USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1911 > Part 10
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Complaints made to this Board must be made in writing, and signed by the person or persons making it. No annonymous complaints will be noticed.
We would still call the attention of all owners of real estate to the necessity of having their vaults and cesspools kept in a sanitary condition and cleaned out once a year at least as requird by law. Many vaults and cesspools are used until they run out upon the ground, thereby creating a nuisance for themselves and their neighbors. We would also urge the necessity of using an iron cover to all cesspools, the same being once done is done forever, while a wooden top has to be renewed every six or seven years, besides the liability of a horse or wagon breaking through it. We would also urge upon the citizens a more thorough collection of ashes and swill, it being no more work to them to put it in a proper receptacle and have it taken away than to throw it out in the yard to rot and breed mosquitoes and flies, and to say nothing of the improved condition of their premises. We find that once a household has the same removed they do not wish to go back to the old way.
The whole number of contagious diseases reported to the Board are as follows :
Diseases.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Scarlet Fever
O
0
O
O
2
O
O
0
0
O
O
O
2
Diphtheria
0
0
3
I
I
0
0
O
O
I
I
I
S
Tuberculosis
2
I
3
2
2
I
0
0
0
2
0
O
13
Measles
I
2
2
4
25
6
I
O
0
O
I
O
42
Typhoid Fever
0
O
O
2
I
O
I
2
I
I
0
0
8
Chicken Pox
3
O
0
I
0
I
2
O
O
O
I
3
II
Whooping Cough . .
I
O
3
9
6
5
O
O
O
2
0
0
26
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
0
O
2
I
O
O
O
I
O
O
O
O
Cerebro Spin. Meningitis
4
O
O
O
0
U
O
O
O
0
O
0
4
Total
II
3
13
20
37
13
4
3
I
6
3
4.
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
118
.
.
187
188
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
The following Undertakers were licensed to conduct the buisness for 1910: H. Dwight Bisbee, Cliftondale ; Benjamin F. Fullerton, Saugus ; Darcy & Quick, Lynn ; James M. Blais- dell, Lynn; William Cullerton, Lynn; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Spear, Everett.
There were six (6) permits granted to clean out cesspools and vaults.
There were three (3) permits to slaughter within the Town limits.
There were six (6) permits issued to citizens to keep four or more horses on their premises.
The number of premises in the Town placarded for contagious diseases was twenty-five (25).
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.
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.
[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
189
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
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 charity. 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 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 treament, - 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 treament, 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 its passage. [Approved May, 7, 1907.]
Every year we are obliged to send patients to the Lynn Con- tagious Hospital for medical treament for the State and for the Town. All of these cases are charged 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
190
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
case of scarlet fever, and not quite so long for diphtheria, before the case is discharged from the hospital. In case 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 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 affected 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
191
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
make one inch. A great many of these are found in the sputum which is coughed up by the patient ; if this was destroyed, con- sumption 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 co-operation 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.
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 sums 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.
Sanatoriums 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, mode- rately advanced, and far advanced.
As a general rule the Rutland State Sanatorium is reserved for
192
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
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.
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
193
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
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 unnatural 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 of the infant reside, the fact that such inflammation, swelling and red- ness of the eyes and unnatural discharge exists. On receipt of such report, or of notice of the same symptoms given by a 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 becomes inflamed, swollen and red, and show an unnatural discharge within two weeks after the birth of such infant, he shall imme- diately 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.
WILLIAM J. BELCHER, Chairman. TOM D. EMMETT, Secretary. GEORGE .W. GALE, M. D., Medical Inspector.
13
REPORT OF Inspector of Plumbing.
Board of Health, Saugus, Mass. :
GENTLEMEN,-In accordance with the requirements of Chap- ter 103, of the Revised Law of Massachusetts of the supervision of plumbing, I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1911.
The number of inspections made during the year, together with other inspections, will be found on the table herewith annexed.
Total number of inspections
465
Permits issued
.
157
Permits refused .
.
7
Cesspools inspected
·
151.
Complaints, violation of ordinance 2
Complaints, violation of ordinance investigated
2
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS C. SUTHERST,
Plumbing Inspector.
ANNUAL REPORT OF Trustees of Public Library
FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1911.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Trustees of the Saugus Free Public Library make the following annual report :
There have been several improvements made in the interests of the Library which add to its influence.
It seemed necessary to have some toilet facilities, and the Trustees, acting in conjunction with the School Board, had toilets placed on both floors of the Library building.
The heat question has given some trouble, and unless we can get better figures from the School Board, it would be wise to install our own heating plant.
The reading rooms have been used a great deal on the evenings when the Library was open, and it is only a question of time when we will have to keep the reading room open more hours during the week.
We enclose the Librarian's report for the year, which shows that 332 new books were added during the year.
The difference in total number of volumes for year ending January 1, 1911, and January 1, 1912, is due to the fact that we have had the books carefully counted.
We would also call attention to the number of volumes loaned, which show an increased interest in the Library by the citizens of the Town.
We have received books and magazines from the following, for which we return thanks.
196
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
" The Century Magazine" and " St. Nicholas" from Mrs. Evelyn Ordway.
