Town annual report of Swampscott 1946, Part 13

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1946
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 232


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I am unable to comprehend the possibility of the discharge of large quantities of contraceptives from the dumping of the City of Boston scows, as indicated in the last paragraph of your letter. Fur- thermore, so far as we can determine, the City of Boston is not dump- ing any refuse or garbage into the sea other than possible spills from the scows on the way to Spectacle Island.


The matter of treatment of sewage from the town of Nahant is to come up at the Council Meeting of this Department on August 6, 1946.


Very truly yours, EDWARD WRIGHT, Sanitary Engineer.


August 7, 1946.


Board of Sewer Commissioners Mr. R. S. Cove, Chairman Nahant, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


The Department of Public Health is in receipt of your communica- tion dated July 23, 1946, in answer to the Department's communication


140


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


of July 3, 1946, regarding the question of sewage disposal for the town of Nahant.


In your letter, you state that assurance has been given that the town will proceed without delay in an exhaustive study of the condi- tions involved.


Additional complaints have been made relative to the pollution by sewage matters on the beaches along the Swampscott shore and, after consideration of the matter, the Department, at the meeting of the Public Health Council held on August 6, 1946, voted that the town of Nahant be advised to proceed as promptly as possible to obtain com- petent consulting engineers to conduct a survey and prepare plans for the construction of adequate works for sewage disposal for the town and that unless such plans are submitted to the Department by January 1, 1947, the Department will be obliged to take action under Chapter 615 of the Acts of 1945.


The Department will confer with your Board or your engineers regarding any plans you may care to submit, upon your request.


Respectfully,


VLADO A. GETTING, M. D., Commissioner.


September 13, 1946.


M. L. Deyo, Rear Admiral, U. S. N. Commandant, First Naval District North Station Office Building Boston 14, Massachusetts


Dear Sir:


Reference is made to your letter of April 30, 1946, relative to the dumping of certain refuse into Boston Harbor and adjacent waters. This matter must again be called to your attention because of re- peated complaints of pollution, particularly of Fisherman's Beach in Swampscott, where refuse of various kinds has recently been washed ashore during a period of southerly winds. Included in this refuse are certain articles containing marks showing that they came from activi- ties of the U. S. Navy. .


The Department recognizes that you have stated in your letter of , April 30, 1946, that steps will be taken to insure more effective segre- gation of the heavy and floating matters in the materials to be dis- charged at sea. The Department requests that you take further action with a view to preventing the discharge of matters into the tidal wa- ters adjacent to Boston Harbor likely to be washed ashore. Chapter 615 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1945 places upon this department the responsibility of stream and tidal water pollution control. A copy of the rules and regulations by the department under this act is ap- pended for your information.


Respectfully,


VLADO A. GETTING, M. D., Commissioner.


141


BOARD OF HEALTH


1946]


You can rest assured that we will continue our efforts until a permanent abatement has been brought about.


We again call your attention to the fact that our Building, Plumbing and Public Safety By-Laws are obsolete and do not conform to provisions of laws that have been enacted since their adoption ap- proximately 20 years ago.


This situation has permitted the creation of conditions that men- ace the health and lives of our citizens who are now occupying dwell- ings not properly protected against fire or other disaster. Immediate action is necessary to correct this situation, therefore we have again requested that an article covering the matter be inserted in the war- rant for the Annual Town Meeting.


During the year 1894 the town constructed a 10 inch drain to take care of the surface water that collected under the railroad bridge on Burrill Street. With the change in the surface construction of our streets and the rapidity with which surface water is now collected at this spot during heavy downpours this drain is unable to care for the water fast enough with the result that flood conditions are created to such an extent that premises are flooded and the passage of all ve- hicles, including those of physicians and the fire and police depart- ments, brought to a standstill or compelled to make a long circuitous detour in order to reach the upper sections of the town. Similar con- ditions also exist under the Stetson Avenue bridge.


Delays caused by these conditions may result in the loss of lives or property and should be abated as soon as possible.


We have requested that an article covering this matter be in- serted in the warrant for the Town Meeting.


All ponds and other mosquito breeding places were given their usual spring oiling under the supervision of Superintendent of Parks, Frederick Burk. This treatment caused the elimination of much of the discomfort caused by these pests; however, residents in the vicinity of Jimmys and Palmers Ponds repeatedly complained about condi- tions in their neighborhoods. In response to their complaints several additional oil treatments were given those ponds with little, if any, improvement. We recommend that the town take immediate steps to drain the ponds and relieve the residents of the discomforts caused by these pests year after year.


