USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1933 > Part 4
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During the period from October, 1929, at which time the case was reported, to December, 1933, the Board of Health nurse made two visits each week to teach the proper health habits and to see that they were carried out also to obtain a fece specimen.
The patient has been released from quarantine and allowed to enter school, but is still under supervision.
Since toxin antitoxin inauguration in 1930, 4,400 chil- dren have been inoculated against diphtheria. Few of us
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Diphtheria Immunization
realized what diphtheria meant to a community before mankind acquired knowledge leading to its control. The first step in the conquest of the disease was the discovery of the diphtheria germ. The next step, a few years later, was the development of diphtheria antitoxin. This was used as a means of curing cases of the disease and given as a temporary protection to persons in contact with pa- tients. Toxin antitoxin was the next step in the fight against this dreaded disease.
During the month of November, 1933, the Local Health Department held their annual clinic. Dr. F. H. Lally, Board of Health doctor, and Mrs. Anna M. McKenna, health nurse, were in charge.
One of the first steps in our campaign was a health film, entitled "Man Against Microbe." Mr. George Gal- lagher, superintendent of the Metropolitan life Insurance Co., was able to obtain this film from Dr. Donald B. Arm- strong, third vice-president of the Metropolitan Life In- surance Co. Through the kindness of Mr. Arthur Mabey it was shown at the State Theater.
Mr. Gallagher gave out to each man covering his dis- trict in Milford cards to be distributed and explaining why children should be protected against diphtheria.
Mrs. Mary Naughton, R.N., school nurse; Miss Helen C. Grady, R.N., supervisor of the District Nursing As- sociation, with her nurses and the local health nurse, made a house-to-house campaign, explaining to mothers what toxin antitoxin really meant, advising them to go to their own family physician; then, if unable to do this, the nurse explained about the clinic that was to be held for those who were unable to have same done. In check- ing up this year we found over twenty-two children who had been to their family physician. Last year the num- ber found was seven.
Number receiving the three inoculations. .... 390
We find that 180 of these children were pre-school.
Number receiving but two inoculations 6
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In addition to the nurses mentioned above, Miss Chris- tine Higgins, R.N., southern Worcester health nurse, and three nurses from the Milford Hospital, assisted in mak- ing this clinic the success that it was. Mrs. Beatrice Lally was in charge of all records.
Vaccination and Examination of Pre-School Children, Community Summer Round-Up
This round-up was held July 5, 6, 7, in Town Hall.
Number of children attending 154
Number of children vaccinated 154
Number of children examined 80
Number found normal 53
Number found with serious defects 21
Number of teeth defects 8
Number having throat defects
21
Number having nutrition defects 55
Number 10 per cent under weight
6
Number having defective posture 4
Drs. Brown, Lenares and Footnick were the examining doctors. Dr. F. H. Lally was in charge of vaccinations.
Miss Helen Grady, R.N., supervisor, and her staff of district nurses, and Mrs. Mary Naughton, R.N., school nurse, assisted the doctors with examinations. Mrs. Anna McKenna, Board of Health nurse, assisted Dr. F. H. Lally with vaccinations.
A lay committee consisting of Mrs. Charles Gould, Chairman, Mrs. Beatrice Lally, Mrs. H. B. Lewis, Mrs. Charles Brisson, Mrs R. J. Cummings, Miss Annie Law- less, Mrs. John Manuel, Mrs. Rose Guerriere and Mrs. Bertha Morse, ably assisted in arranging for the round- up, and in every other way possible.
Consultation Chest Clinic
Consultation chest clinics were held the second Wednesday of each month at the Milford Hospital. Drs. Dufault and LaRoche, from the Rutland State Sanato- rium, were the examining physicians, assisted by Miss Helen Reilly, R.N., state consultant on tuberculosis, two
86
student nurses from the Milford Hospital and the local Board of Health nurse.
Number of patients examined from Milford .. 116
Number of patients from twenty-four surrounding
towns 157
A complete report of the findings are forwarded to the physician sending in the patient.
The doctors from the Rutland State Sanatorium and the visiting nurses, by their cooperation with the local Board of Health, have made this clinic a vast success.
Miss Helen Reilly, R.N., state consultant, has worked hard and faithfully, and much credit is due her for the continuance of this clinic.
