USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1910 > Part 12
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We have also distributed to the physicians about 65 Culture outfits for diagnosing Diphtheria which if the citizens had to pay for would cost $2.00 each, and the same are diagnosed by the State Board of Health free, and if diagnosed by a private physician would cost $2.00 more each, making a cost of $260, which you have received free.
We have also distributed to the physicians 30 Sputum boxes for diagnosing Tuberculosis which is done by the State Board of Health free.
We have also issued to the school children who have been ill or exposed to contagious diseases about 300 certificates allowing them to return to school.
The number of premises in the Town placarded for contagious diseases was fifty-three (53).
The Board has approved 20 applications to maintain boarding houses for infants.
We regret that we were obliged to overdraw our appropriation last year but we consider this due to the increase of population and to the additional duties which have been imposed upon the local Board of Health.
15
226
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
We are now called upon to take charge of all contagious cases and to pay the bills which were formerly paid by the Overseers of the Poor.
We have never had occasion to comply with this act before but during this term we have had cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever and tuberculosis which have greatly increased our expenses.
This is in accordance with Acts of 1907, Chapter 386, as follows :
[CHAP. 386.]
AN ACT RELATIVE TO COMPENSATING THE COMMONWEALTH FOR CARING FOR PERSONS INFECTED WITH DISEASES DANGER- OUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
Be it enacted as follows :
SECTION I. Chapter two hundred and thirteen of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and two is hereby amended by strik- ing out section one and inserting in place thereof the following :- Section I. Reasonable expenses incurred by the board of health of a city or town or by the Commonwealth in making the pro- vision required by law for persons infected with smallpox or other disease dangerous to the public health shall be paid by such person or his parents if he or they be able to pay, otherwise by the city or town in which he has a legal settlement, upon the approval of the bill by the board of health of such city or town or by the state board of charity ; and such settlements shall be determined by the overseers of the poor, and by the state board of charity in cases cared for by the Commonwealth. If the person has no settlement, such expense shall be paid by the Commonwealth, upon the approval of bills therefor by the state board of charty. In all cases of persons having settlements a written notice sent within the time required in the case of aid given to paupers, shall be sent by the board of health, or by the officer or board having the powers of a board of health in the city or town where the person is sick, to the board of health, or to the officer or board having the powers of a board of health in the city or town in which such person has a settlement, who
227
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
shall forthwith transmit a copy thereof to the overseers of the poor of the place of settlement. In case the person has no set- tlement, such notice shall be given to the state board of health, in accordance with the provisions of section fifty-two of chapter seventy-five of the Revised Laws.
SECTION 2. Section two of said chapter two hundred and thirteen is hereby amended by inserting after the word "diph- theria," in the third line, the words :- tuberculosis, dog bite requiring anti-rabic treatment,-so as to read as follows :- Section 2. No person for whose care and maintenance a city or town or the Commonwealth has incurred expense in conse- quence of smallpox, scarlet fever diphtheria, tuberculosis, dog bite, requiring anti-rabic treatment, or other disease dangerous to the public health shall be deemed to be a pauper by reason of such expenditure.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [ Approved May 7, 1907.]
Every year we are obliged to send patients to the Lynn Con- tagious Hospital for medical treatment for the State and for the Town. All of these cases are charged to the Board of Health of Saugus. If it is a State case we are reimbursed for two- thirds of the amount. The charge for cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever is $15.00 a week ; it generally takes six weeks for a case of scarlet fever, and not quite so long for diphtheria, before the case is discharged from the hospital. In cases of scarlet fever, it costs the town at least $90 for each patient. We send those cases to the hospital where there are several children in the family, and where there are not proper conveniences, for treat- ment at home. We consider this to be for the public health and safety, and to give the patient the benefit of good treatment.
The statutes impose upon Boards of Health the duty of pro- tecting the people from those causes and influences which may injuriously affect their health.
We have in Saugus about 1,750 children who attend school ; statistics have shown the great prevalence of contagious diseases among school children. Schools are without doubt the means of spreading these diseases, from the fact that some attend school
225
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
in the early stage of diphtheria, scarlet fever and other diseases. There are many diseases of childhood which are most prevalent and fatal in the early years of life - schools are without doubt the means of spreading these diseases. It is the mild and neglected cases that spread the contagion and causes epidemic ; it is among this class of cases that the special attention of the Board of Health has been directed. The Board is required to investigate the premises, placard the houses, to give instructions in regard to sanitary measures and after so doing to fumigate.
