USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1916 > Part 13
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The moth taxes for this year amount to $1,687, which is $187 less than last year. The Tedesco Club had their own men clean their trees, which work would have netted the town over $100 had the department done it. At the Whitney estate on Forest avenue we only did three days' work, as Mr. Whitney wished to have his men do it.
Many of the trees were very badly defoliated and this department has been requested to take care of the trees next year. Appreciation has been expressed of the good work done by us in the past five years.
At the beginning of the year the town work was behind, as the street trees were not all cleaned and the ground work on private property only about half finished.
At this time the work is done up to date compared with years past.
Added to the equipment the past year we have a new locker 15 feet by 35 feet, a small power sprayer and 500 feet of inch hose.
For the ensuing year, I recommend at least $5,000. In explanation I would say that each year the labor cost advances about proportionately to the suppression of the moths. The increase in pay of 50 cents per man a day equals $3 a day for six men. Last year the men averaged about 168 days, which indicates $504 added cost of labor for the ensuing year.
I also recommend that the salary for Moth Superintendent, Forest Warden and Tree Warden be $21 per week, instead of $3.25 per day for Moth Superintendent, $75 a year for Tree Warden, and nothing for Forest Warden.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE,
Superintendent of Moth Work.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
123
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT.
1916]
Report of Tree Warden.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
I herewith submit my seventh annual report :
While the number of trees set out the past year has been less than the year before, the quality is superior. On Humphrey street 27 Norway maples were planted in the parking. To fill vacancies 41 trees were set out on various streets, making a total of 68. Each was provided with a new galvanized wire guard. All old guards have been adjusted or replaced, and about 1,600 square feet of wire was used. Twelve willows on Puritan road have been headed in, also a large elm on Clark road. Dead and dying limbs, also branches hanging in the way of travel, have been removed, and all wounds were properly treated. It was necessary to remove 43 trees that have been destroyed by various causes.
The elm beetle was taken care of at the same time as the gypsy moth, one and the same spraying being sufficient for both insects. The leopard moth received the usual attention and the results are fair.
For the ensuing year, I recommend :
Tree maintenance (4 men, 8 weeks at $18.00) . $576 00
New trees to fill vacancies and for newly accepted streets . 500 00
Removing trees . 100 00 .
Wire (Price has advanced 100%) .
100 00
Special work, trimming and repairing and removing trees at cemetery (2 men, 8 weeks) .
$288 00
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE,
Tree Warden.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
124
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Forest Warden.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-The number of fires in the woods has been even less than last year. Weather conditions have not been generally favorable to fires at times when they are most liable to occur. In the early spring, also in the fall during the gunning season, there was more than a normal amount of rainy weather.
As in previous years cloth notices warning persons against setting fires have been posted all through the woods, also in conspicuous places about the town.
The State Forester has received on blanks furnished by him reports of the thirteen fires that occurred during the year. The state also furnishes blank permits which are issued by the Forest Warden to people wishing to build fires to burn rubbish, and 132 such permits have been given out.
For the ensuing year, I recommend.
Posting notices
$6 00
Teams and Labor
250 00
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE, Forest Warden.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
125
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1916]
Report of Board of Health.
Organization.
Loring Grimes, M. D., Chairman.
George C. Webster.
John B. Cahoon.
Clarence W. Horton, Health Officer.
Clarence W. Horton, Inspector of Milk.
Martin E. Nies, Inspector of Plumbing.
Edward C. Phillips, Assistant Inspector of Plumbing.
Frank B. Stratton, M. D. V., Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering.
George T. Till, Special Clerk.
Charles Melvin, Special Agent.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The Board of Health herewith submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1916 :
The past year has been the first whole year that the board has had the benefit of a special agent or health officer. There is no doubt that the work which the board is now able to do is much more valuable to the citizens. The report of the health officer in detail will show the work which has been done. We agree with him that he should be better paid.
There are many ways in which the workings of the board can be improved, as is brought out in his report. The employment of a nurse, under the direct control and charge of the board, who could give much of her time assisting the school physicians in their work, would go a great way toward reducing the number of contagious diseases which are now found in our schools.
The question of a public dump is a very important matter, and the time is not far off when this will be a public necessity.