Tuberculosis Follow Up "Early Discovery, Early Recovery"
Number of patients admitted to sanatorium in 1932 8
Number of patients admitted to sanatorium in 1933 19
Number of patients returning from sanatorium. 9
Number of patients moved out of town 6
Number of pulmonary cases reported
9
Number of childhood cases reported
Number of tubercular adenitis reported
1
Number of deaths at sanatorium
3
Number of home visits made 310
Number of patients now at sanatorium 19
Number of patients at home 64
Examination of all individuals who have been in con- tact with an open case of tuberculosis is one of the most successful ways of finding the early case for whom so much can be done.
Prevention of infection of other individuals depends upon the proper disposal of all discharges from tubercu- losis lesions.
These are but a few of the reasons why a close follow up is necessary on all reported tuberculous cases.
In conclusion, may I have the opportunity to thank
8
Number of deaths at home 2
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Miss Mary E. Mongeau, superintendent of the Milford Hospital; Miss Helen Grady, supervisor of the District Nursing Association; Mrs. Mary Naughton, school nurse, who assisted me at any time called upon.
Respectfully submitted, ANNA M. McKENNA, Board of Health Nurse.
To the Honorable Board of Health:
The Dental Clinic has been operated this year on the schedule effective during the greater part of last year. During the year some necessary repairs have been made and some much-needed equipment purchased.
The record of attendance and operations performed for the year follows :
Extractions
Fillings
Month
Deciduous
Permanent
Treatments
Deciduous
Permanent
Prophylaxis
Total
Operations
Patients
January
123
1
44
44
37
22
271
183
February
80
7
36
24
26
24
197
131
March
119
5
77
60
78
25
364
238
April
109
6
46
25
38
16
240
176
May
117
4
61
37
55
22
296
194
June
60
3
53
21
49
13
199
124
September
45
0
6
11
2
22
86
54
October
124
3
60
16
23
32
258
177
November
129
2
69
31
25
20
276
184
December
71
2
54
27
29
18
201
144
Totals
977
33
506
296
362
214
2388
1605
The fees collected during 1933 (each child is supposed to bring ten cents each visit) amounted to $101.05.
Respectfully submitted,
W. J. CLANCY, D.M.D.,
Clinician.
.
Total
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Voters of Milford :
The Board of Public Welfare respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1933:
The year of 1933 will go down in history as the one in which the greatest economic change of all times had its inception, for in 1933 we sank to the lowest point in the depression, unparalleled in its severity.
We have seen families driven, step by step, from self- reliance to dependence. The months of job hunting are made of small things, little enough each one, but calcu- lated to wear down in time the gayest of spirits. Our relief begins when they come .to the point where they must ask for help.
This department realizes that all taxpayers are natu- rally interested in the efficient and economical adminis- tration of relief. Expenses have been kept as low as ap- peared to be consistent with proper care. We know that aid is not adequate in many cases, but in view of the large number of families requiring assistance, aid in each case must be kept as low as possible. The rendering of aid and requests for help always on the increase, your Board has spent many anxious hours in an effort to keep within reasonable bounds and at the same time prevent suffer- ing.
We appreciate the valuable assistance given by various churches and organizations, especially the American Red Cross, which furnished this department with a generous supply of government flour. It also contributed largely to our clothing needs. Town departments in every in- stance have cooperated with us in accepting labor fur-
89
nished by us. Town employees have generously contrib- uted from their weekly salary to carry on the burdens of this department.
Citizens in general have helped in various ways dis- playing a most charitable spirit. The Federal Govern- ment has contributed a quantity of pork, apples and eggs for distribution.
CIVIL WORKS PROGRAM
This winter we found ourselves facing an opportunity unique since the outset of the depression. We have Fed- eral, State, County and local governments organized on a nation-wide scale to carry the load of unemployment re- lief. The Civil Works Program just launched by adminis- tration will shift a considerable share of our case load to a wage basis and this will reduce our expenditures to the lowest possible figure.
It has courage and power in it. It is a means for a great number of Milford citizens to shift from enforced idleness to work. They will go on the government pay- rolls at rates which are to provide "a standard of living in decency and comfort."
On November 17, 1933, the chairman of this depart- ment was appointed local Civil Works Administrator by the federal government agent, to have supervision over any public projects in the Town of Milford.
On November 20, 1933, your local administrator sub- mitted the following projects before the State Emergency Finance Board, and the Town of Milford had the distinc- tion of being the first town in the state to receive the money from the federal government.