On July 30, 1946, we received a petition signed by the President of the Beach Club and other residents in the vicinity of Palmers Pond requesting that we take immediate action to abate the mosquito nuisance at that pond in a manner similar to that at Cape Cod. Owing to the expense involved in such a program we were unable to comply with the request of the petitioners; however, we did agree to continue oiling and promised to see that an article covering the matter is in- serted in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting.


We have accordingly requested the Town Counsel to prepare an article for insertion in the warrant.


We have been informed by the members of the Board of Park Commissioners that they will be forced to close the dump at Phillips Park unless the private contractors and others using the dump exer- cise more care and discretion in dumping their waste materials, as that department has neither the men nor equipment required to handle the material under conditions such as have existed during the past year.


142


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


We agree that the Park Commissioners have just cause for com- plaint but feel that the dump is a public necessity and should be kept open.


It is a fact that promiscuous dumping has made the handling of material difficult and required employment of outside equipment to level the dump but this is mainly due to the lack of control and super- vision of dumping.


It is our opinion that such conditions will continue to exist unless entrance to the dump is restricted, regular hours for dumping are established, constant supervision of dumping is maintained and the material levelled more frequently. This matter is now being consid- ered by the Park Commissioners who will make their recommendations to the Annual Town Meeting for consideration.


It is with deep regret that we record the untimely passing of Miss Evelyn Anderson on May 20, 1946. Miss Anderson had faithfully served this department as health nurse since September 1, 1939. She was devoted to her work and faithful in the discharge of her duties and her untiring efforts in behalf of those coming under her super- vision won for her their profound respect and everlasting friendship.


Miss Marion M. Thompson, R. N., a graduate of the Union Hos- pital, former school nurse at Milford, N. H., and service with the Department of Public Health and Visiting Nurse Association of Lynn, was appointed to fill the vacancy.


A detailed report of the work of the department will be found in the reports of our various officers.


Respectfully submitted,


LORING GRIMES, M. D., Chairman, G. JEFFREY NICHOLS, H. ALLEN DURKEE,


Board of Health.


Health Officer


To the Board of Health:


I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1946:


The following is a summary of the work of the department during the year:


PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS (St. John School)


Number of children examined 328


Number of children with defects 86


Number of children without defects. 242


94


Number of defects found.


Number of defects corrected 57


Number of children with defects corrected 53


143


BOARD OF HEALTH


1946]


PHYSICAL DEFECTS (St. John School)


Mucuous membrane.


0


Nutrition


1


Posture


3


Scalp


0


Skin


0


Eyes


11


Ears


0


Glands


0


Tonsils and adenoids (diseased)


26


Mentality


0


Nose


0


Heart


10


Lungs


0


Feet and spine


2


Nerves


1


Teeth


0


Underweight


40


94


DIPHTHERIA IMMUNIZATION


1946


Age


3 Doses


Toxoid Less Than 3 Doses


Test Before Toxoid


Test After Toxoid Neg.


Toxoid Without Test


Toxoid After Test


Test Only


Under 1 yr.


6


0


0


0


0


0


6


0


0


1 yr.


7


0


0


0


0


0


7


0


0


2 yrs.


3


1


0


0


0


0


4


0


0


3 yrs.


6


0


0


0


0


0


6


0


0


4 yrs.


4


0


0


0


0


0


4


0


0


5 yrs.


8


0


0


0


0


0


8


0


0


6 yrs. 43


11


2


1


5


21


47


7


0


7 yrs. 11


1


4


5


2


33


6


6


0


8 yrs.


9


0


7


7


1


8


1


8


0


9 yrs.


3


0


3


5


0


5


0


3


0


10-14 yrs.


1


1


1


4


0


9


1


1


0


101


14


17


22


8


76


90


25


0


Pos.


Neg.


Pos.


144


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


COMMUNICABLE DISEASES REPORTED 1946


Jan.


Feb.


Mar.


April


May


June


July


Aug.


Sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec.


Totals


Anterior


poliomyelitis .. 0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


0


1


Cat-bite


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


0


0


0


0


1


Cerebro-


spinal


meningitis


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0 0


Chicken-pox


0


1


0


1


3


0


0


0


0


1


0


2


8


Diphtheria


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0 5


2


0 4


0 2


2


43


Encephalitis


lethargica


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0 2


0 0


0 0


1


8


Ophthalmia


neonatorum 0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Paratyphoid


(Salmonella Inf.) ....