The extension of the sewerage system in the Mountain Park district is a public necessity. At the present time there is hardly a yard in that sec- tion that contains a privy-vault or cesspool that will properly care for the household or other wastes. Conditions there are, from a sanitary stand- point, deplorable and immediate relief should be given them.
The care of the brooks and drains throughout the town is a matter upon which some definite action should be taken. Each year the board receives many complaints relative to their condition. As the town depends upon these brooks and drains for the disposal of surface water and sewage, the board feels that the care of them should be, and is, a matter for the town to consider.
The analysis of ice cream and the supervision of its manufacture and sale is another important step which has been attempted this year, and we hope to do much more another year.
I26
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
New Regulations.
The following regulations have been adopted by the board, and we ask your cooperation in carrying out the same :
Ice Cream Regulations.
1. No person shall engage in the manufacture, sale or distribution of ice cream in the Town of Swampscott except in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Health of said town and in accordance with the public statutes contained in Revised Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 56, and in the Acts and Amendments thereof.
2. SECTION I. Substances manufactured and sold under the general name of " ice cream " shall contain not less than 7 per cent of milk fat, and, if flavored with fruit, shall be flavored only with sound, clean, matured fruit, and, if containing nuts shall contain only sound, matured, non-rancid nuts.
SECT. 2. Violation of the provisions of this regulation shall be punishable, at the discretion of the court, by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.
SECT. 3. Inspectors of milk shall have the same authority in regard to any suspected violation of this regulation and relative to the enforcement thereof which they have under Section 42, of Chapter 56, of the Revised Laws.
3. No person, by himself, or as the agent or servant of any other person, firm or corporation, shall manufacture, have in his custody or possession with intent to sell or offer for sale in the town of Swamp- scott any ice cream or preparation similar thereto, until the place of manufacture of the same, the utensils and receptacles used, and the wagon or other means of carrying the same shall have been examined by an inspector of the Board of Health. Such inspector when satisfied as to the cleanliness of all articles used shall provide such person with a certificate to that effect, and no person shall manufacture or sell such ice cream or similar preparation until such certificate has been issued.
4. Inspectors shall examine all articles used in the business as often as they may deem necessary, and whenever an inspector shall certify that the proper cleanliness is not, observed, either in the place of manufacture, in the implements, materials or manner of making the cream, etc., or in the manner of carrying or selling the same, no further sales of such ice cream shall be allowed until the objectionable features are removed and the inspector so certifies.
5. Ice cream kept for sale in any shop, restuarant or other establish- ment, shall be stored in a covered box or refrigerator. Such box or refrigerator shall be properly drained and cared for, and shall be kept tightly closed, except during such intervals as are necessary for the introduction or removal of ice cream or ice, and they shall be kept only in such locations, and under such conditions as shall be approved by the Board of Health.
6. Every person engaged in the manufacture, storage, transporta- tion, sale or distribution of ice cream immediately on the occurrence of any case or cases of contagious, infectious or any other disease, either in himself or in his family, or amongst his employees or their families, or within the building or premises where ice cream is manufactured, stored, sold or distributed, shall notify the Board of Health, and at the same time shall suspend the sale and distribution of ice cream until authorized to resume the same by the Board of Health. No vessels which have been handled by persons suffering from such diseases shall be used to hold or convey ice cream until they have been thor- oughly sterilized.
7. No person, by himself or his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of any other person, firm or corporation shall sell, exchange or deliver any ice cream which contains more than 500,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter.
127
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1916]
8. No old or melted ice cream or cream returned to a manufacturer from whatever cause, shall again be used in the preparation of ice cream.
9. The Board of Health may revoke the permit of any person or persons engaged in the manufacture, delivery or sale of ice cream in any form for any violation of the forgoing rules and regulations.
Milk Regulations.
23. No license will be issued for the sale of milk in any store, shop, restaurant, market, bakery or any other establishment outside of a properly equipped milk plant, except in properly labeled and stop- pered bottles. A special permit must be obtained for the sale of milk from bulk containers to be drank on the premises.
24. All persons engaged in the sale, delivery or distribution of milk in the town of Swampscott shall furnish the Board of Health upon blanks provided for the purpose a list of the names and the loca. tion of the dairy farms from which the milk so distributed is obtained, and before making any changes in their supply notify the Board of Health of such intended changes. Any person neglecting to comply with this regulation, or who dispenses milk from any dairy whose milk has been excluded from the town of Swampscott by the Board of Health shall have his license revoked.
