USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1926 > Part 4
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Classification of Alarms
Buildings
53
Chimney
49
Brush and grass 125
Automobile
13
No Fire
13
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ANNUAL REPORT
Dump
False
5
Feed wire
1
Telegraph Pole.
2
Lungmotor
2
Tar kettle
1
Awning
1
Lost Child
1
Flat iron
1
Automatic sprinkler
7
Oil stove
2
Ash box
1
Dog in river
1
Fence
1
Total
291
Out of the city calls, Taunton 2, North Attleboro 2, Norton 1.
FIRE LOSSES
Value of buildings at risk. . | $327,750.99
Value of contents at risk. 47,500.00
$375,250.00
Insurance on buildings at risk.
$455,400.00
Insurance on contents at risk. 46,700.00
$502,100.00
Loss on buildings
$32,769.93
Loss on contents
7,517.71
$40,287.64
Insurance paid on buildings and contents
$39,772.64
Loss not covered by insurance
$515.00
FIRE PREVENTION
Fire prevention, to our minds, is as important as fire fighting, and until the American public is aware of this fact every person will be obliged to pay excessive insurance rates because of the heavy fire losses which the country suffers each year. Statistics show that ninety percent (90%) of all the fires are due to carelessness, and this carelessness of course means the loss of many lives. ,
During the past year it is estimated that fifteen thousand (15,000) people have been burned to death in the United States; and it is con- sidered a fair estimate to say that at least fifty percent (50%) were killed by fires caused by carelessness. Each and every person who pays insurance rates pays his proportionate share for this carelessness.
If we only make a slight impression on the people of Attleboro of the seriousness of the fire hazard, and make them realize that Fire Pre-
10
Bonfire
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ANNUAL REPORT
vention in their own homes, stores and factories is a real important thing, we feel that we have contributed some good to the city as Fire De- partment Officials.
During the past year, in the inspections which our men have made from time to time, we have found many instances where carelessness has been the main thing that we have had to contend with. In many cases we found rubbish piled next to boilers, defective smoke pipes, as well as defective chimneys, also poor storage of acids, and ashes put into wooden containers, and many other hazards too numerous to mention here at the present time.
We want to especially emphasize at this time the danger of persons having gasoline in their homes or in their place of business, no matter how small the quantity may be. This hazard is extremely dangerous in case the right mixture takes place in the atmosphere; and lately we have the knowledge that gasolene has been used in some homes for cleaning purposes.
The use of gasolene in homes, stores or manufacturing plants is entirely contrary to the laws of the Insurance people; and we are glad to have this opportunity of cautioning the people here in the city re- garding this very dangerous hazard.
Another hazard with which the Fire Department is now obliged to contend is the Oil Burner used on stoves and other apparatus during the winter.
These burners, if approved by the Insurance Underwriters, are perfectly safe if handled properly. If a furnace is neglected, to which one of these burners is attached, there is surely trouble coming to the owner of the property. We have special reference to the facts that oil heaters should be taken care of at special times, and also that all tanks for the oil should be buried in the ground and not located in the cellar, where, if by any chance a leak takes place and a fire occurs, there is abso- lutely no opportunity for the Fire Department to get this fire out ex- cept by extreme measures, which as a rule mean the ruination of prop- erty.
We have had a few fires in our city from oil burners, one of which was very serious. In this particular instance the fire was not caused by the oil burner itself, but the water gauge was not kept perfectly clear as it should be, with the result that the water was completely boiled out of the boiler; and, as the oil heater continued to keep up its same vol- ume of heat units, the natural results was that the whole furnace became red hot, thereby communicating itself to the surrounding woodwork.
A furnace using coal would of course never cause this particular kind of trouble for it would have required attention and naturally it would have been discovered that something was wrong.
We cannot lay too much stress upon using precautions where oil burners are used; and if ordinary precautions are taken, there is no reason Thy these burners should not be as efficient as any other type of heating apparatus.