CIVIL WORKS PROJECTS
Project No. 7. Resurface gravel roads throughout Town, estimated distance four miles in length, sixteen feet in width, and depth six inches.
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STREETS TO RESURFACE WITH GRAVEL
Congress Street 1 mile in length, 18 feet wide
Reservoir Street 1/2 mile in length, 14 feet wide
Highland Street 1 mile in length, 16 feet wide
Central Street 1/2 mile in length, 14 feet wide
Maple Street 15 mile in length, 16 feet wide
Camp Street 1/4 mile in length, 14 feet wide
Asylum Street 1/4 mile in length, 16 feet wide
On November 25, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $14,150.00 and giving em- ployment to sixty-nine persons from November 27, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 8. Building sidewalls along Charles River located on Town property-Beach and Central Streets.
On November 25, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $22,880.00 and giving em- ployment to one hundred nine persons from November 27, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 9. Painting Town buildings, Town Infirmary,
Town Hall, Town Barn, and four school buildings.
On November 25, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $6,300.00 and giving em- ployment to twenty-nine persons from November 27, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 31. County project for regraveling roads was approved on December 12, 1933, but was not a local project, with an approximate expenditure of $18,307.00, and gave employment to one hundred thirty-five Milford citizens.
Project No. 606. Building addition to Town Infirmary on Asylum Street.
On November 27, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $11,140.00 and that the Massachusetts Civil Works Administration would allow $6,140.00 and the Town of Milford, out of the local Board of Public Welfare appropriation, would make a contribu-
91
tion of $5,000.00 and giving employment to eighteen per- sons from November 27, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 607. Resurfacing portion of Cedar Street Dump.
On November 27, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $5,700.00 and giving em- ployment to forty-five persons from November 27, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project 608. Relaying sewers on Elm Street and Me- chanic Street.
On November 27, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $4,086.00 and giving em- ployment to twenty-two persons from November 27, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 1879. Straightening, repairing and cleaning of Godfrey Brook, 8,900 linear feet.
On November 27, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $16,650.60 and giving employment to eighty-six persons from December 6, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 1880. Repairing of Fountain Street School, modern toilets.
On December 6, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $1,705.75 and giving employ- ment to nine persons from December 6, 1933 to January 6, 1934.
Project No. 1881. Gypsy moth suppression.
On December 6, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $3,043.50, and giving employ- ment to twenty-five persons from December 6, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 2415. Improving Town Park, including con-
struction of three Tennis Courts, cleaning and wall- ing 1,000 feet brookstone curb at Spruce Street; con- crete curb at Draper Park, Comfort Station, replac- ing clogged drains and misgrading.
On December 9, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $23,759.00, and giving em-
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ployment to one hundred twenty-eight persons from De- cember 8, 1933, to February 15, 1934.
Project No. 350. Assorting, filing and cataloging records of Town offices, Town library.
On December 20, 1933, this project was approved to an approximate expenditure of $2,600.00 and giving employment to thirty-one persons from December 20, 1933 to February 15, 1934.
This report shows that the federal government granted the Town of Milford $125,321.85, and gave em- ployment to seven hundred six Milford citizens with an average weekly payroll of $7,356.10 from November 22, 1933, to December 31, 1933. This includes both local and county projects, and tends to relieve the Town of Milford of its obligation to the needy.
The payroll for the first week in January of 1934 was $9,200.00. This will be the weekly average until Febru- ary 15, 1934.
EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WORK
Under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved March 31, 1933, relative to Emergency Conservation Work, the allotment to the Town of Milford was fifty- four young men who were physically fit, unemployed and unmarried between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five (both inclusive), who were citizens of the United States, who had dependents, and who wished to allot to these dependents a substantial portion of the thirty dollars monthly cash allowance.
Out of the fifty-four young men sent to the Emergency Conservation Camps, twenty-eight of these young men's families were receiving public relief, and they allotted twenty-five dollars per month out of their monthly cash allowance and this relieved this department of a rent charge on these families. The following is a report of how this project now stands at the end of our fiscal year :
.
