USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1920-1921 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
Each dentist in the town takes his turn during the school year, filling and extracting the children's teeth. A charge of ten cents is made for each operation. Besides assisting the
-310-
dentists on Saturday mornings the Dental Hygienist has the children come from school at definite hours to have their teeth cleaned on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Teeth are ex- amined at the schools by her on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and tooth brush drills and talks on dental hygiene are given.
The children who take care of their teeth and keep them clean are given a "clean tooth button" to wear. The school getting the largest number of buttons, wins a banner at the end of six months. The tooth brush drill is taught each grade ard a brush given each child when he can use it satisfactorily. Tooth brushes are sold for six cents.
A complete filing system has been installed which makes all necessary information available at once. Dental charts in- dicate the results of the examinations, each tooth needing at- tention of any kind being designated on the chart. Only those who are unable to secure private treatment are given the privileges of the clinic, and information necessary to deter- mine the eligibility of a child is gained by means of three questions on the back of a card, which is sent to parents and which they must fill out when treatment is requested. The co- operation of the teachers is also of assistance.
The following dentists have worked faithfully and well, with- out pay during this school year of 1919 and 1920: Dr. Harold E. Donovan, Dr. Waldo Hayward, Dr. John F. Taylor, Dr. Al- sop I. Douglas, Dr. Ivan D. Fairbanks and Dr. Elton S. Jewett. The total number of hours devoted to the work by these dentists was 44.
A case of cleft palate, a deformity which makes it impossible to speak distinctly, was discovered by the school physician dur- ing his examinations and referred to Miss White, who succeeded in having the defect remedied at the Forsyth Dental Infirmary in Boston.
A great many children who otherwise would not have their teeth cared for have had them thoroughly cleaned and they have been taught how to take care of them themselves by the Dental
-311-
Hygienist, but the number of fillings and treatments which can be done by the dentists in the two hours given to the work. each week is necessarily small. Miss White's ambition now is to secure one paid dentist to work two or three mornings each week, thus permitting the filling of "treatment cases," extrac- tions, and many other operations which are now impossible, as there is too little time for them.
It is hoped that the townspeople of Plymouth will cooperate in this good work in every way possible. Parents are encouraged to visit the clinic in the Governor Bradford Builidng on Satur- day mornings or at any time when Miss White is there.
Each year should afford wider opportunities for usefulness in the care of the teeth of our children, for 95 out of every 100 school children need some dental work. Probably the greatest amount of good is done, not by the actual work upon the mouths of the children at the free clinics, but by the higher standards of mouth hygiene, which we are creating in the community through the work of the Dental Hygienist. An un- cared for mouth is getting to be more and more unpopular among school children and this is as it should be.
SUMMARY 1914-1921.
YEAR
Number of
Treatments
Number of
Examinations
Number of
Cleaning's
Number of
Pupils treated
1914
113
410
31
81
1915
170
370
44
93
1916
16-1
370
50
89
1917
239
481
62
108
1918
None
None
None
None
1919 (two weeks)
16
100
10
5
1920
744
2,025
569
698
Of the 744 treatments given in 1920, 150 were fillings, 25 extractions and 569 cleanings.
-- 312-
School Nurse.
The first three months of the year Miss Nellie I. Mitchell acted as school nurse in the absence of Miss Macdonald, who resumed her duties on April 1st, having entirely recovered her health and strength. The year has been a busy one for the nurse on account of the large number of cases of contagious disease which though generally not of serious character, re- quired a great deal of "following up" and investigating.
When the report for 1919 was written a Surgical Service for Children had just been inaugurated at the Jordan Hospital, making it possible to have troublesome tonsils and adenoid vegetations removed at a nominal cost in deserving cases. The first child under this Service was taken to the hospital on Jan- uary 23 and as the report of the nurse shows, many others fol- lowed, making a total of 38 for the year. The days when the nurse had to plead for the relief of the child have passed and there is now a waiting list of applicants eager to avail themselves of the advantages of this hospital service.
The illustration accompanying this report shows an unsel- ected group of children who have benefited by this service. They look as though they had been told to keep their mouths closed for the picture, but the only suggestion that was made to them was the customary one that they "look pleasant please."
