USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1923 > Part 4
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Lieut. Arthur F. Shaw
Chauffeur, John Ludgate Chauffeur, William Coupe
Located at Hebronville Station.
Chauffeur, Peter Gagner
CALL MEN. Hose No. 1, South Main St. Station.
Allen W. Ferguson ยท Donald J. Ferguson Charles C. Monroe Willard J. Barney
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ANNUAL REPORT
Hose No. 2, Union St. Station.
Arthur B. Read
Albert C. Parker
William Young Frank Lyle Sherman Davis
Hose No. 4, South Attleboro Station.
Daniel Driscoll Percy B. Doran
Walter W. Abbott
Michael E. Fox Albert Olsen Fred J. Murphy
Hose No. 5, Hebronville Station.
Capt. and Chauf., Martin Tierney Andrew Murphy Peter A. Dufault J. Everett Hoyle Garner W. Ousley
Hose No. 6, Sibleyville.
Captain, George I. Miller
Clerk, Charles J. Hudson
Hoseman, David Hamilton
Hoseman, Dona Beaulieu Hoseman, Albert Collins Hoseman, George Duquette
Hose No. 7, Briggs Corner.
Captain, E. D. Briggs Hoseman, H. E. Briggs
Lieut., W. A. Vickery Clerk, C. T. Clark Hoseman, Ernest White
Hoseman, A. W. Brigham
Hoseman, H. B. Rounds
Hoseman, George Wetherill
Hoseman, Ray L. Torrey
Ladder No. 1, Union St. Station.
Walter C. Dix Berlyn White
Albert L. Young Leith Young Joseph H. Williams
Ladder No. 2, South Attleboro.
Harold V. Hopkins Charles S. Wilbur
George W. Orr Ira B. Nickerson Thomas F. Dean
Ladder No. 3, South Main St.
Michael Barrett
Orrin W. Clark Earle C. Whitney
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ANNUAL REPORT
HEADQUARTERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
December 18, 1923.
To His Honor, the Mayor and Municipal Council :
We have the honor of submitting the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 18, 1923, together with such recommendations as we think necessary for increasing the efficiency of the Department.
ORGANIZATION.
The Department consists of :
3 Engineers
25 Permanent Men
49 Callmen
1 Engine Company
6 Hose Companies
3 Ladder Companies
FIRE STATIONS AND APPARATUS.
Central Fire Station, South Main St., Station No. 1.
1 Aherns Fox Combination Pump and Hose.
1 Ladder Truck with Knox Martin Tractor, and 2 25 Gallon Chemical Tanks.
1 Combination Knox Motor with Hose and Chemical.
1 Chief's Car.
In Reserve.
1 Chief's Car, for Assistant Chiefs.
1 Kelly Springfield Truck.
Union St. Station No. 2.
1 Kelly Springfield, Combination Hose and Chemical.
1 Seagrave Tractor Drawn, 75 foot Aerial.
South Attleboro Station, No. 4.
1 Knox Motor, Combination Hose and Chemical.
1 Seagrave City Truck.
Hebronville Station, South Main St. No. 5.
1 Federal Motor Truck, Combination Hose and Chemical.
Sibleyville, Hose No. 6.
1 Hand Reel and 800 Ft. Hose.
Briggs Corner, Hose No. 7.
1 Hand Reel and 800 Ft. Hose.
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ANNUAL REPORT
APPARATUS.
Aherns Fox Combination Hose and Pump. 1
4 Motor (Gasolene) Combination Chemical and Hose.
2 Hose Reels.
3 Motor (Gasolene) Ladder Trucks.
1 Chief's Car.
1 Assistant Chief's Car.
In Reserve.
1 Motor Truck, 2 Ton.
Hose.
South Main St. Station 3,950 feet
Union St. Station .2,400 feet
South Attleboro Station 1,850 feet
Hebronville Station
800 feet
Sibleyville Station
800 feet
Briggs Corner Station
800 feet
10,600 feet
Hydrants.
Four new hydrants have been installed during the year, making a total of 506 now in use.
Improvements.
During the year, new parts to the steering wheel of the Knox- Martin tractor were purchased and put in service, a new rear axle to Hose No. 3, new rear tires added to Engine I, and the Chief's car var- nished. At South Main St. Station, the roof was repaired, a direct power line added, and a new telephone system put in. A new cement apron and a new section to the boiler added at South Attleboro. At Union St. Station, the wooden floor was propped up and strengthened. New hose was added to the Department, and new tires on the Kelly reserve truck.