25. All cans, bottles or other vessels of any sort, used in the sale, delivery or distribution of milk in the town of Swampscott, must be cleaned or sterilized hefore they are again used for the same purpose; and it shall be deemed sufficient reason for the forfeiture of license for any milk dealer to fail so to do.
Sanitary Regulations.
56. In order that the sale of ice cream, sodas, and soda fountain sundries may be conducted under sanitary conditions, the operators of ice cream parlors and soda fountains are hereby instructed that all such goods shall be dispensed only in sterile containers. To this end it is ordered that, on and after May I, 1917, all soda fountains, ice cream parlors and any other places dispensing soft drinks, shall use individual drinking cups. The use of common drinking glasses, on and after the above date, is hereby prohibited.
Recommendations.
We recommend that the sewer be extended in Mountain Park.
We recommend that the care of the brooks and drains be placed under the supervision of Sewer Department, and that money be appropriated for the same.
We also recommend the following appropriations for the year 1917 :
Health and Sanitation $4,500 00
Refuse and Garbage 4,200 00
Respectfully submitted, LORING GRIMES, M. D., Chairman, GEORGE C. WEBSTER, JOHN B. CAHOON.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
128
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
The Budget for 1917. OFFICE OF BOARD OF HEALTH, SWAMPSCOTT, MASS.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-The Board of Health herewith submits the following as its budget for the year 1917 :
Health and Sanitation.
Unpaid 1916
Expended 1916
Estimated
1917
Increase
Decrease
ADMINISTRATION.
Chairman
$200 00
$200 00
Associates .
300 00
300 00
Agent and Clerk .
576 00
936 00
$360 00
Plumbing and In- spector
624 00
624 00
Printing and Ad-
vertising
106 95
150 00
43 05
Telephone
83 95
85 00
I 05
Equipment
and
others ·
82 60
85 00
2 40
Stationery
and
Postage
25 10
25 00
$ IO
QUARANTINE.
Board and Treat-
ment
·
$154 29
263 58
400 00
136 42
Bacteriological services
325 00
250 00
75 00
Medical Attend-
ance .
50 00
50 00
Transportation
36 30
35 00
I 30
TUBERCULOSIS.
Board and Treat-
ment
69 14
84 00
280 00
196 00
VITAL STATISTICS. Births and Deaths,
148 10
200 00
51 90
INSPECTION.
Inspector of
Animals and
Slaughtering ·
100 00
200 00
200 00
ALL OTHERS.
Oil and Labor
185 00
200 00
15 00
New Hose .
32 83
35 00
2 17
Disinfectants
,
159 13
175 00
15 87
Dairy Inspection,
35 00
75 00
40 00
Cleaning and stor- ing Ambulance,
18 00
36 00
36 00
Marriages ·
·
17 60
25 00
7 40
Cleaning Cess-
pools .
13 00
15 00
2 00
Miscellaneous Ex- penses
275 00
125 00
150 00
$341 43 $3,573 14 $4,506 00 $1,159 26
$226 40
·
.
.
JANUARY 15, 1917.
129
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1916]
Refuse and Garbage.
Unpaid
Expended 1916
Estimated 1917
1917
SWILL AND ASHES.
Ashes .
$129 50 $2,520 II $2.779 50
$259 39
Swill
910 00
840 00
70 00
Extra Teaming
29 00
35 00
6 00
NIGHT SOIL.
Contract
90 00
90 00
CLEANING BEACHES.
Care of Markets
and Beach
282 24
250 00
32 24
Cleaning Beaches
(labor)
115 00
175 00
60 00
Teaming
24 70
24 70
Miscellaneous Ex-
penses
28 95
30 00
05
$129 50 $4,000 00 $4,199 50
$326 44
$126 94
The following amounts have been recommended as estimated :
Health and Sanitation
· $4,500 00
Refuse and Garbage
4,200 00 ·
Per order of the Board,
C. W. HORTON,
Health Officer.
Increase
Decrease
1916
130
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Health Officer.