The signal success of this service is due largely to Drs. Brown, Noyes, Reed and Prince of the Hospital staff, who have cheer- fully done the surgical work required of them in season and out of season. We are also indebted to Dr. Tobey of Boston, who very kindly gave his services on one occasion.
The figures given below cannot tell the whole story, but they give some idea of what the school nurse accomplishes during the school year, besides doing a great many things not indicated at the same time, such as distributing clothing in cases of real need, taking children to Boston clinics, weighing and measur- ing children and keeping records. Five hundred and eighty
.
-313-
visits to schools and seven hundred and thirty-five visits to homes make one thousand three hundred and fifteen visits which is a respectable item in itself.
Those who have studied the problems of medical inspection in the public schools and are supposed to know, claim that no one nurse should be required to look after more than 2,000 children. We have one nurse and between 2,400 and 2,500 children scat- tered over a big territory. If we cannot have another nurse to lighten the burden, we should at least pay the present one for what she does.
Summary of Work of School Nurse.
Number of school visits,
580
Number of home visits, 735
Number of treatments in schools, 878
Contagious diseases found in schools, 172
Contagious diseases found in homes, 166
Referred to physicians, 52
Number of pupils operated at Jordan Hospital for tonsils and adenoids, 38
Number of inspections, 5979
Records.
With the advice and consent of the Superintendent, a very radical change, long contemplated, has been made in the method of keeping records this year. A new form of card has been de- vised which covers the whole school life of the child, both edu- cational and physical. "The efficiency of the records has been still further increased by placing each child's card in the keep- ing of his or her teacher. Thus the teachers have the cards available for reference at any time. This matter of combining the educational and physical records on one card seems such an obvious thing to do that it is sure to be generally adopted
-314-
as soon as medical inspection becomes standardized in the State as it no doubt will be soon.
Further changes have been made in the recording of data for monthly reports which have relieved the nurse of much burdensome clerical work without sacrificing anything of value. The work of transfering records from the old form of card to the new was begun in October.
Formerly this report contained a long list of various diseases and defects found among school children. In the early days it may have served a useful purpose by convincing people of the necessity for some sort of medical supervision, but there is little need of any such testimony today. The records are available but the time spent in compiling such data can be put to better use.
Health Certificates for Working Children.
The intent of the law which requires that every child be- tween fourteen and sixteen years of age must secure a health certificate before he can enter industry, is excellent.
Investigation throughout the state has shown that as a matter of fact it amounts to very little. The reasons for this are several.
The failure of the Board of Health or School Committee to appoint a public health physician or school physician, whose business it shall be to make these examinations and keep the results on record usually results in no rejections because of lack of physical fitness.
Again those who apply for employment certificates are usually from needy families and it is a hardship to such families for the examiners to refuse to allow their children to work. Many examiners content themselves with advising the parents that certain defects need correction, but very rarely do they refuse a permit to a child because he is physically unfit.
As a result of an investigation made by the Department of
-315-
Labor and Industries of the Commonwealth, it was found that out of 38 of the principal cities of the state only 12 had any rejections. In the 26 other cities every child who applied for a permit to work, received it.
The Department of Labor and Industries in a pamphlet is- sued in June, 1920, made the following recommendations re- garding the issuing of health certificates :
"The issuing of health certificates to children entering in- dustry should, in every community, be under the supervision of one physician designated for the purpose by the local School Committee or the Board of Health, as the case may be, or by both acting jointly.
Local School Committees and Local Boards of Health having the authority to appoint school physicians, can assist in correct- ing this situation :
1. By assigning a competent physician to take charge of this work.
2. By requiring that a thorough physical examination shall be made of every child applying for a health certificate.
3. By adopting a Standard Form for such examinations.
4. By requiring through the office issuing employment cer- tificates, that the health certificates must be signed by the phy- sician authorized to do this work.
5. By advising, where conditions make such action justifi- able, that children return for re-examination, the health certifi- cates issued in such cases being for a limited period only."
Contagious Disease.
In February there were a number of cases of influenza and a serious epidemic was feared, but did not develop.