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ANNUAL REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend that the Fire Department be charged ten (10) dollars per hydrant instead of thirty (30) dollars per hydrant. Although this charge is a matter of bookkeeping it raises the Fire Department yearly expense over ten. thousand (10,000) dollars which is over twelve percent (12%) of our total expense. The charge of thirty (30) dollars a hy- drant is misleading as to the expenses of our department. We are unable to find any other city or town charging over ten (10) dollars per hydrant.
We recommend that three (3) more captains be appointed, making six (6) captains and two (2) lieutenants. This recommendation does not increase the number of officers as the captains would be taken from the present list of lieutenants.
We again recommend that a Drill Tower be erected in the yard of the Union Street Station, so that the men can be trained in the proper handling of equipment. One of our officers is a graduate of the Boston Fire Department Drill School but has no facilities for training the men properly.
We again recommend a car for the Chief of the Fire Department, as conditions are now, with the chief being building inspector, he is out a good part of each day which leaves the assistant chief without a car to answer alarms while the chief is away from the station inspecting build- ings.
We again recommend that the bell tower on Peck Street be torn down. This tower is not safe and we believe the city is taking a chance in allowing it to continue.
We recommend that you consider the situation in South Attleboro near the State Line as to another Fire Station in the near future. This section is the most rapid growing section in the city and fire pro- tection will have to be given this section.
We recommend the purchase of fifteen hundred (1,500) feet of hose.
We recommend that six (6) additional permanent men be added to the department, four (4) to be placed in South Attleboro and drop the call men. The other two (2) to be placed in the Union Street Station in the center of the city.
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 for the able manner in which they have performed their duties.
Respectfuly submitted,
WILLIAM E. SWEENEY, Chairman
CHIEF FRED A. CLARK, Clerk ASST. CHIEF LEONARD GOULD
Board of Fire Engineers
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the City Forester
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report as City Forester for the year ending December 31, 1926.
During the winter months the roadsides, shade trees and orchards were scouted for gypsy moths and their eggs were destroyed with creo- sote.
During the early summer months the trees where gypsy moth cater- pillars appeared were sprayed with arsenate of lead.
A large amount of dead limbs were trimmed from shade trees through the city this year and some trees were removed.
Brush was cut on all the country roadsides. Special attention was given to bad curves and conors.
I recommend that a new half-ton truck be purchased to replace the old worn out one for use in the Forestry Department.
Respectfully,
WM. E. S. SMITH.
City Forester
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ANNUAL REPORT
Health Department
ORGANIZATION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 1926
Health Officer
WILLIAM O. HEWITT, M. D.
Inspector of Milk and Authorized Agent EDWIN M. KNIGHTS, PH.B., M. S.
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.
Health Department Nurse MARY E. McMAHON, R. N.
Registrar of Deaths STEPHEN H. FOLEY
Clerk MILDRED A. HEWINS
Associate Physician at Diphtheria Prevention Clinic JAMES H. BREWSTER, M. D.
Associate Physician at Tuberculosis Dispensary F. V. MURPHY, M. D.
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ANNUAL REPORT
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council Attleboro, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
The Health Department presents its twelfth annual report, together with the reports of its appointees for the year ending December 31, 1926. The usual tables and statistical data, a financial report, and the recommendations of the health officer are submitted for your considera- tion.
ORGANIZATION
There have been no changes in the personnel of the department du- ring the year. The work of each sub-department has been carried on ef- fectively, and a spirit of harmony has been evident among the workers.
The laboratory has been maintained on a high plane of efficiency as has also the dairy, food and milk inspection in so far as such work could be done by a part-time inspector.
The clinics have been well attended, and the nurse's work has been accomplished in a satisfactory manner. Dr. James H. Brewster has rendered excellent service without pay in the diphtheria prevention clinic.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
The health situation of the city has for the most part been a satisfac- tory one throughout the year. The incidence of certain of the common communicable diseases difficult to control in any community has been disturbing at times, but as shown by the records offers a favorable com- parison with that of other years. The death rate has kept within reasonable limits.