SALARIES.
Chief Engineer $800 00 Per Year
Assistant Engineers 400 00 Per Year
Clerk of Engineers 100 00 Per Year
Callmen in Center
200 00 Per Year
Callmen in Hebronville and South Attleboro. 140 00 Per Year
Callmen in Sibleyville and Briggs Corner 12 00 Per Year
Captain and Chauffeur, Hebronville. 200 00 Per Year
PERMANENT MEN.
Captains
$5 50 Per Day
Lieutenants
5 25 Per Day
1st 6 months men.
4 50 Per Day
2nd 6 months men. 4 75 Per Day
2nd year men
5 00 Per Day
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ANNUAL REPORT
FIRE RECORD.
There has not been a large fire during the year, and the fire loss has been small.
The Department, including all companies, have laid during the year, 33,950 feet of hose, raised 23,135 feet of ladders, and used 2,626 gallons of chemicals.
The Department has responded to the following alarms :
Alarms from boxes 55
Assembly calls 2
Still alarms 298
355
CLASSIFICATION OF ALARMS.
Buildings
70
Chimney
56
Brush and Grass
127
Automobile
18
False
2
Oil Stove
8
Rubbish and Dump
44
Tar Box
1
No Fire
9
Ash Box
1
Fence
3
Bridge
2
Railroad Ties
2
Lungmotor
1
Haystack
1
Potato Bake
1
Telegraph Pole
1
Coal
4
Bonfire
1
Tree .
2
Oil Tank
1
355
FIRE LOSSES.
Value of buildings at risk.
$204,825 00
Value of contents at risk.
184,200 00
Insurance on buildings at risk
315.953 00
Insurance on contents at risk
179,800 00
$495,753 00
Loss on buildings
13,801 38
Loss on contents
11,939 33
$25,740 71
Insurance paid on buildings and contents
24,194 71
Loss not covered by insurance
$1,546 00
$389,025 00
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ANNUAL REPORT
FIRE PREVENTION.
Fire prevention means special care on the part of everyone, by pre- venting the accumulation of waste paper, rubbish, or any other inflam- mable material in the cellar or about the premises. Hot ashes should never be thrown into a wooden receptacle. Care should be taken regard- ing stove cleaning cloths, oil dust rags and mops. They should never be allowed in a closet where they cause a fire by spontaneous combus- tion.
We believe in the regular inspection of buildings by the members of the Department, and shall continue doing this inspection.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Board of Fire Engineers again recommend that the water pipes in the Union St. Station be replaced this year. They are getting worse from year to year, and are now in a very bad condition. This would cost $250. We again recommend a ladder truck for the South Main St. Station to take the place of the Knox tractor-drawn ladder truck now in use. The condition of this truck is bad and should be replaced. Hose No. 3 Combination, located at the South Main Street Station, should be replaced. This truck was the first piece of motor apparatus purchased for the city, and no parts have been manufactured for the last ten years, making it impossible to make replacements. We recommend a 750 gallon pump. We have four pieces of motor apparatus over ten years old, and replacement should be made from year to year, or it will have to be replaced all at once. We again recommend the repairing of the Hebron- ville Hose House and permanent men be placed there, as conditions at present are bad. We again recommend that the new street to Sibley- ville be constructed and that company be discontinued. We recommend that a suitable drill tower be constructed in the near future where our men can be properly trained; to be efficient, the men should have a proper training. We also recommend that the salary of the Board of Fire Engineers be increased.
We wish at this time to extend our thanks to His Honor, the Mayor, to the Honorable City Council, to the Committee on Fire Department, to the Police Department for their assistance, and to the officers and men of the Department for the able manner in which they have per- formed their duties.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED A. CLARK, Chief. CRAIG C. POPE, 1st Assistant. LEONARD GOULD, 2nd Assistant.
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ANNUAL REPORT
CITY FORESTER
Attleboro, Mass., December 19, 1923.
To His Honor, the Mayor and Municipal Council :
I have the pleasure herewith to submit my annual report as City Forester for year ending December 31, 1923.
All the roadsides and orchards were scouted for Gypsy Moths and Brown Tail Moths. The nests of the Gypsy. Moths were painted with creosote. The nests of the Brown Tail Moths were also destroyed. The places where the Gypsy Moths were found plentiful were sprayed during the summer.