In May an epidemic of measles, which had been slowly ap- proaching us via towns to the north, finally reached us, all cases of contagious disease having been reported to us by the Board of Health. Cases continued to occur with decreasing frequency to the close of school for the summer.
-316-
After the opening of school in the Fall, attendance was af- fected by "colds" which continued to be prevalent to the end of the year and whooping cough and chickenpox, especially the former, became very troublesome. In December we began to find children in school desquamating or "peeling."
In some of these cases there was a history of an illness of a day or two with perhaps a little fever, a sore throat and usually a fine rash on the face and arms, but in others no history of illness could be found. The peeling usually began on the ears and inside of the hands.
These were thought to be mild cases of scarlet fever and were therefore reported to the Board of Health, the children affected and all others in the family being excluded from school. This made a great deal of work for the nurse as the children were usually perfectly well except for the "peeling" and it was diffi- cult to convince people that scarlet fever of a severe type might result from so apparently harmless a condition. Fortunately no malignant cases seem to have developed.
Closing schools as a method of controlling epidemics of con- tagious disease is discredited. Children under supervision in school are not likely to contract disease, as only healthy child- ren are allowed to remain in school. No only that but healthy children who on account of exposure to disease are likely to develop it, are excluded until the danger is past.
The Regulations of the Board of Health and School Depart- ment define the proper periods of exclusion for various con- tagious diseases and the school physician, the nurse and the teachers are always watching to see that they are obeyed.
Janitors are instructed to use disinfectants upon furniture used by pupils who have developed contagious diseases and in the case of serious diseases, like diphtheria, books are destroyed. Greater dependence is placed upon fresh air, sunlight and cleanliness than upon fumigation.
Whenever a school is suspected of having been exposed to diphtheria all suspicious throats are "cultured." All children
-317-
or teachers before returning to school after having been ill with a contagious disease, should be disinfected.
The cleansing and disinfection of the person includes wash- ing the entire body and the hair with soap and water, thorough brushing of the teeth, rinsing of the mouth, gargling the throat, and douching and spraying the nose with an antiseptic solution, and finally a complete change of clothing or a change of under- wear and a thorough shaking and brushing of the outer gar- ments out-of-doors before these are put on again.
The following statistics for the year have been taken from the monthly reports of the school physician :
Number of examinations,
2,914
Number of notices of diseases and defects sent to parents, 608
Number of pupils referred to nurse, 92
Number of permits signed by school physician, 570
Number of permits signed by physicians other than the school physician, 128
Number of pupils temporarily excluded,
60
Respectfully submitted, J. HOLBROOK SHAW, M. D.
-318 ---
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Charles A. Harris, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir-I respectfully submit the following report from January 1, 1920 to January 1, 1921 :
Truancy
Sickness
Absentee Total
Burton School,
2
22
8
32
Cold Spring School,
2
1
10
Cornish School,
5
11
27
43
Hedge School,
26
15
40
81
Knapp School,
6
15
18
39
Lincoln Street School,
0
1
3
4
Manomet School,
0
1
1
2
Mount Pleasant School,
1
11
13
25
Nathaniel Morton School,
12
315
170
497
Oak Street School,
1
4
2
2
South Street School,
3
15
10
28
Spooner Street School,
3
8
31
42
66
423
357
846
Cases investigated for Superintendent's office,
25
Employment Certificates investigated,
10
Number of homes visited,
881
Total number of investigations,
881
Found on street and taken to school,
14
Number of visits to school,
40
Habitual absentee's taken to court,
2
Taken to court for keeping their children from school,
3
I wish to thank the Superintendent and teachers for the kind assistance which they have given me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN ARMSTRONG, Attendance Officer.
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
1620.