The feature of the public health work is always disease prevention, and the business of a health department while it may not hope at present to reach the ideal is to bring about as nearly as possible a solution of its health problems by affording a reasonable protection to the citizens from the occurrence of communicable diseases, and from other known causes of unnecessary sacrifice of human lives.
The business of health like any other cannot stand still if it is to progress, cannot be constantly limited, and cut down in its budget if it is to grow, and therefore, locally, it would seem advisable to add to its activities gradually each year, if favorable results are to be expected. It is important that a health department today be properly organized to . deal with much needed educational work that the laws of health and hygiene may be better understood, and that we may marshal the knowledge and resources which others have gained, and which are at our disposal so that they may be employed in the control of disease.
Education in health creates a proper foresight on the part of the public, and therefore a demand for increasingly better standards of health. There has been in the last few years a rapid advancement in the science of preventive medicine. Newer and proven methods of disease control are put into effect as the community is taught the necessity of their proper application. The work of instruction in public health matters can best be
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ANNUAL REPORT
accomplished locally by the various welfare organizations working in active cooperation with the health department. Such cooperation will result in the saving of funds, time, and effort of individuals and of private agencies and will afford an opportunity for service which is greater in the field of health and public welfare than in any other.
In the work of education which thus far we have attempted to carry on locally we have been particularly fortunate in the unusually inter- ested attitude which the people have shown toward public health. It makes the work much easier, and it is a real encouragement to one's efforts when it is evident that a real community interest in health has at last been awakened. The large attendance at the health show in April was perhaps the best proof afforded us of the peoples' desire to learn more about matters pertaining to their own, and to the community's health. Other methods pursued by the department in its health education work during the year include the publication of newspaper articles, ed- ited by the health officer, public addresses, and the distribution of litera- ture on measles, diphtheria and other subjects through the medium of the schools, the health department nurse, and the district nursing and public health association.
THE TUBERCULOSIS PROBLEM
Tuberculosis is a preventable disease. The fight against this scourge is easily the most important health problem of any community. Annually in our reports we call attention to the damage done, to the cost of caring for those persons ill with the disease, and to the necessity of adopting more adequate measures for its control.
Tuberculosis still causes 100,000 deaths each year in this country, and the average expectation of life is cut exactly two and one-half years by its ravages. In our own city, it is not enough to rest content with the feeling that we are doing as much in prevention as many other places of twice our population. Our problem in fighting tuberculosis, like that of any other city is our city's own and it will not be solved for us entirely, and to our satisfaction by the state, or by the county.
Statistics may not be interesting to the average citizen, but we shall submit a few to prove that in so far as our own local problem is con- cerned we have a very real situation to meet. Here are the figures: In Attleboro during the past year, 62 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were reported, and there were 45 deaths. Excluding non-resident cases at the Bristol County Hospital were had 10 cases reported with 16 deaths. In the last four years we have had an incidence of 131 reported cases of persons resident in Attleboro and the deaths recorded over that period number 65.
The life and health of these unfortunates have, we must all agree, a greater value to us than can possibly be indicated in dollars and cents. No one of us will feel that the expenditure for their care and comfort was not entirely justified. The actual cost of maintenance of these patients, however, must be considered in any scheme which hopes to reduce the incidence of this disease as well as to lessen if possible this increasing burden on the taxpayers.
We have available figures covering the cost of board and care of patients at the Bristol County Tuberculosis Hospital for six years as follows:
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ANNUAL REPORT
1920
$5136.23
1924
$9,162.40
1921.
6,196.97
1925
. . 8,535.80
1922
5,554.90
1923
9,345.70
Total
$43,932.00
There has of course been a considerable reduction from this total if we subtract the amounts received from the state in subsidies.