There are also some suspicious cases of contagious disease, which from time to time are reported to this board for exami- nation.
The State Board is devoting much time and money in their investigation of Tuberculosis. At this time consumption is no longer given up as hopeless, but is considered curable in the incipient stage. Not only the lungs, but the spine, brain, joints, and nearly every tissue of the body is liable to be effected with this disease.
The organism which causes this disease was discovered by a former German physician, Dr. Robert Koch, in 1882, up to this date nobody knew what was the cause of this terrible disease.
Tuberculosis is caused by a very small germ called the tubercle bacillus, this is so small that it takes 3,000 put end to end to make one inch, a great many of these are found in the sputum which is coughed up by the patient, if this was destroyed, consumption would soon die out, but from carelessness when one spits upon the floor or sidewalk, it becomes dry, is ground up into a fine powder, and is inhaled by some one in a run down condition to receive the disease. Darkness or damp favor its growth, but direct sunlight destroys the germs.
The State is doing all in its power to prevent the spread of this disease and with cooperation of the patients the disease can be checked.
In various hospitals and sanitariums which are scattered all over our country and especially in Massachusetts (the leader in this movement) as well as in the homes of the people, consump- tion is being cured.
229
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
To show the prevalence of tuberculosis it has been found that of all the people who die every year about one-seventh die from consumption. When one considers the great loss of life in this country during the four years of civil war when there were killed about one hundred and fifty thousand men, which causes one to realize the horrors of war, and yet every year in the United States there are more than one hundred and fifty thousand people destroyed by this one preventable disease, consumption. Records show that the combined sum of all those who die of typhoid fever, diphtheria, appendicitis, scarlet fever, measles and cancer does not begin to equal the number that die from consumption alone.
Sanitoriums in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are as follows : North Reading, Lakeville, Westfield and Rutland. These are now running at their full capacity. The price of board in these institutions is $4 a week. According to the law, this is to be paid by the patient or friends. If the patient is not able to pay, the city or town in which he has a legal settlement, will be held responsible for the patient's board, if he has no settlement in city or town, the state assumes the charge.
These cases are divided into three stages. incipient, moder- ately advanced, and far advanced.
As a general rule the Rutland State Sanatorium is reserved for those patients who are citizens of the United States and who are in the incipient or favorable moderately advanced stages of the disease. This disease is doing its work silently but surely in our midst, it spares no one, neither the child, the youth or the adult.
To prevent or cure the disease, follow strictly all rules of health, live so as to keep healthy, have plenty of fresh air all the time, practice all out-door exercise, have good nutritious food, and refrain from spitting in public places.
Spitting on sidewalks, floors and platforms prohibited Acts 1906, 165.
Nowhere in the country is the organization and study and limitation of infantile paralysis better organized than here in Massachusetts.
230
REPORT OFBOARD OF HEALTH.
Infantile paralysis is considered by Doctor Lovett of Harvard Medical School not to be a new disease. He states that it was known as early as 1774 and was accurately described in 1846. It generally appears in the summer months and disappears in December. While the disease is known to be communicated by germ, the germ itself cannot be detected as it is too small to be seen by any microscope.
We would advise parents to protect their children by keeping them away from other children who are afflicted with indefinite ailments and by not allowing them to go to gatherings where disease germs might be communicated.
LAWS CONCERNING NOTIFICATION OF OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Under any circumstances cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum must be reported immediately in accordance with Sections 49 and 50 of Chapter 75 of the Revised Laws, which provide :
[REVISED LAWS, CHAPTER 75.]
SECTION 49. A householder who knows that a person in his family or house is sick of smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other infectious or contagious disease declared by the state board of health to be dangerous to the public health shall forth- with give notice thereof to the board of health of the city or town in which he dwells. Upon the death, recovery or removal of such person, the householder shall disinfect to the satisfaction of the board, such rooms of his house and articles therein as, in the opinion of the board, have been exposed to infection or contagion. Should one or both eyes of an infant become inflamed, swollen and red, and show an unnatuaal discharge at any time within two weeks after its birth, it shall be the duty of the nurse, relative or other attendant having charge of such infant to report in writing within six hours thereafter, to the board of health of a city or town in which the parents or the infant reside, the fact that such inflammation, swelling and red- ness of the eyes and unnatural discharge exist. On receipt of such report, or of notice of the same symptoms given by a
231
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
physician as provided by the following section, the board of health shall take such immediate action as it may deem necessary in order that blindness may be prevented. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
SECTION 50. If a physician knows that a person whom he is called to visit is infected with smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, or any other disease declared by the state board of health to be dangerous to the public health, or if one or both eyes of an infant whom or whose mother he is called to visit become inflamed, swollen and red, and show an unnatural discharge within two weeks after the birth of such infant, he shall immediately give notice thereof in writing over his own signature to the selectmen or board of health of the town; and if he refuses or neglects to give such notice, he shall forfeit not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars for each offence.