"Everybodys " from Mrs. Edward Pranker Parsons.
"Universalist Leader" from Young Peoples Union.
" Youths Companion" from Friends.
Also books and magazines from the following : Mr. Robert P. Porter, Sir Edward Demming-Lawrence, Mr. N. M. Hawkes, Mrs. F. C. Cheever, Mrs. Kate Foster, Mrs. E. P. Grosbeck, Miss Sybil Small and Miss E. E. Newhall.
Respectfully submitted,
L. G. HAWKES, Chairman. E. J. EDMANDS, EARL GAYLOR, CLARA J. CALLEY, GEORGE A. LEAROYD, DR. E. W. HOMAN, Secretary.
197
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
Free Public Library, Report of Librarian.
SAUGUS, January 1, 1912.
Number of volumes in library (exclusive of magazines and encyclopedias) Jan. 1, 19II 9,718,
Number of volumes added during the year. 332
Number of volumes destroyed (conta- gious diseases) . .
7
Number of volumes worn out 99
Number of volumes in library, Jan I, 1912, including magazines, encyclope- dias, etc., according to recount . ·
11,738
Number of volumes loaned during the year
23,626
Respectfully submitted,
EMMA E. NEWHALL,
Librarian.
Receipts from fine money for year ending
December 31, 1911 $21 30
EXPENDITURES OF FINE MONEY FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER
31, 1911.
Express
.
$3 80
Blank books
45
Barrel .
IO
Boys' labor
I 25
Candles
5
Cheese cloth .
50
Gold dust
15
Ink
45
Amount carried forward, $6 75
198
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
Amount brought forward,
$ 6 75
Knife
.
25
Paste
. .
95
Pencils
IO
Pens
25
Postals
70
Paste brushes
30
Matches
5
Liquid veneer
50
Stamps
1 03
Stationery
2 05
Stickers
2 00
Screening
20
Tacks and nails
25
Towels
25
Red ink
15
Book
75
Subscription to Child Lore
50
Subscription to Youth's Companion · I 75
$19 78
APPROPRIATIONS.
Annual Meeting
$1,295 61
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY BILLS FOR 1911.
W. B. Clarke Co., books
$201 74
De Wolfe, Fiske Co., books .
55 41
Charles E Lauriat, books
49 55
Library Bureau
15 13
Pilgrim Press, books
13 66
J. Farquhar, binding books
27 92
Stearns Desk Co. .
46 00
William Paul, carpenter
46 63
Ole Christiansen, carpenter
14 71
Young Folks Educational League
.
.
16 25
Mildred Jenks, book
2 50
Baileys' Express
5 25
.
Amount carried forward, $494 75
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
199
Amount brought forward,
$494 75
Ernest Homan, expenses
3 00
Ernest Homan, washing windows .
3 00
Patrick King, laying drain pipe
23 85
Perry & Searle, postal cards .
3 75
Lincoln Sign Co., printing
2 00
Emma E. Newhall, salary
320 00
Emma E. Newhall, extra services .
7 23
Frances J. Edmands, salary .
73 57
Elizabeth Edmands, salary
58 39
Mrs. Helen Marsland, services
5 00
Lynn Gas & Electric Co.
30 82
School Committee, heating
150 00
Robert T. Allen, plumbing
118 00
Jane Green Brierly, services .
2 25
Total expenditure .
$1,295 61
Report of the Water Commissioners.
SAUGUS, Mass., 1911.
The Board of Water Commissioners respectfully submit the following Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1911. By a special act of legislature in February, 1911, an authorized Board of Water Commissioners was established in the Town of Saugus, Mass. Also the previous election of Water Commis- sioners by the Town was ratified.
"Upon the re-election of Mr. Herbert E. Dodge at the annual election in March, with the two unexpired terms of the previ- ously elected members, Robert T. Allen, to serve for two years, and Charles Florence, for one year, constituted the new Board, which met and was organized on Monday evening, March 20, 1911, with the choice of Mr. Dodge as Chairman and Mr. Allen as Secretary for the year 1911.
The Board at once found itself with new and extended duties and at once voted to purchase without delay, six car loads of pipe and to commence laying pipe to take care of some of the many very urgent demands for water.
During the year we have laid 3,788 feet, of 4-inch, 5,805 feet of 6 inch, and 30 feet of 8-inch pipe, making a total of 9,623 feet of pipe laid at a cost of $9,887.61 or $1.03 per foot, includ- ing seven hydrants set, and all fittings, gates, gate boxes and connections with old cement pipe mains. Some of the latter being very difficult and expensive. Also 330 cubic yards of ledge blasted.
Our contract for water supply with the city of Lynn having expired in the month of June this year, this Board cooperating with the Board of Selectmen have endeavored to execute a new and proper contract with Lynn to continue to supply us with
201
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
water. The Lynn representatives at first wanted a better con- tract for Lynn than the old one, in which they rebated Saugus with 50 per cent of the revenue collected from our citizens for water, and would only consider rebating us 40 per cent for a new contract while we jointly, Selectmen and Water Commis- sioners, held out for 60 per cent rebate to Saugus. This of course made a wide difference between us and the city of Lynn.
