
May
2
24
41
67
June
5
36
83
124
July
4
45
26
75
August
6
36
55
97
September
3
27
32
62
October
4
29
26
59
November
7
33
45
85
December
3
25
36
64
Totals
49
419
495
963
I recommend the promulgation and adoption of a regula- tion requiring caps that protect the pouring lip of all bottled milk sold in this city. Ninety percent of the milk sold in Som. erville already conforms to the above.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. WALLIS, Inspector of Milk & Vinegar
This report, a summary of the work performed in the sev- eral sub-divisions of the Board of Health, is respectfully sub- mitted by
DAVID F. O'BRIEN, M. D., Chairman ANTHONY F. COTA WALTER E. WHITTAKER
Board of Health
260
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
December 31, 1946
Somerville, Mass.
To His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
The Board of Public Welfare submits, herewith, reports of the General Agent, the Warden of the City Home and the City Physician, with tables showing the work.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE I. MCNAMARA, Chairman E. L. CONDON EDW. L. HAGAN
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
ALICE I. MCNAMARA, Chairman EDWARD L. CONDON EDWARD L. HAGAN
COMMITTEES On Finance, Investigations, Relief and City Home MRS. MCNAMARA, MR. CONDON AND MR. HAGAN
GENERAL AGENT
CHARLES J. WILLWERTH
261
WELFARE DEL'ARTMENT
CITY PHYSICIAN CIRO GIOBBE, M. D.
STAFF OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN
JOHN M. TAVARES, M. D. BENJAMIN BLESOFF, M. D. MARIE A. HANRAHAN, R. N. MARY G. WELCH, MED. & DENT. ASST.
WARDEN AND MATRON, CITY HOME MR. & MRS. GEORGE S. GOODRICH
REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT
City Hall January 31, 1947
Board of Public Welfare
Somerville, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
The General Agent submits the following as his report for the year ending December 31, 1946.
Table No. 1
Indoor Relief (FULL SUPPORT)
City Home (Male, 61; Female, 31) 92
State Infirmary (Tewksbury) 18
(PARTIAL SUPPORT)
Local Hospitals (Central, Somerville, Sunnyside)
Cases Hospitalized 100
Out Patient Treatment 43
143
Cases aided to hospitalization in other Cities and Towns (chargeable to Somerville in 1946) 38
Cases aided in Convalescent Homes 18
Cases aided in all other institutions (not included above) 31
Number of Burials during 1946 10
262
ANNUAL REPORTS
Table No. 2
Number of cases aided Jauary 1, 1946
196
Number of cases aided during 1946 526
Number of cases aided in other Cities and Towns (charg- able to Somerville in 1946) 40
Number of cases aided December 31, 1946 236
Table No. 3
Children Boarded
In Private Families
10
Through Division of Child Guardianship
27
Table No. 4
RECAPITULATION Welfare Miscellaneous
Total expenditures, 1946
$184,142.24
Refunds and transfers
3,619.03
Net cost to Welfare Department
$180,523.21
Reimbursements
29,721.68
Net cost to City
$150,801.53
Reimbursements
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$17,870.07
Cities and Towns
11,298.96
Welfare Clinic
552.65
$29,721.68
Refunds
$3,550.98
Transfers
68.05
3,619.03
Total refunds, reimbursements, etc. ...