This subsidy has amounted in six years to:
1920
$1,214.14
1924
. $3,688.59
1921.
2,154.98
1925
3,978.53
1922
3,559.32
1923.
3,182.85
Total
$17,778.41
In addition to the expenditure for board and care of patients at our county hospital this city must also pay each year its share toward the maintenance of that institution. The following figures are submitted:
1920
$18,731.00
1924
$16,673.51
1921
13,859.43
1925.
18,693.48
1922
14,604.01
1923
16,121.49
Total. $98,682.92
If now we add the two columns of expenditure for board and for hospital maintenance and subtract from that total, the subsidy, we have left a sum of $124,836.51 which represents fairly well our expenses for fighting tuberculosis in six years. The deduction one makes after a study of these figures is that we are spending money rather blindly for the care of our sick with too little thought of disease prevention. What are we doing to prevent tuberculosis and how can we make the work more effective? In our hospitalization of so many cases we are pre- venting direct exposure to the disease. In building up the resistance of susceptible children the open air school room, and the health camps have accomplished a great deal. They are steps in the right direction in tuberculosis prevention, but provisions now lacking should be made for their growth and increased effectiveness each year.
The following-up and regular visitation of discharged and contact cases through the mediums of the tuberculosis clinic and the health de- partment nurse constitute at present the most important preventive measures. If we decided to concentrate on tuberculosis prevention alone it would soon be fairly obvious that such work would involve nearly the whole range of public health activities such as more effective inspection of milk, of restaurants, and lunch carts, and many other items.
The conclusion is that in preventing tuberculosis much remains to be done. Aside from a gradually increased improvement in the institution of general health measures a definite program directed toward tubercu- losis prevention should be put into effect, and the establishment of a municipal preventorium for the care of children susceptible to the dis- ease may be a matter for thought in the immediate future. The local tuberculosis problem is important and is deserving of immediate study and consideration. The question as to the practicability or necessity of establishing a local ward or building for the isolation and care of cases both of tuberculosis and of other communicable diseases under munici-
.
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ANNUAL REPORT
pal supervision is one which may best be answered after investigation and report by a special committee.
It is recommended in this report that a committee charged with such duties be appointed.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
In the first months of the year measles and whooping cough made their annual visits and both diseases continued with unabated prevalence until the advent of warm weather in May and June. The number of cases reached epidemic proportions, the highest peak for measles oc- curring in February and March, and that of whooping cough in March and April. After the first of June two or three cases only were then reported for the remainder of the year. These two epidemic diseases are always most prevalent in the colder months, and in common with influ- enza they spread rapidly in every community apparently defying all meas- ures thus far exercised toward their control. The mortality all over the country in both these diseases is recorded as nearly twice that of scarlet fever, a fact that is well known to physicians, but apparently not known and appreciated by many of the citizens. As shown by a table on another page, there was a very considerable increase in the prevalence of these diseases over that of recent years.
Scarlet fever cases were reported in every month except May, and showed a greater prevalence in the last three months of the year. There was a slight increase over the incidence of last year, but for- tunately the cases were of a mild type, causing no deaths and few com- plications.
The department has used every means possible to prevent the spread of these epidemic diseases. Literature on prevention in relation to measles, and diphtheria have been broadcast by mail and through the schools. All cases of scarlet fever are visited frequently by the nurse who gives instruction to the parents in prevention at the same time keep- ing in touch with the effectiveness of the quarantine. Of course all cases of communicable diseases cannot be watched all the time, and it must be emphasized that cooperation of the general public and especially of those in whose homes a communicable disease exists is absolutely neces- sary if anything like real control is to be accomplished. Some authorities believe that control is impossible except in those diseases where all per- sons can be immunized.