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


0


2


0


0


3


Pneumonia


(lobar)


0


0


0


1


1


0 0


0 0


0 0


0 0


1 1


0 2


3


9


Septic sore


throat


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Supperative


conjunctivitis 0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Tuberculosis


(pulmonary) .. 0 Tuberculosis


0


0


0


0


1


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


(other forms) 0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


1


Whooping


cough


0


0


1


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


Totals


6


9


22


38


77


49


11


7


3


13


5


9 249


0


0


0


3


1


0


0


0 0


0 0


0 1


0 2


0


0


Mumps


0


1


1


1


0


1


0 5


0 0


Measles


5


5


13


26


68


0 42


0 0 166


4


Meningitis


(other forms) 0


0


0


0


3


5


6


Dog-bite


1


2


6


5


1


1


Scarlet fever .. 0


0


1


0


3


0 0 0


German


measles


..


....


0


0


0


0 0


145


BOARD OF HEALTH


1946]


COMMUNICABLE DISEASE STATISTICS 1937-1946


1937


1938


1939


1940


1941


1942


1943


1944


1945


1946


Totals


Actinomycosis Anterior


....


0


0


0 1 0 0 0


0


0


0


1


poliomyelitis


5


0


0


0


0


0


1


1


1


1


9


Cat-bite


2


1


1


0


1


0


0


0


0


1


6


Cerebro-spinal meningitis


0


0


0


1


0 76


0


2


2


0


0


5


Chicken-pox


112


30


96


40


116


88 129 0


54


8


749


Diphtheria


0


1


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


Dog-bite


55


46


46


48 0


36 0


36 0


41 0 10


46 0 9


43 0 4


1 327


Influenza


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Malaria


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Measles


324


7


7


78 0


0 30 216


10


0 64 106


2


4


Mumps


41


18


19


5


1


0


0


1


1


2


0


10


Paratyphoid (Sal- monella Inf.)


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


3


3


Pneumonia (lobar) .. Ringworm


5


9


12


5


4


2


0


2


4


0


0


1


Scabies


1


1


11


2


1


0


0


0 0


0


0


16


Scarlet fever


11


22


20


13


15


6


13


14


11


134


conjunctivitis


0


0


1


1


0


0


1


0


0


0


0


0


1


Tuberculosis (pulmonary)


7


5


2


6


9


5


6


1


2


1


44


Tuberculosis


(other forms)


5


3


0


1


0


0


1


0 0


2 0


0 0


3


Undulant fever


0


0


1


0


0


0


0


4


0


1


Whooping cough


142


19


9


87


14


52


28


3


76


1 431


1


0


0


German measles


8


1


2


6


4


0 17 266


13 209 123 187 0 2


10 166 1124


Meningitis


(other forms)


0


0


0


8


517


Ophthalmia


neonatorum


4


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


3 0


0 2


0 1


9 0 0


3


Septic sore throat .... Supperative


0


0


0


0


0


0


Tetanus


0


0


0


0


1


13


Typhoid fever


1


0


1


1


0


0


0


Totals


725 163 229 296 204 669 580 457 326 249 3898


46


443


Encephalitis lethargica


0 0


1


3 46


1


5


146


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


DEATHS FROM COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 1937-1946


1937


1938


1939


1940


1941


1942


1943


1944


1945


1946


Totals


Anterior


poliomyelitis


0


0


00 0 0


0


0


0 0


0


Cerebro-spinal meningitis


0


0


0


0


0


0


1 0


0 0


0


0


0


Diphtheria


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Encephalitis lethargica


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0 0


0


0


Influenza


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Malaria


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Measles


1


0


0


0 0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Mumps


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Pellagra


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Pneumonia (lobar) ..


0


1


2


0


0


1


0 0


0


0


0


0


1


Septic sore throat .... Tetanus


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Tuberculosis


(pulmonary)


1


3


0


0


1


0


1


1


0


2


0


0


Typhoid fever


0


0


0


0


0


0


0 0


0 0


0


0


0


Whooping cough


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Totals


2


4


2


0


1


1


3


3


0


3


19


SWAMPSCOTT RESIDENTS DYING IN TOWN FROM CONTAGIOUS DISEASES


Male


Female Totals


Pneumonia, lobar


1


0


1


SWAMPSCOTT RESIDENTS DYING OUT OF TOWN FROM CONTAGIOUS DISEASES


Male


Female


Totals


Pneumonia, lobar


1


0


1


Tuberculosis, pulmonary


2


0


2


1


Chicken-pox


0


0


0


0


0


0


German measles


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


2


0


1 0


0


Scarlet fever


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


1


0


0


0


1


Meningitis


(other forms)


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


Tuberculosis


(other forms)


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0


0 0


0


0


0


0


0 9


7


0


1946]


BOARD OF HEALTH


147


DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES


Cancers and Other Tumors:


