USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1934 > Part 4
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With the closing of the year, the officers of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association extend their thanks to all who have helped on the splendid work that means so much to our community.
Very respectfully submitted, Alice M. Richardson, Secretary.
51
ANNUAL REPORT
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AID ASSOCIATION October 1st, 1933, to October 1st. 1934
Receipts
Balance.
$ 662.51 4,050.00 $4,712.51
Community Chest
Expenses
Women's Free Bed
$ 250.00
Children's Free Bed
250.00
Maternity Bed . .
500.00
Hospital Supplies
2,554.38
Printing and Postage
3.00
Federal Tax.
. 44
$3,557.82
Balance, October 1st, 1934
$1,154.69
Furnishing Fund October 1st, 1933 to October 1st, 1934
Receipts
Balance, October 1st, 1933
$ 94.09
Interest. .
4.11
Women's Benevolent Society
25.00
Gertrude Ryder
25.00
Mutual Helpers
25.00
Daughters of Isabella
25.00
Sturdy Memorial Hospital Alumni.
25.00
Q. O. C. Class .
25.00
Graduate Nurses' Club .
25.00
Raymond Horton (2 yrs.)
50.00
Jessie Fine
25.00
$ 348.20
Expenses
Atherton Furnishing Co
$ 41.50
The Windsor Co.
28.59
Sturdy Memorial Hospital (Painting)
9.60
Richardson-Wright & Co.
142.50
$ 222.19
Balance, October 1st, 1934
$ 126.01
Respectfully submitted,
ANNIE A. WHEELER, Treasurer
52
ANNUAL REPORT
SEWING FOR STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL October 1, 1933 to October 1 1934
The retiring Sewing Committee has completed four years of service and is presenting their final report:
Diapers.
210
Napkins.
96
Operating Table covers
208
Bed pockets
210
Draw Sheets.
275
Pureau scarfs.
46
Doctors towels.
441
Dish towels
275
T. Binders .
72
Night dresses
71
Slings
52
Lap sheets.
30
Many Tail binders
53
Ped curtains
9
Crib sheets
12
Roller towels .
24
2084
This has been a happy, busy year. Besides planning, cutting, delivering and collecting the usual amount of sewing material, the committee took charge of a booth at the City Exposition in the Armory, last Spring, in which were displayed samples of every kind of sewing done by the ladies of Attleboro for the Sturdy Memorial Hospital.
It is very gratifying to the committee to find so much interest shown by ladies who had a hand in the work, either through their church sewing society or other organization. It also gave us an opportunity to enlighten others who were completely ignorant of the whole project.
We have been assisted in the work by the-
All Saints' Episcopal Sewing Society
Women's Benevolent Society of Murray Universalist Church
Martha Claflin Class
Pilgrim Alliance
Congregational Sewing Society
Ioline L. Bacon Class
Class 20
Baptist Sewing Society
Swedish Sewing Society
Union Church Sewing Society of Attleboro Falls
Community Sewing Society of Norton
Methodist Episcopal Sewing Society, and the Community Sewing Society of North Attleboro under the direction of Mrs. Carley.
During our four years we have completed 6769 articles of sewing, nearly 7000, which have included diapers, roller towels, dish towels, doctors' towels, T. binders, many tail binders, breast binders, draw sheets, laparotomy sheets, operating table pads, operating table slips, bureau scarfs, bed pockets, night dresses, slings, crib sheets, bed curtains, instrument case covers, maternity skirts, and operating stockings.
It goes without saying that the committee has spent a great deal of time and energy in the work but at all times it has been a joy and privilege to serve the hospital in this capacity.
We congratulate the Hospital Aid Association in their choice of our suc- cessors. We feel that the association is particularly fortunate in finding two such able and willing workers and hope they will meet with the same kindly cooperation we have enjoyed and will feel free to call upon us in any emergency.
Respectfully submitted,
Lillian E. Briggs Ruth Smith
53
ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PURCHASING COMMITTEE of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association October 1, 1934
14 Nurses' kits for graduation Building shelves in linen room and laundry
18 Wastepaper baskets
4 Buss wood splint baskets for laundry
8 Rubber covered caster trucks
456 single bath blankets and single wool blankets
3 tea pot covers
2 bread plates
1 doz. tea plates
1 doz. bread and butter plates
1 doz. soup plates New tube stand and side rail for X-Ray table
3 small rugs
3 large rugs
10 doz. napkins
357 1-4 yds. cretonne
785 yds. toweling.