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C. C. C. REPORT
Milford's quota
54
Number now at camp
19
Number rejected for the following reasons :
Ear discharge
1
Insufficient teeth
1
Chronic frontal sinitis 1
Rupture, right side 1
Backache, sore feet, indigestion
1
Sacro-iliac strain, painful. Fixation of the lumbar spine
1
Number discharged for the following reasons:
Expiration of time 8
Desertion
3
Absence without leave
6
Serious misconduct
2
Promised employment
5
Home sick
4
Not physically fit
1
29
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Receipts
Appropriation
$140,000.00
Sundry accounts refunded
594.14
$140,594.14
Expenditures
Support of inmates, Town Infirm- ary $12,321.96
Emergency addition Town In-
firmary, C. W. A.
4,109.05
Relief in families, general aid
cases
69,979.00
6
94
Relief in families, mothers' aid
cases
20,009.50
Relief of persons, old age assist-
ance Cases 22,126.03
$128,545.54
Unexpended balance, December
31, 1933 12,048.60 $140,594.14
OUTSIDE RELIEF
The total expenditure for outside relief was $69,979.00, a decrease over 1932 of $9,639.53.
At the March Town Meeting it was voted to appropri- ate $3,900.00 for unpaid rents of 1932, and this amount took care of one hundred fifty-eight landlords at the rate of five dollars and thirty-four cents per month.
It is under this division of the department that the greatest increase in expenditures will be noted, as it is under this heading that the unemployment situation has been met.
Throughout the first ten and one-half months of this year until the Civil Works Administration started we assigned unemployed men to work three days per week at the local infirmary, and with the Highway Department in return for aid rendered to them and their families and the other three days they were expected to look for steady employment.
The value of the services rendered by these men amounts to over $2,000.00 monthly, based on a wage scale of $3.00 per day. The men have reconstructed and widened gravel roads throughout the Town, besides the laying of new sidewalks.
They have cleared brush and have trimmed untold numbers of trees along the highways. New buildings have been put up by them and old structures repaired at our local infirmary.
95 MOTHERS' AID
The total expenditure for Mothers' Aid was $20,009.50, a decrease over 1932 of $1,004.90.
In carrying on Mothers' Aid work we are very grateful for the help and cooperation of the State Department of Public Welfare, which has general supervision, the Mil- ford District Nursing Association, and the different church societies which have assisted us in this depart- ment.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
The total expenditure for old age assistance was $22,- 126.03, an increase over 1932 of $1,039.53.
The old age assistance law, which became operative on July 1, 1931, has already proven itself to give assist- ance to more people than any other piece of new legisla- tion with which this department has been concerned since the enactment of Mothers' Aid law in 1913.
The Bureau of Old Age Assistance is growing rapidly and again this year we point out to the voters of Milford that it will be a grave problem to finance it.
INDOOR RELIEF
The whole number of persons having a legal settlement in the Town of Milford who received indoor relief for whole or part of the year, comprising those in the Town Infirmary and State Infirmary, was 67.
We had nine boarders with other city and town settle- ments at our Town Infirmary. There were four cases from Blackstone, two cases from Bellingham, three cases from Hopedale, two cases at Mt. St. Vincent, Holyoke, Massachusetts, and one child from the Child Guardian- ship Department. Six people were cared for at the Pond- ville Hospital at Norfolk, Massachusetts. Board was paid for ten children in private families at an average weekly rate of $2.00 per child.
C
96
SUMMARY OF RELIEF
The total expenditures during the fiscal year of 1933 for Town relief were $112,114.53, and reimbursements were $23,991.65, making the net expense of $88,122.88.
The total expenditures for Town Infirmary were $12,- 321.96 and the revenue was $2,914.86, making the net ex- penses $9,407.10.
The total expenditures for emergency addition to Town Infirmary under the C. W. A. amounted to $4,109.05.
The total expenditures for unpaid rents of 1932 amounted to $3,898.20.
The net expenditures for all poor relief were $105,- 537.23.
RELIEF IN FAMILIES
JANUARY
Total number of new applications received-47.
Number of families and persons aided directly :
258 families-General Aid 1,188 persons
35 families-Mothers' Aid 188 persons
86 families-Old Age Assistance 86 persons
379 families
1,462 persons
FEBRUARY
Total number of new applications received-33.
Number of families and persons aided directly :
276 families-General Aid 1,265 persons
39 families-Mothers' Aid 211 persons
88 families-Old Age Assistance 88 persons
403 families 1,564 persons
MARCH
Total number of new applications received-28.
Number of families and persons aided directly : 281 families-General Aid 1,280 persons
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39 families-Mothers' Aid 211 persons 87 families-Old Age Assistance 87 persons
407 families 1,578 persons
APRIL
Total number of new applications received-17.