Quite recently a physician in Boston was fined $50 who failed to report a case at the proper time. The prosecution was made by the Board of Health, which is convinced that many cases of ill health and blindness in later life may be avoided by treatment of the infant.
GEORGE W. GALE, M. D., Chairman. WILLIAM F. BELCHER, Secretary. TOM D. EMMETT, Health Officer.
ssessors' Report.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1910.
Table of Aggregates of Polls and Taxes Assessed April 1, 1910.
Number of polls assessed 2,053
Number of persons paying property tax 2,449
Number of persons paying poll tax only .
1,349
Number of persons liable to do military duty 1,306
Population as taken by the Assessors . .
.
7,894
Schedule of Property Assessed.
Number of dwelling-houses 1,700
Number of acres of land .
.
6,435
Number of horses
254
Number of cows
609
Number of swine
I3I
Number of fowls
5,319
Number of dogs to be registered (female
74,
male 372)
446
Total Amount of Property Assessed.
Resident real estate $3,755,323
Non-resident real estate
1, 383,300
Resident personal estate .
300,035
Non-resident personal estate
160,086
$5,598,744
Value of Real and Personal Estate.
Buildings, exclusive of land $2,853,245
Land, exclusive of buildings . 2,285,378 .
Personal property .
.
460, 12I
$5,598,744
233
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
Exemptions.
Resident
Non-resident .
$87,628 600
$88,228
Abatements.
For the year 1900
$4 90
For the year 1901
25 00
· For the year 1902
79 90
For the year 1903
133 25
For the year 1904
383 64
For the year 1905
119 23
For the year 1006
368 37
For the year 1907
201 55
For the year 1908
381 07
For the year 1909
1,007 22
For the year 1910
747 83
$3,451 96
Basis of Taxation.
Appropriations December, 1909 $3,100 00
Appropriations March, 1910
117,560 25
State Tax 8,360 00
State Highway Tax 89 50
Metropolitan Park Tax
2,289 20
County Tax
8,095 04
Gypsy Moth Tax (Individuals)
1,853 60
Overlay .
3,000 00
- $144,347 59
Less town income, estmated . $16,642 41
Less omitted assessment December 16, 1909 509 44
17,151 85
Net amount raised by taxation
.
$127,195 74
234
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
Apportioned as follows :
On real estate
. $111,126 10
On personal 10,110 04
On polls
4,106 00 ·
On Gypsy Moth (Individuals) 1,853 60
$127,195 74
Tax for State, County and Town
purposes committed to Henry A.
Parker, Collector, August Ist . $127,195 74
December 20th, omitted assess-
ment .
535 57
Total commitment
$127,731 31
Street Railway, Excise Tax 3,129 54
Tax Rate per $1,000
22 00
·
The Board of Assessors have reason this year to express much gratification at the results of the year's labor.
Out of a total appropriation of $1,500, which was made at the last Town Meeting including searching of records, they have been able to save to the Town and return to your Treasury $284.
That the work of the Board of Assessors is rapidly increasing and that it is to-day almost double what it was five years ago, must be apparent to the casual observer when he reads of the transfers of acres of land, that are being cut up into small lots of 3,000 feet and 5,000 feet respectively. The Board have given much time and thought to the equalization of tax values, but despite their efforts, matters for adjustment are constantly crop- ping up.
In view of the many calls, the Board would recommend that an appropriation be made at the next Town Meeting for a valuation book. This would be of much value to the Board in discovering existing errors, and of equal value to the citizens for the purpose of comparing values with adjoining estates.
In the economical work of the Board much credit and praise is due to your Clerk. She has been the true " Watch Dog" to your treasury, and by her battering and figuring much cash has
235
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
been saved to the Town. Aside from that, the Board at this time wish to express their thanks to her for much of the outside work and overtime work which she has done. At this time the Board also wish to thank the citizens at large for their patience, support and willingness they have shown in abiding by the Board's best judgment at all times after they have been shown that the Board has been solicitous and desires to assess equitably and conscientiously. The Board realizes that the work of the next year's Board will be much increased, but they are assured from past experience that whoever the Board may be composed of, they will have the cooperation of the citizens as in the past.