To the Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit the following report for year ending December 31, 1916 :
The work of inspection has been much the same as last year. All reason- able complaints have been investigated and where actual nuisances and other unhealthful conditions were found to exist they have been satisfac- torily abated or corrected in nearly every instance. The following is a list of the complaints received :
Buildings altered in violation of the tenement house
act
2
Crowing roosters and filthy hen yards
4
Defective plumbing
.
4
Offensive catch-basins
5
Dirty and wet cellars
6
Food-stuffs not properly covered
6
Keeping swine without permits
8
Dumping without permits
9
Sick and stray animals
II
Stagnant water
I3
Crowded and dirty tenements
I5
Loose paper on dumps
19
Brooks and drains
22
Leaky and overflowing cesspools
23
Insanitary buildings
25
Dead animals
45
Ashes and paper
57
Garbage
192
Miscellaneous
314
Licenses and permits have been granted as follows :
To collect grease and tallow
2
To collect garbage .
2
To undertakers
2
To maintain dumps
2
To keep cows
2
To keep horses
3
To keep swine
17
To construct drains and cesspools
26
The beauty of every city and town depends greatly upon the neatness and cleanliness of its streets, and if the public would refrain from throw- ing paper and rubbish into the streets, and thus cooperate with the Street
8
Fires on dumps
I3I
BOARD OF HEALTHI REPORT.
1916]
Department, it would go a great way towards making our town "a spot- less town." In this connection I would recommend that more recep- tacles be placed on the public streets and parks, and if the patrolmen be instructed to call the attention of those whom they find tearing and throw- ing paper into the streets, that they must not do this, it would create a public spirit of neatness in this direction. I would also recommend that the children be taught the value of neatness in this respect, both at home, at school and on the streets.
The need of a public dump for the disposal of ashes and other waste material is rapidly becoming a public necessity. At the present time, all refuse, with the exception of garbage, is being deposited in various parts of the town. This method of disposal is far from satisfactory, especially to those living in the vicinity of these dumping places.
It is self-evident that many things are carried to these dumps which are of a filthy nature and quite often in a great measure infectious. Such material, on a dry and windy day, is scattered all over the streets and private premises and is a danger to the health of not only the citizen who keeps his own premises clean but to those who do not, and it is the hope of your health officer that the town can see its way clear to provide a proper place for the disposal of this waste material.
While upon this subject I wish to urge the importance of better recep- tacles than those now used by a large portion of house-holders.
Communicable Diseases.
No matter how many physicians there may be in a town, there must be some one or some, department vested with legal authority to act in matters pertaining to the health of its citizens. It is the duty of the physician to diagnose diseases, and if they are of a communicable nature, the law imposes upon him the duty of reporting such in writing to the health authorities, who, by virtue of their office, make regulations governing the isolation of such persons, who, if allowed to roam at will, would become a menace to the health of the public. How often we hear a man or woman disputing the diagnosis of a reputable physician and the authority of the health department, particularly if it be a contagious disease. The placard- ing of a house for a contagious disease greatly disturbs some people who believe they are immune from any such infection, and who oftentimes resent the action of the health department in restricting their freedom. The health department does not placard a house for fun. It is done to protect others, and it is your duty, as a citizen, to help rather than retard the health officer.
Every good citizen awake to his best interests should take a keen inter- est in the health conditions of his town, for upon it depends the welfare of himself, of his family and of his fellow citizens. Each case of a com- municable disease in town threatens the welfare of every citizen. There- fore a great deal depends upon the early diagnosis and the prompt report- ing of such cases. If this is done and the physician and the public cooperate with the health department any form of communicable disease can be kept at a low point, Efforts put forth at the beginning of a disease are far more effective than when it has gained a headway.
Public health cannot be protected if cases are concealed, or if the laws for the control of communicable diseases are disregarded, and any
132
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
physician or citizen guilty of such an offence is an enemy to the com- munity in which he lives.
Following is a list of the diseases reported during the year, as com- pared with those of 1915 :
1915
9161
Measles
128
IIO
Chicken pox
40
17
Diphtheria
26
14
Scarlet fever
.
12
29
Ring worm .