Number of families and persons aided directly :
284 families-General Aid 1,274 persons ยท
39 families-Mothers' Aid 211 persons
83 families-Old Age Assistance 83 persons
406 families 1,568 persons
MAY
Total number of new applications received-38. Number of families and persons aided directly :
237 families-General Aid 1,037 persons
38 families-Mothers' Aid 218 persons
86 families-Old Age Assistance 86 persons
361 families 1,341 persons
JUNE
Total number of new applications received-25. Number of families and persons aided directly :
180 families-General Aid 775 persons
39 families-Mothers' Aid 199 persons
88 families-Old Age Assistance 88 persons
307 families 1,062 persons
JULY
Total number of new applications received-17. Number of families and persons aided directly :
119 families-General Aid 483 persons
39 families-Mothers' Aid 201 persons
86 families-Old Age Assistance 86 persons
244 families
770 persons
98
AUGUST
Total number of new applications received-27.
Number of families and persons aided directly :
109 families-General Aid 421 persons
38 families-Mothers' Aid 190 persons
87 families-Old Age Assistance 87 persons
234 families 698 persons
SEPTEMBER
Total number of new applications received-21.
Number of families and persons aided directly :
96 families-General Aid 359 persons
36 families-Mothers' Aid 175 persons
84 families-Old Age Assistance 84 persons
216 families 618 persons
OCTOBER
Total number of new applications received-34. Number of families and persons aided directly :
106 families-General Aid 408 persons
35 families-Mothers' Aid .173 persons
76 families-Old Age Assistance 76 persons
217 families 657 persons
NOVEMBER
Total number of new applications received-29. Number of families and persons aided directly :
53 families-General Aid 152 persons
35 families-Mothers' Aid 175 persons
74 families-Old Age Assistance 74 persons
162 families 401 persons
DECEMBER
Total number of new applications received-23.
Number of families and persons aided directly : 56 families-General Aid 162 persons
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37 families-Mothers' Aid 187 persons 75 families-Old Age Assistance 75 persons
168 families
424 persons
During the fiscal year of 1933 six hundred and eighteen families comprising two thousand four hundred forty-six persons were aided, also fifty-nine persons at our local Infirmary.
From January 1, 1933 to December 31, 1933, we had thirty deaths, one on Mothers' Aid, fourteen on Old Age Assistance, and fifteen on our General Aid.
Comparative report showing the amounts of relief granted during the past twenty-one years, including out- door relief, Town Infirmary, Mothers' Aid, which was enacted in 1913, and Old Age Assistance enacted on July 1,1931.
1912
$17,744.66
1913
12,994.94
1914
22,501.99
1915
19,271.96
1916
18,359.53
1917
20,018.51
1918
30,777.57
1919
38,838.22
1920
42,718.51
1921
45,260.60
1922
53,826.65
1923
48,111.24
1924
42,602.42
1925
45,560.33
1926
48,852.26
1927
52,761.73
1928
52,121.54
1929
52,867.23
69,126.35 1930
1931
97,832.67
1932
133,556.15
1933
128,545.54
100
To the Board of Public Welfare:
Gentlemen:
In making this, our third report, to you and the citi- zens of Milford, this branch of welfare has had its extra burdens to contend with for the past twelve months. It has had a capacity house during the entire year, several bed patients calling for constant care and attention, and every effort has been made to make their declining years as comfortable as possible.
The farm has yielded an abundance of crops, in spite of the dry weather during the past summer. The matron, with the assistance of a few inmates, canned over eighteen hundred quarts of berries, fruits, vegetables, chickens, etc.
The dairy has had a few changes since last year. We lost a few head of cattle by the Tuberculin test, but their places are being filled by the raising of high-grade heifers which in the near future will make an acceptable addi- tion to our herd of milkers. At the present time the whole herd is in its usual splendid health and condition.
Since January 1, 1933, over two hundred cords of wood have been cut and distributed among the needy.
The outstanding improvement is the new addition which has just been started under the Civil Works Pro- gram. This addition will consist of two dormitories and bathrooms, and will bring twenty-four men down from the attic into warm, well-lighted and entirely sanitary quarters. Also, a new boiler which will replace the old one that has been overtaxed for some time has been started under the same program.
We wish to extend our thanks to all assistants and em- ployees for their cooperation and cheerfulness in carrying on the duties of this institution.
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