19 1-2 doz. towels
1 damask scarf
25 yds. booth toweling
80 yds. honeycomb toweling
50 1-2 doz. wash cloths
24 pieces Red Star diaper cloth
460 1-2 yds. lace 22 doz. spools thread
682 yds. curtain material
9 doz. baby shirts
9 doz. baby bands
24 doz. pillow cases
216 yds. Indian head
856 yds. good-night twill
773 yds. flannel
2 gross rings
4 doz. laundry bags
12 gross tapes
24 doz. sheets
21 yds. balloon cloth
1033 yds. sheeting 1
41 packages needles
120 yds ticking
563 1-4 yds chambray
165 1-2 yds. binding 1 pattern
Respectfully submitted, Gertrude H. Sweet.
SPECIAL ROOM FUND
Remaking and new ticks on 4 mattresses
Remaking and new ticks on 5 pillows 3 pairs rose bordered blankets Daughters of Isabella's Room painted 2 ball-bearing wheel-chairs
3 steel top bed tables
Respectfully submitted, Gertrude H. Sweet, Chairman Tilda B. Stone, (per G.H.S.)
54
ANNUAL REPORT
Health Department
ORGANIZATION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 1934
Health Officer WILLIAM O. HEWITT, M. D.
Bacteriologist and Inspector of Milk HENRY T. SMITH, B. S.
Inspectors of Plumbing ARTHUR B. READ JOHN W. BULLOCK
Inspector of Slaughtering FREDERICK L. BRIGGS, D. V. M.
Inspector of Animals FREDERICK L. BRIGGS, D. V. M.
Health Department Nurse MARY E. McMAHON, R. N.
Registrar of Deaths HON. STEPHEN H. FOLEY
Clerk MILDRED H. SHAW
Associate Physician at Diphtheria Prevention Clinic JAMES H. BREWSTER, M. D.
Associate Physician at Tuberculosis Dispensary GARNET P. SMITH, M. D. Supt. Bristol County Tuberculosis Hospital
55
ANNUAL REPORT
TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
In this, its twentieth annual report, the health department reviews its activities of the past year ending Dec. 31, 1934 and presents for your consideration and approval certain comments on the local health situation.
We are all interested more than ever in municipal financing and for your greater convenience we submit tables of comparative yearly expenditures of the department for the last ten years; department receipts, and costs of care of patients at the Bristol County Hospital over the same period.
Department Expenditures 10 years
1925
$18,115.53
1930
$13,019.74
1926
16,154.99
1931
14,677.61
1927
12,099.81
1932
11,647.01
1928
13,060.96
1933
12,180.79
1929
14,251.26
1934
13,665.40
Department Receipts 10 years
1925
$ 4,927.65
1930
$ 2,736.92
1926
3,569.00
1931
1,969.60
1927
1,856.08
1932
1,679.76
1928
1,251.90
1933
1,566.94
1929
1,412.33
1934
1,686.44
Cost for Care of Patients, Bristol County Hospital 12 years
1923
$ 9,345.70
1929
$ 3,762.20
1924
9,162.40
1930
3,035.50
1925
8,535.80
1931
3,530.80
1926
5,491.20
1932
1,892.80
1927.
1,945.30
1933.
2,780.26
1928.
2,904.20
1934.
3,868.00
The per capita cost to this city for the administration of reasonably adequate public health protection during 1934 was sixty cents. This amount is less than one-half the average budget allotment made for municipal health departments at the present day.
There is a present tendency everywhere to curtail budgets. Health workers over the entire country have experienced difficulty, and are seriously concerned over the effect of such curtailment may have on official health services. Aid may be forthcoming to local health departments from Federal Relief Funds but com- munity health needs have not yet received satisfactory support in the National Recovery Program.
Our figures indicate a sizeable reduction in community costs for public health over a ten year period, and a marked lessening of expense necessary for the care of tuberculosis patients.
The city has made a modest profitable investment in public health. Sixty cents is a small per capita cost for health protection, but for the present and under
56
ANNUAL REPORT
existing conditions it seems sufficient. We doubt however that any further reduction in local health expenditures will continue to give us assurance against an increase in the preventable diseases, and a consequent further drain on our resources.
Municipal Health Service
Local public health problems over the last several months have demanded the utilization of more time, thought, and planning than has been necessary in any previous year.
As minumum health requirements for the improvement of human welfare are being developed, and applied throughout the country, certain standards must be met, new measures must be adopted, and local public health work needs to be reduced to a system if the results of our efforts in disease prevention are to compare favorably with those of other progressive cities of our size and population in the state, and nation.