Finally after many joint conferences of our own Boards and again with the Lynn City Council, it was compromised and agreed by both parties to a rebate of 50 per cent as per the old contract, but Lynn wanted more money for installing the service pipes from the mains in the streets to the houses or buildings, than they were getting under the old contract, and this was decided we would lay and maintain all services within the Town by our own Board as it was charged to the owners of the prop- erty in either case.
The new contract, although practically completed, to date, has not been signed, but probably will be very soon.
The 50 per cent rebate received from Lynn since March Ist, 19II, is $4,394.93.
In accordance with the by-laws of the Town, and after care- ful consideration, our Chairman appeared before the Finance Committee and recommended a loan of $5,000.00 for the exten- sion of the system for the year 1912.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. DODGE, ROBERT T. ALLEN, CHARLES FLORENCE,
Water Commissioners.
February 5, 1912.
202
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Extensions.
Special appropriation for Broadway from Spring street north- erly.
Appropriation
$1,500 00
1,548 feet 6-in. pipe at 36c. $557 28
30 feet 8-in. pipe at $75.12 · .
225 54
1 8x6 tee 7 66
I 8-in. plug
81
I 6-in Eddy gate
IO 90
I 6-in. tee .
5 67
I 6-in. plug
40
I Eddy hydrant
30 00
I gate box
4 00
1,400 pounds lead at $4.75
66 50
25 pounds powder 23c.
5 75
Exploders .
I 00
Oil wood and coal
5 00
Teaming .
18 00
34 days, 2 hours at $3.00
102 75
306 days, 6 hours at $2.00
613 50
Unexpended balance
$1,451 76 48 24
$1,500 00
203
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
Special appropriation for completion Appleton street.
Appropriation
$1,000 00
845 1-2 feet 6-in. pipe at 36c. $304 40
I 6-in. tee
5 67
I 6-in. plug. 40
I 6-in. Chapman gate
11 18
I gate box
4 00
500 pounds lead at $4.75
23 75
Oil, wood, jute, etc. .
5 00
10 pounds powder and caps
2 50
Teaming .
9 00
14 days, 5 hours at $3.00
43 87
142 days at $2.00
2 84
Unexpended balance
$693 77 306 23
$1,000 00
The unexpended balances showing above remain in the Town Treasury and not the treasury of the Water Board.
General Extensions.
Westlands.
1, 174 feet 6-in. pipe at 38c. $446 12
1,042 feet 4-in. pipe at 25c.
260 50
I Sx6 tee . . 7 66
I 8x4 tee
7 06
2 8-in. sleeves at $2.84
5 68
I 6x4 reducer 3 54
2 4-in. Eddy gates at $6.90 13 80
I 6-in. Eddy gate IO 90
3 gate boxes at $4.00 .
12 00
2 6x4 tees at $5.07
10 14
Amount carried forward.
$777 40
204
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
Amount brought forward, $777 40
I 4-in. tee .
3 33
I 4-in. plug
25
1 6-in. bend
5 34
3 Woods hydrants at $29.00 87 00
2,140 lbs. lead at $4.75
IO1 65
4 bags cement at 6oc.
2 40
Wood
8 00
Coal, oil, etc. . ·
16 00
So lbs. powder at 25c.
20 00
75 exploders at 4c.
3 00
Teaming .
37 50
62 days, 2 hours at $3.00
186 75
611 days 43 hours at $2.00
1,223 13
74 days 6 hours at $2.25 .
168 19
2,639 94
Hood street.
1 72 feet 4-in. pipe at 25c. . $43 00
I 4-in. Eddy gate 6 90
I 4-in. plug
25
1 8x4 tee .
7 06
I 8-in sleeve
2 84
200 lbs. lead at $4.75
9 50
Wood, oil, etc. .
I 50
3 bags cement at 6oc.
I 80
24 lbs. solder at 35c. .
88
I gate box". . ·
4 00
Teaming . ·
II OO
2 days, 2 hours at $3.00
6 75
14 days, 6 hours at $2.00
29 50
124 98
Amount carried forward,
$2,764 92
205.
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
Amount brought forward,
$2,764 92
Appleton street.
628 feet 6-in. pipe at 38c. . $238 64
I 6-in. tee .
5 67
I 6-in. plug
40
I 8x6 tee. .
7 66
I 8-in. sleeve
2 84
I 6-in. Eddy gate IO 90
58o lbs. at $4.75 27 55
2 bags cement at 6oc.
I 20
18 lbs. powder at 25c.
4 50
I gate box
4 00
I Eddy hydrant .
30 00
Wood, oil, etc
5 60
Teaming .
22 90
14 days, 4 hours at $3.00
43 50
177 days, I hour at $2.00
354 25
759 61
Harvard avenue.
546 feet 6-in. pipe at 38c. . $207 48
2 6-in. tees at $5.67
II 34
I 6 x4 in. tee
5 07
2 6-in. plugs at 40c. .
So
2 6-in. sleeves at $2. 11
4 22
I 6-in. Eddy gate
10 90
I gate box .
4 00
I Wood's hydrant
29 00
4 feet 4-in. pipe at 25c.
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