The usual amount of brush cutting was done on the roadsides, and trimming was also done on the shade trees.
Many of our shade trees should have the cavities filled with cement to prevent further decay, which will in time destroy them, if not attended to.
I recommend that $4,850.00 be appropriated for use in the Forestry Department, divided as follows :
Salary, $1,500.00; labor, $2,200.00. Maintenance of truck, $300.00. Cavity work, $500.00.
Telephone, Insurance and Incidentals, $350.00.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. E. S. SMITH. City Forester.
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ANNUAL REPORT
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
ORGANIZATION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 1923.
Health Officer WILLIAM O. HEWITT, M.D.
Inspector of Milk and Authorized Agent CHARLES J. GUILD, A.M.
Inspectors of Plumbing ARTHUR B. READ JOSEPH M. SEAGRAVES
Inspector of Slaughtering HUGH GAW, D.V.S.
Inspector of Animals FREDERICK L. BRIGGS, D.V.M.
School Dentist EDMUND M. WEBB, D.M.D.
Health Department Nurse HELEN M. LOGAN, R.N.
Registrar of Deaths STEPHEN H. FOLEY
Clerk MILDRED A. HEWINS
Associate Physician at Tuberculosis Dispensary FREDERICK V. MURPHY, M.D.
Associate Physician at Schick Test Clinic JESSE W. BATTERSHALL, M.D.
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ANNUAL REPORT
NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
To His Honor, the Mayor and Municipal Council :
GENTLEMEN :
The Health Department presents, herewith, its annual report, together with the reports of its appointees and sub-departments for the year ending December 31, 1923.
ORGANIZATION
The personnel of the former department composed of trained and experi- enced workers was retained as in previous years, in so far as it was possible, and the work of each sub-department has been administered in a thorough going and efficient manner. In spite of the fact that our appointees are in most instances underpaid in comparison to the valuable service rendered the community, they are at all times willing to co-operate with the Health Officer in the proper administration of department duties, and a spirit of harmony is at all times evident.
Early in the year a conference was held which was attended by all the department workers. Important matters pertaining to local health work and plans for the future were discussed. It is planned to hold meetings of a similar nature in the future.
PRACTICAL DISEASE PREVENTION
Local Health Department activities must of necessity increase from year to year, a broader scope is gradually put into practical use, and more work is thus, from time to time, added to keep pace with the now rapidly growing world-wide movement in the direction of disease prevention and health con- servation.
In the modern conception of public health work one notices an evolution from the mere prevention of communicable diseases to the adoption of measures having as their objective the prevention of ALL disease.
Preventive medicine is growing by leaps and bounds. To secure definite realization of the effective results that may be obtained by practical disease prevention properly applied, there must be a positive appeal to every indi- vidual in every community to safe-guard his own health. There must follow an answer to this appeal, in the form of a real individual and community effort toward health conservation. It seems unreasonable to suppose that all the citizens of any community would refuse to approve of and assist in every effort of proven efficiency directed toward the prevention of disease. Such an unfavorable condition of affairs, however, does exist in every community, and is due mainly to the lack of knowledge possessed not only by the average person, but in many instances, among the otherwise well informed concerning the many recent discoveries made in preventive medicine.
The trouble is not that Health Officials lack the knowledge sufficient to eradicate many diseases, but that they have as yet not secured the practical application of that knowledge.
In the next decade we shall see carried out a program of education of the people in reference to public health work. There will be a realization by all of its vital importance, and a very definite change in the incidence and in the death rate from many now common diseases. This change will be brought about, in fact is now already begun, as a result of the work of the numerous private agencies engaged in public health work. A functional co-ordination
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ANNUAL REPORT
of Health Departments with these agencies and a mutual understanding of the aims of both is an important factor in modern health work.
The public is now beginning to realize the fact that "public health is pur- chasable and that within natural limitations any community can determine its own death rate."
In a word the education of the general public in preventive work, and of the children in the schools is recognized as of prime importance. The prac- tical application of health measures is possible, however, only with the aid of individual and community help.
The policy adopted by this department, therefore, in its efforts to secure greater efficiency includes : Co-operation with all the physicians; co-ordi- nation with the work of existing private health agencies, with the school physician, and with the public health nurses in their work; promotion of every proposed health movement that seems necessary and desirable, and the stimulation of a real interest in health matters among the citizens by a system of education of the public in matters pertaining to health.