ERNEST L. NOERA, LEWIS J. AUSTIN, HORACE H. ATHERTON,
Assessors of the Town of Saugus.
Report of Cemetery Commissioners.
SAUGUS, December 31, 1910.
The undersigned respectfully submit the following as a report of the Cemetery Commissioners of the Town of Saugus for the year ending December 31, 1910. The within report of the Superintendent of the Cemetery is hereby made a part of our report. We think if we could have $2,500 to use in the ceme- tery this coming year we could make some very much needed repairs in the walls. As you will see by the Superintendent's report we have made a start by setting out 75 new trees in the cemetery and if they all live we feel that in a few years the appearance of our Town Cemetery will be very much improved.
H. H. ATHERTON, J. S. MEACOM, WILLIAM E. LUDDEN, Cemetery Commissioners.
237
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS.
Report of Superintendent of Cemetery for 1910.
Received for grading
$330 44
Interment fees
448 80
Mowing
.
895 50
Foundations .
113 30
Lots sold
314 65
Single graves
81 00
Miscellaneous
94 03
$2,277 72
Paid Town Treasurer.
March 2
$134 50
April 4
186 80
April 15
180 50
April 27
138 68
May 5
146 64
May 17
175 61
May 24
96 00
June I
92 25
June 20
70 80
July 15
37 25
August 6
69 90
September 24
127 44
October 5 .
103 00
October 20
130 00
November 7
122 25
November 25
151 10
December 21
125 00
December 31
190 00
$2,277 72
Seventy-five trees have been set out.
One hundred and one interments.
Amount due December 31, 1910, $384.25 .
The present value of tools and working utensils is $270.
CHARLES L. DAVIS, Superintendent.
Trustees of the Public Library.
To Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Trustees of the Saugus Free Public Library beg leave to submit the following report.
We feel that we have accomplished a good deal with the money appropriated to our department. As the sum of $100 was appropriated in addition to the regular amount for moving and as this amount was not enough to cover the expense of same, we were obliged to use quite a part of our regular appropria- tion in order to get things in good condition. On that account we have not been able to add as many new books as usual, 200 new volumes being added to the list.
Your Trustees have held many meetings and carefully con- sidered each step and feel that as far as we could we have laid the foundation of a good Library room for years to come.
One feature that appeals to all is the amount of room, we have a stock room, separated from rest of room by rail, a reading room for adults and another for children, both of these having shelves containing many books around the sides.
There have been some delays over which your Trustees had no control, one of them was on account of the heating arrange- ment, the pump in the Roby school had to be sent away and repaired.
On the whole we feel well satisfied with work accomplished, but we feel that in order to put the Library on a basis where the whole Town will reap the benefit we must have a larger appropri- ation. One of the problems we are trying to solve is a way to get books to East Saugus and Cliftondale in some convenient way.
239
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
Your Trustees beg leave to note the receipt of and return thanks for following books and magazines.
Uncle Renus magazine from the publisher, " Dumb Animals." " Conference of the Governors of the United States."
Prohibition, its relation to good government.
Report of Carnegie Hero Fund.
A Pathfinder, Discovery, Invention and Industry.
Everybody's and Current Literature, from Mrs. Edward Pranker Parsons.
Back number of magazines from Mrs. F. C. Cheever, Mrs. J. H. Hughes, Mrs. Kate Foster, Miss E. E. Newhall, Youths' Companion from Vincent Frazier and others.
Sincerely,
L. G. HAWKES, Chairman. ERNEST J. EDMANDS, ERNEST GAYLOR, CLARA CALLEY, GEORGE LEAROYD, DR. E. W. HOMAN, Secretary
240
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
Saugus Free Public Library. Report of Librarian, January 1, 1911.
Number of volumes in library Jan. I,
1910 ·
9,609
Number of volumes added during year . 201
Number of volumes destroyed, contagious diseases · ·
4
Number of volumes worn out · ·
88
Number of volumes in library Jan. I,
1911 9,718
Number of volumes loaned during year . 19,129
Per cent of fiction 90
Respectfully submitted,
EMMA E. NEWHALL, Librarian.
Receipts from fines, 1910 $8 20
EXPENDITURE OF FINE MONEY.