In any outbreak of epidemic diseases there are, and always will be, certain families fortunately few in number, who are quite irresponsible and careless in their attitude toward disease prevention. There are other families who seem by their actions to infer that they have special privileges when a contagious disease visits them, and a few cases of this type have been summarily dealt with personally by the health officer.
A community is always fortunate during an outbreak of communi- cable disease if a condition resembling hysteria on the part of the public can be avoided. Such a situation of alarm was imminent during that pe- riod last spring when whooping cough was so prevalent. The local press under such trying conditions may prove to be of inestimable value in its correct and sensible presentation of facts or it may on the other hand seriously hamper the health officer's work by spreading unnecessary alarm among the citizens. The support and aid of our local papers have
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always been of great assistance to this department and their services in this respect are gladly acknowledged.
TYPHOID FEVER
No cases of typhoid fever reported is the city's record for 1926. In 1910 there were twenty-two cases of typhoid fever here, and in 1911 the city suffered from a milk-borne epidemic at which time fifty-one cases of typhoid were reported with two deaths. Since then sporadic cases have occured-a few each year. In 1923, there were three cases, in 1924, two cases, and in 1925, six cases were reported with one death. None of the typhoid cases in recent years can be traced to any contamination of our milk or water supply. While we may well be thankful for the year's record of no typhoid fever, we should not with a false sense of security feel that a future epidemic may not be a possibility. Certain measures must soon be adopted to safeguard to a greater degree our milk supply. The various lunch carts and other eating places are in need of a more rigid inspection than is now possible. The adoption of ordinances re- lating to the pasteurization of milk are needed. Regular and more fre- quent laboratory examination of milk samples, with the publishing of results obtained from these examinations of milk samples, and from sys- tematic dairy inspections are essential. Such necessary inspection of our milk, and other food supplies can be carried on more satisfactorily with the appointment of a full-time inspector. Mr. Knights, the present inspector, has been very efficient. The results he has obtained as a part- time worker exceed many times in value the amount paid him by the city for his services. In the event of our losing the services of this capable inspector, and such a contingency may arise during the coming year, his successor we feel should be employed on a full-time basis.
This is the fourth successive year that the matter of chlorination of our water supply has been called to the attention of the municipal coun- cil. There should at least be an installation of apparatus for emergency chlorination. Such foresight is essential to avoid trouble which might arise if our supply were suddenly polluted. The failure to safeguard the sanitary quality of the public water supply is a serious responsibility for public officials to assume.
DIPHTHERIA PREVENTION
Diphtheria prevention work in its present status presents a most at- tractive view to the health worker, and to others interested in disease prevention. Diphtheria is now a needless infection, there can be no ex- cuse for its occurrence, and its prevention under modern methods of control is a harmless affair. Four years of systematic effort in this im- portant subdivision of public health work has at last resulted in the establishment of a successful local clinic for diphtheria prevention. No funds were available when the work was begun, and only small amounts have been expended annually in putting the clinic on its present firm basis. Intensive work in diphtheria prevention was started early in October and continued for the remainder of the year. During this time literature on diphtheria prevention was distributed through the schools; an envelope marked "A Message to Parents," and enclosing information in reference to diphtheria was given to each pupil. Literature was also distributed by the department nurse, and by the District Nursing Asso-
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ANNUAL REPORT
ciation. A large mailing list comprising the names of parents of children born in the city during the last three years was compiled from the birth records and a special letter was mailed to each of these families. Talks on diphtheria prevention at the child welfare conferences of the District Nursing Association and at other public gatherings were given by the health officer. The department nurse through home visits and her work in health education throughout the city stressed the importance of diph- theria prevention in many families, and a large measure of our success was due to her efforts. The field workers of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and the district nurses rendered valuable assistance. Newspaper articles in the health column of the Attleboro Sun and paid advertisements stimulated the attendance at the clinics. There appears to be an unusually increased demand this year among parents to have their children made safe from diphtheria, and the department is espe- cially gratified that such a large percentage of pre-school children were immunized.
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