A
SACH
E
SIL
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1921
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Plymouth
For the Year Ending December 31
1921
1620
M
SSACHU
PLYMOUTH THE MEMORIAL PRESS
1922
INDEX
Abstracts of Records
6
Advisory and Finance Com-
mittee 38
Agawam and Halfway Pond
Fisheries
220
Appropriations Recommended 24
Assessors ' Report 184
Births
158
Board of Health 221
Building Committee Report 56
Cemetery Commissioners
208
Deaths 166
Fire Department 193
Forest Warden 215
Inspector of Milk
225
Inspector of Slaughtering 228
Licenses Issued 175
List of Jurors 251
Marriages
148
Moth Department
218
Overseers of the Poor
188
Park Commissioners
202
Plymouth Public Library
230
Police Department
177
School Department
281
Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures 212
Selectmen's Report
18
Superintendent of Streets
26
Supervisor of Shores 219
Tercentenary Committee Re- port 53 and 234 Tercentenary Secretary 's Re-
port
241
Town Accountant
59
Town Clerk's Report 146
Town Engineer
26
Town Officers 3
Town Warrant
255
Tree Warden
216
Water Report
263
-3-
TOWN OFFICERS, 1921
Selectmen-William T. Eldridge, Ephraim D. Bartlett, George W. Bradford, Dexter H. Craig and Josiah A. Rob- bins.
Town Clerk-George B. Howland.
Town Treasurer-George B. Howland.
Collector of Taxes-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Town Accountant-Elmer R. Harlow.
Assessors-James C. Bates, chosen 1919 for three years : Nathaniel G. Lanman, chosen 1920 for three years; George Harlow, chosen 1921 for three years.
Overseers of the Poor-Charles A. Strong, chosen 1919 for three years; William T. Eldridge, chosen 1920 for three years ; Herbert W. Bartlett, chosen 1921 for three years.
Water Commissioners-John H. Damon, chosen 1919 for three years ; Eugene H. Dorr and William R. Morton, chosen 1920 for three years ; Robert C. Harlow and John L. Morton, chosen 1921 for three years.
School Committee-Edward W. Bradford, chosen 1919 for three years ; Frederick D. Bartlett, chosen 1920 for three years ; Helen F. Pierce, chosen 1921 for three years.
Cemetery Commissioners-Henry W. Barnes, chosen 1919 for three years ; Horace M. Saunders, chosen 1920 for three years ; Arthur E. Blackmer, chosen 1921 for three years.
4-
Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam and Halfway Pond Herring Fishery Commit- tee-Warren S. Gale, Frank Harlow and Alfred Holmes.
Park Commissioners-William H. Beever, chosen 1919 for three years; Benjamin F. Raymond, chosen 1920 for three years; John Russell, chosen 1921 for three years.
Board of Health-George H. Jackson, chosen 1919 for three years; Herbert S. Maxwell, chosen 1920 for three years; Harry R. Talbot, chosen 1921 for three years.
Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-Alvin A. Hall, Cornelius C. Holmes and Warren S. Bumpus.
Surveyor of Wood and Bark-Alfred C. Finney.
Planning Board-Arthur Lord, LeBaron R. Barker, George L. Gooding, Francis C. Holmes and Arthur E. Black- mer.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers-Charles H. Raymond and Lewis F. Smith.
Sexton-Thomas J. Kennedy, deceased Sept. 9, 1921.
Pound Keeper-Russell L. Dickson.
Committee on Inland Fisheries-James S. Clark, Warren S. Gale and Geoffrey D. Perrior.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Lewis F. Smith, term expired July 6, 1921. Daniel J. Sullivan appointed Aug. 22, 1921.
Beach Committee-Selectmen.
Superintendent of Streets-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Superintendent of Water Works-Arthur E. Blackmer. Collector of Water Rates-N. Reeves Jackson.
-5-
Harbor Master-Alfred Holmes.
Board of Registration-Charles H. Sherman, appointed 1919 for three years; Herbert W. Clark, appointed 1920 for three years; George F. Anderson, appointed 1921 for three years.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries and Burial Hill-Edward F. Stranger.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Charles Rog- ers.
Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery -- George A. Man- ter.
Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-James L. Has- kell.
Superintendent of Almshouse-Russell L. Dickson.
Fire Commissioner-Robert C. Harlow.
Town Engineer-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Chief of Police-John Armstrong.
Tree Warden-Abbott A. Raymond.
Forest Warden-Ida C. Ward.
Local Moth Superintendent -- Abbott A. Raymond.
Committee on Sewers-Selectmen.
-6-
ABSTRACTS OF RECORDS OF 1921.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JANUARY 29, 1921.
ARTHUR LORD, Moderator.