Stationery
$1 20
Expressing
I 80
Screening
I 8c
Postage stamps
60
Postal cards .
40
Typewriter ribbon
75
Pitcher .
25
Boy for service
20
Cheese cloth .
25
Tacks and hammer
20
Telephone message
IO
Paste
.
65
Total
$8 20
REPORT OF Inspector of Plumbing.
Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN, - In accordance with the requirement of Chap- ter 103, of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts, of the supervision of plumbing, I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1910.
The number of inspections made during the year, together with the number of inspections, will be found on the table here- with annexed :
Total number of inspections
252
Permits issued
I26
Permits refused
4
Cesspools inspected ·
I29
Complaints of violation of plumbing ordinance
I
Violation of plumbing ordinance .
I
Violation of plumbing ordinance investigated.
I
Miscellaneous calls .
3
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS C. SUTHERST,
Plumbing Inspector.
16
REPORT OF Inspector of Buildings
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN, - I herewith submit my annual report to date :
Total number of permits issued ·
142
Total number of complaints investigated,
.
I4
Total estimated value of buildings com- pleted $170,178 00
Total estimated value of buildings not completed · 90,000 00
$260,178 00
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL B. WILLIS,
Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT OF Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Platform scales capacity over 5,000 lbs. . Platform scales capacity under 5,000 lbs. Computing scales .
Con-
Tested Sealed. densed.
6
6
All other scales
.
119
105
14
Weights
· 383
382
I
Dry measures
. 160
151
9
Linear . ·
7
7
920
884
36
Receipts for Sealing Weights and Measures .
. $44 56
Paid over to Town Treasurer
. $44 56
.
28
28
·
IO
9
I
Liquid .
. 207
196
II
·
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES F. PRATT, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Report of Cattle and Milk Inspector.
I have inspected the following number of slaughtered animals :
Beef .
9
Calves
68
Hogs .
75
Total
.
152
All were healthy. In making the annual inspection I inspected the following :
Cattle
825
Hogs
28I
Goats
.
8
Total
1,114
All appeared healthy upon physical examination. I have delivered 22 milk licenses.
Respectfully,
A. W. SAWYER.
Janitor's Report
FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1910.
Dr.
Received for rent of Town Hall $265 00
Received for Police service at Town Hall, 92 00
$357 00
Cr.
Paid Treasurer ·
$265 00
Paid for Police service
92 00
$357 00
J. E. MANSFIELD, Janitor.
Hay Scales.
Received from hay scales, 1910
$4 80
Paid Treasurer
4 80
J. E. MANSFIELD, Public Weigher.
DECEMBER 31, 1910.
Trust Funds for Cemetery Lots.
Report of the condition of the trust funds in the hands of the Treasurer, the income of which is devoted to the perpetual care of the following lots in Riverside Cemetery :
Mary A. Perley lot 226.
Dr. Balance
$307 43
Interest . .
.
12 40
$319 83
Cr. Care of lot
$5 00
Balance
.
314 83
$319 83
Henry Hone lot.
Dr. Balance
$272 78
Interest
II 00
$283 78
Cr. Care of lot .
$4 00
Balanee
.
279 78
$283 78
Edward Ward lot.
Dr. Balance
$57 74
Interest
2 30
$60 04
Cr. Care of lot
$1 00
Balance
59 04
$60 04
.
247
TRUST FUNDS CEMETERY LOTS.
Ira Draper lot.
Dr. Balance
$116 55
Interest
4 68
$121 23
Cr. £ Care of lot
$2 50
Balance
118 73
$121 23
Twiss-Jones and half of Snow tomb.
Dr. Balance
$174 73
Interest
7 04
$181 77
Cr. Care of lot
$5 00
Balance
176 77
$181 77
Butterfield-Avery lot.
Dr. Balance
$112 61
Interest
4 54
$117 15
Cr. Care of lot
$4 50
Balance
112 65
$117 15
L. B. George lot 142.
Dr. Balance
$238 57
Interest
9 62
$248 19
Cr. Care of lot
$5 00
Balance
243 19
$248 19
Charles L. Smith lot.
Dr. Balance
$117 16
Interest
4 72
$121 88
Cr. Care of lot
$3 00
Balance
118 88
$121 88
248
TRUST FUNDS CEMETERY LOTS.
George G. Spurr lot.
Dr. Balance
$89 18
Interest
3 59
Cr. Care of lot
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