These ideas have been foremost in our minds throughout the year as we have attempted to bring out the best solution of the city's health problems in affording reasonable protection to all citizens against the spread of communicable diseases, and against the occurrence of unnecessary illness from known sources.
We have been brought to realize that all our efforts in this direction have not met at once with unanimous public approval even though in so far as our action was concerned no selfish interests were involved.
Organized criticism has been directed toward a measure adopted by this department for the protection of our milk supply. This regulation would allow the sale of raw milk only when certified and therefore safe, and we believe it to be the most important, and humanitarian measure ever promulgated by the health department. Legal action against the enforcement of this order was instituted and the case was heard on its merits in the Equity Session of the Superior Court in Taunton in February. The court decision favorable to the regulation is published on another page of this report. Appeal was taken by the plaintiff and the case is now entered in the Supreme Court.
In this connection we feel that there are certain phases of public health work which should be controlled by the people as a whole, and which therefore require official action. Any citizen has a right to his opinion, but problems that deal with such features as the maintenance of a safe milk supply or the certainty of a pure public water supply are or should be essentially outside the control of the individual.
During the year as in the previous year the city has been quite free from epidemic diseases. Few homes have been under quarantine and our communi- cable disease incidence has been low.
Vital Statistics
Population-22,594
Death rate per 1,000-11.0
There were 249 deaths in Attleboro in 1934. The crude death rate figured on an estimated population of 22,594 was 11.00 per 1,000. The largest number of deaths in one month was in January when there were 29. Including non- residents there were 30 deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis, 27 from cancer, 15 from chronic heart disease, and 16 from different forms of pneumonia.
From chronic nephritis there were 16 deaths, 15 from cerebral haemorrhage, and 5 died as a result of automobile accidents.
Communicable Diseases
The incidence of the common communicable diseases has been very low, and reported cases have at no time reached epidemic proportions. This low
57
ANNUAL REPORT
morbidity rate was constant throughout the year except in March, April and May when several cases of measles and whooping cough were reported. No local cases of typhoid fever have occurred during the year, and only one case has been reported here in several years. Four cases of typhoid fever were admitted to the Sturdy Hospital from other towns.
Scarlet fever has been uncommon this year; only a few sporadic cases were reported. This disease threatens to be prevalent as the year closes; the total number for the year was 9. There were 151 cases of measles, and 91 cases of whooping cough. One fatal case of tetanus was reported in December.
There have been no cases of infantile paralysis, undulant fever, meningitis or mumps reported.
A new low incidence was established for diphtheria this year, only three cases having been reported.
Dog Bites and Rabies Prevention
Because of the fact that rabies among dogs was increasing rapidly in this part of the state early in the year, physicians and health departments have been particularly careful to investigate all cases of dog bite with the idea of preventing possible human cases of rabies.
57 cases of dog bite were reported by physicians here during the year.
The department recommends that all dog owners attend to the matter of anti-rabic inoculation of their dogs. This immunizing procedure affords a high degree of protection for the dog from rabies.
Chapter 320 of the Acts of 1934 becomes effective Jan. 1, 1935, and provides in part as follows: "The board of health of any city or town shall, on recommenda- tion of the state department of public health, furnish free of charge anti-rabic vaccine and the treatment of persons as to whom said department recommends such treatment, and such city or town, if in a county other than Suffolk, shall be reimbursed out of the dog fund by the county in which it is located for the cost of such vaccine and treatment; provided, that not exceeding fifty dollars shall be so reimbursed in the case of any one person. The county commissioners of all counties except Suffolk, acting jointly, or the county commissioners of each county, except Suffolk, shall contract, for the supplying of said vaccine to the several cities and towns on the order of their respective boards of health, and shall, from time to time, notify said boards of the terms and conditions of con- tracts made hereunder. No city or town shall be reimbursed hereunder, at a price higher than that fixed by contract as aforesaid, for such vaccine purchased by it."
Tuberculosis
All known cases of tuberculosis that have occurred in our community during the past year have we believe been promptly reported to the department, and one may be assured that in every instance immediate investigation has been made of each case, and its contacts and proper supervision and care have been instituted.
The local incidence, and mortality show a slight increase over previous years. This fact should have no disquieting significance as figures recorded over a five year period show a steady decline in the occurrence of this disease. Tuberculosis although much less prevalent than it was ten years ago is a communicable disease which is still with us and because of its chronic character it is of unusual importance to the public health. This disease chooses for its victims the children and young adults in family groups of our population. Its control for these reasons continues to be the greatest concern of every well organized health department.
Our local plan of prevention although perhaps far from ideal has shown some encouraging results. Under this plan we have attempted to adapt certain recognized principles of control to our community needs.