$33,440.71
Table No. 5 AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Number of cases, January 1, 1946
170
Number of cases, December 31, 1946
202
Number of (dependent) children aided during 1946 (262 families )
704
Amount allowed each family from $1.70 per month to $404.65 per month
$209,201.84
Administrative expense
11,458.95
Miscellaneous
38.31
Department transfer
1,761.77
Gross expenditures
$222,460.87
263
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Table No. 6 Reimbursements
U. S. Federal Grants
$43,135.44
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
62,014.76
Refunds
348.86
Recoveries
676.46
$106,175.52
Gross expenditures
$222,460.87
Refunds and reimbursements
106,175.52
Net cost to City
$116,285.35
Table No. 7 OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Number of Cases, January 1, 1946
1,357
Number of Cases, December 31, 1946
1,616
Gross Expenditures, O. A. A. Bureau, 1946
$914,699.75
Grants, Refunds and Recoveries
331,526.03
Net Cost to O. A. A. Bureau
$583,173.72
Reimbursement from State and Cities and Towns
392,554.88
Net Cost to City
$190,618.84
Table No. 8 Reimbursements
U. S. Federal Grants
Refunds and Recoveries
$328,884.88 2,641.15
$331,526.03
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$359,978.68
Comm. of Mass. Meal Tax
25,062.67
Cities and Towns
7,513.53
$392,554.88
Total Reimbursements
$724,080.91
264
ANNUAL REPORTS
POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1936 thru 1946
Year
Population
Welfare
City Home A. D. C.
O. A. A.
Totals
1936
100,773
$897,986.79
$15,238.88
$913,225.67
1937
100,773
924,302.76
16,957.13
$97,511.63
$397,203.74 1,435,975.26
1938
100,773
875,654.35
16,740.71
154,851.97
464,592.63
1,511,839.66
1939
100,773
842,163.70
16,590.48
158,930.39
524,758.50
1,542,443.07
1940
105,000
769,452.31
17,359.02
163,102.51
534,405.27
1,484,319.11
1941
105,000
446,195.74
16,927.91
171,358.23
541,864.00
1,176,345.88
1942
105,000
349,640.74
17,523.97
170,298.86
578,141.50
1,115,605.07
1943
105,000
195,794.28
19,671.71
132,193.20.
615,477.63
963,136.82
1944
105,000
149,427.33
20,757.56
135,464.96
658,940.37
964,590.22
1945
105,882
153,897.81
21,673.44
168,787.17
719,709.88
1,064,068.30
1946
105,882
184,142.24
23,759.40
222,460.87
914,699.75 1,450,944.26
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
265
REPORT OF THE WARDEN OF THE CITY HOME
March 1, 1947
Board of Public Welfare
Somerville, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit the following as the report of the Warden of the City Home for the year ending, December 31, 1946.
Table No. 1
Number of week's board of inmates 2,744-5
Number of males admitted during 1946 38
Number of females admitted during 1946 15
Number of males discharged during 1946 32
Number of females discharged during 1946
6
Number of males supported during 1946
23
Number of females supported during 1946
16
Number of males died during 1946
4
Number of females died during 1946
4
Number of inmates in Home, December 31, 1946
58
Number of children cared for during 1946
3
Number of day's care of children during 1946
6
Table No. 2 City Home Hospital
Number of weeks' board of inmates
681
Number of Patients admitted during 1946
27
Number of Patients in hospital, December 31, 1946
13
Table No. 3
Total expenditures and transfers, 1946
$23,759.40
Refunds and reimbursements
7,087.88
Net cost to City
$16,671.52
Reimbursements
Sale of Produce
$1.423.74
Reimbursements from Cities and Towns
1,067.21
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2,365.49
Individuals
2,206.44
Refunds
25.00
Total reimbursements
$7,087.88
266
ANNUAL REPORTS
February 21, 1947
To the Board of Public Welfare Somerville, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit the following as the report of the City Physician for the year ending December 31, 1946.
Patients treated at Clinic, January 1, thru De- cember 31, 1946 5,426
(Includes Old Age Assistance, Soldiers' Relief, Aid to Dependent Children, Vaccinations and Emergencies).
Patients treated at home, January 1, thru De- cember 31, 1946 4,729
(Includes all of above types of cases, plus City Infirmary and Police and Fire Depts).
Respectfully submitted,
CIRO GIOBBE, M. D.
City Physician
267
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT
During the year 1946 there was an increase in case load in all types of aid. The case load for all categories of relief in December 1945 was 1709, while in December of 1946 it was 2057. The outlook for 1947 is not encouraging, as the return of many service men to private employment has left the em- ployer in a position where he can choose now with consequent result that many individuals who cannot pass insurance tests are refused employment.