TUBERCULOSIS.
During 1923, eighty-five cases have been reported with twenty-nine deaths. Many of these were admitted to the Bristol County Hospital from other places. In Attleboro alone there has been an incidence of thirty-eight cases with fifteen deaths. In the United States each year several million dollars are expended in the fight against tuberculosis.
Our own state was a pioneer in tuberculosis treatment and prevention and is still active in the crusade against this disease.
The State Department aided by the Massachusetts Tuberculosis League and various private, county and city agencies, has an organized program that it carries out from year to year. This program includes measures such as- the discovery and care of consumptives in their homes and various sanatoria ; examination and re-examination of contact cases and investigation and close watch of cases in homes by health departments and visiting nurses. Through the tuberculosis clinics examinations are made of the under-nourished children in the schools, defects are corrected, and follow up work is done. Follow up work is done by health department nurses on groups of contact cases and cases discharged from the sanatoria. Health Camps and preventoria are maintained for the care of the under-nourished and suspicious cases among children. The spread of infection is checked by assuring a safe milk supply and insisting on proper disposal of sputum. Education is given in matters of personal and school hygiene. By such preventive means the community has been safeguarded to a degree sufficiently effective to cause a noticeable fall in the death rate from tuberculosis in the last few years.
Heretofore most of the preventive work has been done and the largest part of available funds has been expended among adults and among the older children in whom the disease was more or less well established.
In Attleboro approximately one-half of the total health appropriation is used for the maintenance of cases of tuberculosis in our county hospital. It is true that the city is partially reimbursed by subsidies from the state, and by the state and other towns for unsettled cases, but when the city's share of maintenance of our county institution is added to the amount expended for the board of patients it is evident that a large amount of money is being spent for the care of patients already ill with the disease.
Whether one views the tuberculosis situation from a health or from an economic standpoint, the importance of conditions as they now exist and the necessity for some change in them is at once apparent. We must admit that the disease is still with us, and that while the measures of prevention already
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ANNUAL REPORT
proven effective must be carried on with unabated energy, they must be supplemented with efforts to be concentrated on the prevention of tuberculosis in early childhood.
If we hope to diminish the number of patients crowding into our sanatoria each year we must at once devote our efforts and a part of our appropriation toward the discovery and care of those children who though not actively diseased present symptoms which indicate that they are the poten- tial cases of consumption that may require our care in the future. We must. therefore, give more attention to the early diagnosis of tuberculosis in chil- dren, especially those who are contact cases or who have already been infected.
It is also well to bear in mind that in tuberculosis we have a disease, the spread of which is dependent very much on environment. Fresh air, sunlight and avoidance of overcrowding are well known factors in pre- vention. As we cannot keep all our patients in sanatoria all the time, and many of them none of the time, we must soon provide better housing and living conditions for the poorer classes. Worthwhile results we feel will never be accomplished until we are able to control conditions that obviously lower the vitality of individuals and increase the spread of all the communicable diseases. A satisfactory working plan of attack is gradually being developed all over the country in this anti-tuberculosis fight.
This should prove successful if it has that most necessary ally-commu- nity support. Let the people understand that this special line of health work is not complete within itself, that it depends on and is related closely to every other health department activity. The results obtained are not alone depen- dent on appropriation of money to oil the health machinery, but also on the support and confidence of the general public.
DIPHTHERIA PREVENTION AND THE SCHICK TEST.
One of the most important and successful measures inaugurated by this department during the year was the beginning of an active local campaign for the eradication of diphtheria.
We feel that a satisfactory program has now been started which will result in the saving of lives. Proof of the effectiveness of preventive treat- ment has been demonstrated over and over again during the last ten years. Sufficient statistical data are now available to convince the most skeptical that the methods of diphtheria prevention now in general use are deserving of the support and consideration of all citizens. The parents here have had an opportunity to have their children immunized and many have responded, with the result that nearly eight hundred are now free from the danger of con- tracting this disease. The clinic for free immunization will be continued. and opportunity will be provided for a continuation of this necessary work. The responsibility for the occurrence of cases of this disease in the future is now put squarely up to the parents.