58
ANNUAL REPORT
The tuberculosis dispensary or clinic is conducted under rules of the State Department of Public Health providing for such dispensaries. The maintenance of such a clinic is not now obligatory under the statutes in cities of less than fifty thousand population. The local clinic has been continued however because we feel that it is a real necessity as a part of the program of tuberculosis prevention. The clinic is the case finding centre of the community. Its function is to secure and file complete histories, and physical examination records of all reported contact, suspicious and sanatorium discharged cases.
Considerable time has been expended in recent months in the preparation and revision of visiting lists to be used by the nurse in her periodic inspections and reports of all cases and contacts in the city. A list for each month outlines her work during that period of time, and assures more uniform visitation and reports on all cases.
The tuberculosis clinic has been well attended during the year and in addition to its rountine work cases referred by physicians and by health and welfare agencies have also been examined.
The services rendered by Dr. Garnet P. Smith as consultant in the clinic have been of great value to the city as has also the arrangement made with the Bristol County Hospital of which he is Superintendent whereby X-ray and tuberculin testing facilities are available for our more complete diagnosis of clinic cases.
It would seem that our present method of reporting, of case supervision and care and case finding, clinic maintenance, and health educational work constitute a fairly effective organized effort intended to prevent the unnecessary spread of this disease, thereby saving lives, and reducing tuberculosis costs to a minimum in our city.
Diphtheria Control
Three cases of diphtheria and no deaths in 1934! This is the lowest diphtheria rate ever recorded in this city. The lowest previous incidence was in the years 1924 and 1930 when six cases were reported. In the ten years prior to 1930 there were 188 cases of diphtheria reported here, averaging approximately nineteen each year.
A period of twelve years of active immunization work to prevent the oc- currence of this disease has now been completed. Our figures show an unusually large percentage of children immunized and a noticeable reduction in incidence as a result of our annual prevention work. No cases of diphtheria have ever occurred here among our group of immunized children.
Early in the year under Civil Works Administration authority ten nurses and a supervising nurse were employed here in a health project. A census of all pre- school children in the city was the principal objective of this project, and the information thus obtained was to be used in our diphtheria prevention program. In addition to this data obtained in a house to house canvas by the nurses other particulars were recorded for the school physician and for the inspector of milk. The project began March 9th and ended April 23rd.
The census was not completed when the C. W. A. work ended the latter part of April and the remaining statistics were obtained after many days of volunteer work by Mrs. Frank E. Goddard who was the supervising nurse of the project. Mrs. Goddard not only gave her time in completing the census, but also volunteered to file all the information thus obtained. In this latter part of the work she was assisted by Miss Helen Bullock another volunteer worker.
As a result of this census work we now have a comprehensive record system which includes in our files a card for each child in Attleboro under 14 years of age, and these records are kept active by adding cards forthe birthsasthey arereported. The cards of all immunized children are designated by colored tape, and all cards are filed by age groups.
59
ANNUAL REPORT
The usual diphtheria prevention campaign was conducted during the last three months of the year. Two extra nurses were employed for this work, and visiting lists for a house to house canvas were prepared from recent birth returns, and from the C. W. A. Census data.
Particular stress was made in the appeal which the nurses made to parents on the necessity of immunization of infants and young children as a protection against diphtheria, at an early age when the disease if it occurs is most fatal.
Our Saturday clinics were well attended and nearly all the children in attend- ance were of infant or pre-school age.
Clinics were also held at the Finberg and Washington Schools for the ac- commodation of families in those districts.
We are gratified to submit the following data; a diphtheria prevention clinic record for the past year; case and death rate record, cases by age groups, in different years, and our immunization percentages at different ages.
DIPHTHERIA PREVENTION RECORD FOR 1934
of Attleboro Health Department
Total number of treatments
1088
Total number immunized with Toxoid
358
Total number of tests:
New Schick Tests .
18
Re-schick Tests
266
Positive re-schick tests.
2
Negative re-schick tests.
222
Not read.
42
New cases under 6 years immunized
270
New cases under 2 years immunized
151
New cases 2-4 years immunized
72
New cases 4-5 years immunized
29
New cases 5-6 years immunized .
18
Number of cases under 1 year immunized
72
Number of cases 1-2 years immunized
79
CHILDREN IMMUNIZED BY AGE GROUPS IN ATTLEBORO
Ages
Census
Number immune
Not immune
Percent immune
Under 1 year
257
72
185
28
1-2 years
243
152
81
62.5
2-3 years
247
163
84
66
3-4 years
287
208
79
72.47
4-5 years.