Article two :
To see if the Town of Plymouth will authorize the Town Hall Committee to execute a contract with the Aberthaw Construction Company, providing for the erection by the Aberthaw Construction Company of a Memorial Hall on the Lothrop lot, so-called, belonging to the Town and sit- uated on the easterly side of Court street in Plymouth; to be erected substantially in accordance with the amended plans of the Town Hall Committee at a cost to the Town of not exceeding three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), with a proviso in said contract that if the said building is constructed by the said Aberthaw Construction Company at a cost of less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,- 000), the difference shall be returned to the Town. Said building to be constructed under the supervision of the Town Hall Committee.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: voted, that no action be taken under this article, and that further consideration of this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article three :
To see if the Town will make an appropriation to carry out action of the Town under Article two and to authorize the issue of notes or bonds of the Town for said purpose.
-7-
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : voted, that no action be taken under this article.
Article four :
To see if the Town will authorize the Town Hall Com- mittee to enter into a contract with the Aberthaw Con- struction Company for the sum of fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars, in addition to the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) whereby Town offices will be added to the Memorial Hall Building provided for under Article 2, under similar terms and conditions.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : voted, that no action be taken under this article.
Article five :
To see if the Town will make an appropriation to carry out action of the Town under Article 4 and to authorize the issue of notes or bonds of the Town for said purpose.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: voted, that no action. be taken under this article.
Article six :
To see if the Town will vote to endorse and recommend legislation authorizing the Town to build and maintain a public wharf and landing.
Mr. Harry B. Davis, moved the following resolution which was adopted. Resolved : that it is the sense of this meeting that the removal of all wharf and dock facilities along our water front is a serious economic loss to the Town of Plym- outh.
It is further the sense of this meeting that the plans in- volving so wide spread destruction should have provided for restoration.
That not having been done, immediate steps should be taken to restore to the Town, suitable wharf facilities for commercial purposes and that the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the
-- 8-
United States Government be requested to assist the Town in securing such facilities. Said Committee shall report to the Town at the Annual Town Meeting.
On motion of Harry B. Davis : voted, that a Committee of ten be appointed by the Selectmen to be known as the Plymouth Relocation Committee, said Committee to repre- sent the Town in all matters pertaining to the relocation of wharf facilities.
Article seven :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : voted, that the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise ap- propriated, the sum of seven hundred dollars, to be used for marking historical places in the Town.
Article eight :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: voted, that the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise ap- propriated, the sum of six hundred sixty-five dollars and twenty cents to the School Department appropriation, to pay bills contracted during 1920, and remaining unpaid at the close of said year.
On motion of William T. Eldridge : voted to adjourn.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 26, 1921.
ARTHUR LORD, Moderator.
Article three :
On motion of George B. Howland : voted, that the reports of the several boards of officers and committees of the Town be accepted and placed on file.
-9-
Article four :
On motion of George B. Howland : voted, that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen or a majority thereof to borrow during the finan- cial year beginning January 1, 1922, in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be ne- cessary for the current expenses of the Town, giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under the authority of this vote shall be paid from the revenue of said financial „vear.
Article six :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess it was unanimously voted: That the sum of $4,500.00 including the dog fund of 1920, amounting to $1,230.60, be appropriated for the maintenance of the Plymouth Public Library.
Article seven :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess it was unanimously voted : That the sum of $500.00 be appropriated in aid of the Manomet Public Library.
Article eight :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess it was unanimously voted : That the following appropriations be made :
Park Department, $4,200 00
Parks, for cutting wood,. 300 00
Training Green, 300 00
Stephen's Field, 300 00
Article nine :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess it was unanimously voted : That the Town appropriate a sum not exceeding $225.00 for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article ten :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess it was unanimously voted : That the Town appropriate the sum of $250.00 for
-10-
the aid of the Plymouth County Farm Bureau, and that the Town choose a Town Director for the Bureau as provided in Chapter 273, under Acts of 1918.
Article eleven :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess it was voted : That the Town accept Section 25a of Chapter 41 of the General Laws as provided by Chapter 14 of the Acts of Massachusetts for 1921, entitled "An act to Authorize Assessors to Appoint Assistant Assessors."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.