The Schick Test is a very simple and harmless procedure given for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of natural antitoxin in the blood. Some persons have a natural immunity to diphtheria. Such individuals will not contract the disease because they are protected by the presence in their blood of small amounts of antitoxin. The Schick Test shows no reaction in these immune persons, and no further treatment is necessary.
In those susceptible to diphtheria, the Schick Test is positive and indicates at once that immunization is necessary if protection from diphtheria is desired.
The Schick Test reaction is temporary, harmless, entirely local and may be compared in severity and appearance to the effects of a mosquito bite on the arm. This small red spot is painless and disappears after a few days. Its presence however, is significant because it indicates in that individual an absence of natural antitoxin and a susceptibility to diphtheria.
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ANNUAL REPORT
When it is found that a child is susceptible he should be given an immunizing dose of toxin-antitoxin. The only exception to this rule is that in younger children betwen the ages of six months and six years, who have relatively high susceptibility, toxin-antitoxin should be administered imme- diately without resort to the Schick Test. Active immunity to diphtheria may be induced by subcutaneous injection of this mixture of toxin and anti- toxin which is guaranteed to be absolutely devoid of giving anything more than a temporary after effect. This is given three different times at weekly intervals, and after a short time varying from one to six months, a protective amount of toxin will appear in the blood. The child will then be protected against this dread disease for many years, and probably for life. Over 90% of persons who have no natural antitoxin in their blood will produce antitoxin under stimulus of this mixture.
The method of diphtheria prevention that this department is now carrying out among children and by means of which the disease will be finally. elimi- nated has the endorsement of practically every physician in this and other communities. This fact alone should convince everyone of its efficacy as a preventative measure.
It is estimated, from figures already obtained as a result of the Schick testing of children of various ages in Attleboro, that 75 or 80% of our child population are in danger of contracting diphtheria if exposed to it. This should be a matter of real concern to the parents of young children. The fact that few cases have occurred here in the last two years cannot be used as a reasonable excuse for delay in the general adoption of preventive inoculation. With such a large percentage of children here susceptible we may be visited by an epidemic at any time.
An appeal is now made to the public to give to the subject of diphtheria prevention the consideration and importance it deserves. Its general accept- ance will result in a greater feeling of security among the parents and a falling off of the fatalities among children from a preventable, communicable disease.
CLINICS
This phase of public work is rapidly developing everywhere and the local clinic and dispensary maintained by the Health Department is no exception.
The kindness of the Board of Managers of the Sturdy Memorial Hos- pital has made it possible during the year for new and spacious quarters to be provided at the hospital in the basement of the new building. Here are located the tuberculosis, venereal, and diphtheria prevention clinics.
The tuberculosis dispensary which has been in operation for nine years is well organized, and is of the greatest aid to the department in its systematic follow up of contact, suspicious and discharged cases. The work of this dispensary will be greatly enlarged during the coming year because of the large number of the examination clinics held in the schools.
The State approved venereal clinic is held two evenings a week.
The new clinic for the Schick Test and diphtheria immunization was opened in September and is being continued on Saturday forenoons. This clinic has been very popular and has had a very good attendance from the start, and it is hoped, with continued support from the public, to lower materially the occurrence of cases of this preventable disease.
DENTAL HYGIENE
An attempt has been made throughout this report to point out, with emphasis, the importance of the adoption of preventive measures in childhood.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Medical inspection of school children has led to the discovery and cor- rection of many physical defects among the pupils. No one will doubt that this work contributes much toward the prevention of disease in many instances in later life.
Dental inspection, attention to oral hygiene, and the correction of teeth defects among school children are of supreme importance, and it is hoped that funds will be appropriated to make possible the carrying out of an inten- sive program in this respect with the co-operation of the school department.
The lack of proper dental attention unquestionably leads to many ail- ments in the growing child. Some children as a result of dental neglect and inability to properly masticate their food are undernourished and have their resistance to disease greatly lowered. The progress of such children in school is also retarded because of these dental irregularities.
The efficient work of the school dentist has led to the correction of many of these defects, but it is proposed to supplement his efforts by the employ- ment of a dental hygienist to work in the schools under his supervision. The duties of a dental hygienist would include : lectures in the school room along lines of oral hygiene and its importance; assisting the school dentist ; instruction to the children in tooth brush drills; the giving of prophylactic treatment to the school children; and the giving of individual and special instruction in certain selected cases.
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