All categories of relief have again been increased in 1946, to meet the high cost of living.
During the year we continued our rehabilitation work with many complete physical examinations made, also correctional devices, glasses, artificial limbs, etc., supplied. Many cases, both on and off relief, were referred to the State Department of Education Rehabilitation Bureau. Very cordial relations exist between our department and the rehabilitation Bureau, and their help to us during the year is worthy of mention.
The expenditures under the category of Miscellaneous Welfare for the year 1945 was $153,897.81, and for the year 1946, $181,142.24, an increase of $30,244.43.
The Welfare Miscellaneous case load for 1946 is as fol- lows :
January
214
February
221
March
211
April
196
May
202
June
196
July
204
August
211
September
227
October
226
November
231
December
236
The expenditure under Aid to Dependent Children for the year 1945 was $168,787.17, and for 1946, $220,699.10, an increase of $51,911.93.
The expenditures in Old Age Assistance for the year 1945 were $719,709.88, and for 1946, $914,699.75, an increase of $194,989.87.
268
ANNUAI. REPORTS
The Aid to Dependent Children case load in December 1945 was 170, while in December 1946, it was 202.
The Old Age Assistance case load in December 1945 was 1357, and in December 1946 it was 1616.
On Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children, we operate under the State Standard Budget. During 1946, there were two changes in budgets increasing allowances for food, fuel, clothing, personal needs, and medical needs. The per capita cost jumped in leaps and bounds this year. The Feder- al Government's participation in the form of grants remained the same until December of 1946, when a new formula, increas- ing the Aid and Administration grants was made. The cost to the city on Old Age Assistance increased nearly $100,000.00 over 1945, due to failure to receive additional grants on Old Age Assistance until December 1946. All indications point to a substantial increase in gross costs for all categories of relief during 1947.
The work of our employment division during the past year was a very fruitful one. During this year we had 354 applica- tions for employment, and 242 persons were placed through the efforts of this division. Most of the cases so placed would have to be aided by our department if not placed. We have the least per capita case load of any city or town in the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts on our temporary aid cases. This is due, I believe, to the efforts of our employment division ; to the amount of work done on desertion and non-support cases, and our unceasing efforts at rehabilitation.
In the dispensing of relief in any of the forms, the basic consideration is need. The need exists for many causes. Among the most prevalent causes are unemployment, sickness or in- jury, old age, desertion, non-support of families and imprison- ment. The amounts of money paid out by our department be- cause of desertion and non-support is a substantial one, and much time and energy is put into presenting these cases to the courts. During 1946 we handled a total of 183 of this type of case, and disposed of 142 cases, leaving 41 cases still pending at the end of the year.
Effective December 1, 1946, all employees received a sal- ary increase,, the amounts for the minimum and maximum sal- aries for the different grades being determined after consul-
269
BOARD OF HEALTH
tation with the Agent, the Board of Public Welfare, the Ma- yor's Salary Adjustment Committee, the Employees' Union, and Civil Service. All Public Welfare employees are under the Welfare Compensation Plan, and figures submitted were ap- proved after some minor adjustments.
The problem of caring for chronic cases, such as aged and infirm and hopelessly invalided cases is one that causes us great concern. Our City Infirmary can only care for a limited number of cases. The rest must be cared for in institutions or placed in private nursing homes. Shortage of nurses and in- stitutional help still exists, and it is difficult to find proper placement. During this year a new building code was adopted in our city, which placed added restriction on nursing homes. While these· restrictions were made to safeguard occupants of these 'homes, it still placed this department in the position where at times, proper placement could not be made.
Public Assistance Programs are governed by statutes, and they are the yardstick by which the department must gauge its work. We fully realize the responsibilities which are ours in caring for the needy, and we feel that many measures have been taken to safeguard the taxpayers interests.
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