I2
O
Inflamed eyes
5
IO
Typhoid fever
4
3
Ophthalmia neonatorum
3
O
Tuberculosis
2
I
Whooping-cough
2
15
Erysipelas
I
O
Malaria
I
O
Varicella
O
I
Infantile paralysis
O
5
Mumps
O
3
Totals
236
208
In connection with the above diseases 2,048 school and travelers' identi- fication certificates have been issued. Three hundred and seventy-eight visits made to homes containing contagious diseases. Three hundred and twenty-two warning signs or placards posted. Two hundred and forty-seven rooms fumigated. Ninety-seven school and library books fumigated. Twenty-two trunks, containing wearing apparel and samples, belonging to exhibitors and others coming from the infected districts of New York, seized and fumigated.
Recommendations.
I. I would most respectfully recommend the extension of the sewer- age system in the Mountain Park district.
2. That the care of the brooks and drains be placed in charge of some department that has the facilities for doing such work.
3. The employment of a public health nurse to fill those spaces, in the preventative work of this department, which it is now necessary to leave undone.
4. That the compensation of the health officer be brought to the same level as those whose duties are no more responsible, for the welfare of the town, than his.
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the valuable assistance given me by your honorable board the past year in the discharge of my duties as Health Officer and Milk Inspector of the department.
Respectfully submitted,
C. W. HORTON,
Health Officer.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
I33
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1916]
Report of Milk Inspector.
To the Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit the following report as Milk Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1916 :
Milk is by far one of the most important articles of food with which the health officials have to deal. It is also one of the most valuable, cheapest and most extensively used foods, especially for infants and young children, and is specially subject to contamination and deterioration. Much has been done during the past year to have the milk in the best possible condition when it reaches the consumer. This is especially true of its quality and also to prevent its adulteration and the use of preserva- tives. But the greater and most important part of the work remains to to be done; that is, dairy inspection. Owing to conditions that have gradually entered into the milk business, namely, the higher price of cattle, grain and practically everything required in the production of milk, the farmer has come to a standstill with the plea that he cannot carry on the business successfully from a financial standpoint.
The price of milk is a question to be settled between the producer and consumer, and as health officer we have no part, except as citizens, in this particular feature of it. However, we must bend our efforts to pro- tect the public health. In doing this we must insist that whatever situa- tion arises in the dairy business the consumer must have clean conditions in the barn, in the milk-room and in the utensils. The cattle must be healthy, well-fed, housed and clean at all times. We are aware that unless milk is taken from clean cows, into clean and sterilized pails, by clean milkers, there is likely to be a large growth of harmful bacteria. We know, further, that if conditions at the outset are such that this bacterial condition of the milk is brought about, no amount of care, except possibly pasteurization or sterilization, can remedy it afterward.
There is another factor entering into our milk supply which should and does cause considerable tbought and anxiety. The territory from which our milk is produced and shipped is gradually extending further away. A few years ago the milk we used was produced within twelve miles of this town, now we are receiving milk which comes 150 miles on railroad trains. What little knowledge we possess of the farms on which this milk is produced leads me to believe that they lack many of the essential features which are necessary for the production of sanitary milk.
Chapter 744, of the Acts of 1914, as amended by Chapter 228, Acts of 1916, makes it unlawful for any producer of milk or dealer in milk to sell or deliver for sale in any city or town in the Commonwealth any milk produced or dealt in by him without first obtaining from the Board of Health of such city or town a permit authorizing such sale or delivery. Said Boards of Health to issue such permits, after an inspection, satisfac-
10
I34
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
tory to them, of the place in and of the circumstances under which such milk is produced and handled, has been made by them or their authorized agent. This law further states that it shall be the duty of the inspectors of milk appointed by the Boards of Health of cities and towns to enforce the provisions of this act.
Owing to the lack of funds your inspector has been unable to do but little inspection work this year. During the past year I have made but twenty-two dairy inspections, although a list of several hundred, from which we are now receiving our supply, has been furnished by the dealers supplying the town. As a result of those inspections made I am con- vinced that if clean milk is to be expected, strict supervision must be kept of the dairies. Other cities and towns are sending inspectors into these districts and, of course, are rejecting those dairies which do not produce milk under sanitary conditions, and it is only fair to assume that those cities and towns that do not protect themselves by this or some other method will receive milk from the dairies that are rejected by those maintaining supervision of them.
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