311
232
79
74.59
5-6 years.
295
228
67
77.28
6-10 years.
1470
1175
295
79.93
10-14 years
1742
1348
394
77.38
Totals
4852
3578
1274
73.64
The above table indicates the number and percentages of children in different age groups from six months to fourteen years of age now immunized in this city. The pre-school census figures which made this survey possible were obtained in connection with a C. W. A. health project carried on early in the year.
64.33% of children of pre-school age now immune.
73.74% of children 6 months to 14 years of age now immune.
60
ANNUAL REPORT
DIPHTHERIA IN ATTLEBORO Rates per 100,000 population
Year
Cases
Case rate Deaths
1921.
37
185
2
1922
11
54
0
1923.
13
63
0
1924.
6
29
1
1925.
8
38
0
1926
9
42
0
1927
23
109
2
1928.
20
93
0
1929.
20
92
1
1930
6
28
0
1931
8
36
0
1932
9
40
0
1933
7
32
1
1934.
3
14
0
CASES OF DIPHTHERIA IN ATTLEBORO By Age Groups
0-4
5-9 10-14 15-19 20-29 30-39 40 plus Unk'n Total
1922
4
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
11
1923
5
3
2
1
1
1
0
1
13
1924
2
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
6
1925.
3
2
0
1
0
0
1
1
8
1926
4
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
9
1927
5
8
1
4
1
3
1
0
23
1928.
4
6
4
0
4
1
1
0
20
1929
4
10
2
2
1
0
1
0
20
1930
1
3
1
0
0
1
0
0
6
1931.
3
0
3
0
0
0
2
0
8
1932
3
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
9
1933
0
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
7
1934.
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
3
Health Camp Established 1923
The Health Camp for undernourished boys opened July 5th for the twelfth season; forty-one boys were in attendance.
These children were selected from a large group examined in the health department clinic. The Health camp's objective over a period of several years has been to select a group of children annually from seven to fourteen years of age, all of whom have been undernourished, underweight, and generally below the standards set for normal healthy children. These children after a careful examination were made tree to gain by the correction of remediable defects, such as defective teeth and diseased tonsils.
Admitted to camp each child was taught to assume a reasonable amount of responsibility for his own health. His extreme lack of good nutrition was improved, his postrual defects corrected, and he was correctly informed concern- ing good manners, and personal and community hygiene to a degree that might be expected of any normal child of his age. The report of the camp supervisor follows:
61
ANNUAL REPORT
ATTLEBORO HEALTH CAMP-1934
Attleboro Health Camp cared for its capacity number of forty boys for a period of six weeks.
The usual standards of wholesome and plentiful food, regular periods of rest and recreation were maintained. Posture was again emphasized as being essential to physical improvement.
This year a silhouetteograph was hired from Boston University for the first and last week of camp. By means of these pictures of each boy taken before and after posture training and camp life, the boys were able to visualize their own progress. It is believed that thereby greater interest may be developed in the boy in his physical well being.
The following are a few averages attained:
10 years
Average age Average height. 53.7 inches
Average weight
60.14 pounds
Average percent underweight 14.7
The average gain this year was 7 1-2 pounds. Twenty attained the average or over and nine attained their normal weight. The total gain was 301 1-2 pounds. The boys ranged from 8% to 22% underweight.
The weekly distribution of gains was as follows:
Total gain Total loss Net gain
1st week
100 3-4 0
100 3-4
Av. gain 2 1-2 lbs.
2nd week
78 1-4 0
76 1-2
2 1-2 lbs.
3rd week.
31 1-2
5 3-4
25 3-4
3-4 lbs.
4th week
27
3 3-4
23 1-4
3-4 lbs.
5th week
45 3-4
3-4
45
1 lbs.
6th week.
20 1-4
4
16 1-4
1-2 lbs.
The Lions Club contributed in many ways toward the comfort and happiness of the boys.
The Camp was most fortunate in having four counsellors who had served previous seasons. This enabled them to work together most efficiently for the best results.
The standards maintained through Dr. Hewitt's careful supervision were an inspiration to all associated with Attleboro Health Camp.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) Lois E. Wilmarth, R. N.
Conclusion
In concluding this report the Health Officer wishes to acknowledge the assistance and encouragement received from various sources during the year, which made it so much easier to administer to the public health needs of the community. The advice and counsel of the Mayor during the four years of his administration was often sought, and always proved helpful in matters of im- portance to the department. The local newspapers have been fair in their comments on our efforts, and we appreciate their value in health educational work.
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