Male Female


Totals


Cancer of bladder


1


0


1


Cancer of breast


0


1


1


Cancer of colon


0


1


1


Cancer of face


1


0


1


Cancer of liver


1


2


3


Cancer of lung


0


1


1


Cancer of palate


1


0


1


Cancer of pancreas


0


1


1


Cancer of prostate


2


0


2


Cancer of rectum


2


2


4


Cancer of stomach


1


1


2


Carcinomatosis, general


1


0


1


10


9


19


Diseases of the Circulatory System:


Aneurysm of aorta


0


1


1


Arterio sclerosis


2


2


4


Arteriosclerotic heart disease


1


4


5


Cerebral arteriosclerosis


0


1


1


Coronary occlusion


5


4


9


Coronary thrombosis


6


5


11


Dilation of heart


2


0


2


Disease of artery


0


1


1


Hypertensive heart disease


2


3


5


Myocarditis, chronic


1


1


2


Pulmonary embolism


0


1


1


Pulmonary stenosis


1


0


1


Rheumatic heart disease


1


1


2


Senility


1


0


1


Valvular heart disease


1


5


6


23


29


52


Diseases of the Digestive System


Enterocolitis


1


0


1


Neurosis of bladder


1


0


1


2


0


2


Diseasesof the Nervous System and Sense Organs:


Cerebral hemorrhage


12


11


23


Cerebral thrombosis


2


3


5


Parkinson's disease


0


2


2


Tumor of brain


0


1


1


14


17


31


Diseases of the Respiratory System:


Asthma, Bronchial


0


1


1


Pneumonia, Bronchial


3


1


4


Pneumonitis


0


1


1


3


3


6


-


148


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Early Infancy:


Atelectasis, prematurity


2


0


2


Congenital heart disease


0


1


1


Failure of respiration


0


1


1


Placenta Praevia


0


1


1


-


2


3


5


Epidemic, Endemic, and Infectious Diseases : Influenzal Pneumonia


0


1


1


External Causes :


Asphyxia by carbon monoxide


1


0


1


Asphyxia by drowning


1


1


2


2


1


3


General Diseases Not Included in Class I:


Chronic lymphatic leukemia


0


1


1


Lymphosarcoma


0


1


1


Tumor of Pituitary


0


1


1


0


3


3


Ill-Defined Diseases :


Cardiac failure


0


1


1


Non-Venereal Diseases of the Genitourinary System and Annexa:


Chronic Nephritis


3


1


4


Chronic Pyelonephritis


1


0


1


4


1


5


Totals


60


68


128


RESIDENT BIRTHS IN TOWN


Month


Male


Female


Totals


January


0


0


0


February


0


0


0


March


0


0


0


April


0


0


0


May


0


1


1


June


0


0


July


0


0


August


0


0


September


0


0


October


0


November


0


December


0 00010 0 0


0 0000000 1- 0 0 0 0 0 0 1


0


1


-


..... .... ...


149


BOARD OF HEALTH


1946]


RESIDENT BIRTHS OUT OF TOWN


Month


Male


Female


Totals


January


10


9


19


February


8


9


17


March


6


4


10


April


8


9


17


May


8


8


16


June


9


8


17


July


8


14


22


August


7


13


20


September


8


9


17


October


9


7


16


November


9


9


18


December


8


4


12


98


103


201


DEATHS IN TOWN


Month


Male


Female


Totals


January


1


0


1


February


3


9


12


March


3


4


7


April


3


3


6


May


2


4


6


June


4


1


5


July


1


5


6


August


1


1


2


September


2


2


4


October


4


1


5


November


3


3


6


December


4


5


9


31


38


69


DEATHS OUT OF TOWN


Month


Male


Female


Totals


January


3


5


8


February


1


4


5


March


3


3


6


April


6


2


8


May


2


5


7


June


3


2


5


July


4


3


7


August


1


2


3


September


2


2


4


October


3


5


8


November


4


1


5


December


0


0


0


32


34


66


150


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


NON-RESIDENT DEATHS


Month


Male


Female


Totals


January


0


0


0


February


0


1


1


March


0


0


0


April


0


0


0


May


0


0


0


June


0


0


0


July


0


2


2


August


0


0


0


September


0


0


0


October


1


0


1


November


0


0


0


December


0


0


0


1


3


4


MORTUARY REPORT


Male


Female


Totals


Stillbirths


3


1


4


Deaths under 1 year


2


3


5


From 1 to 2 years


0


0


0


From 2 to 3 years


0


0


0


From 3 to 4 years


0


0


0


From 4 to 5 years


0


1


1


From 5 to 10 years


1


0


1


From 10 to 20 years


1


0


1


From 20 to 30 years


2


0


2


From 30 to 40 years


2


4


6


From 40 to 50 years


4


4


8


From 50 to 60 years


12


4


16


From 60 to 70 years


13


17


30


From 70 to 80 years


16


16


32


From 80 to 90 years


9


17


26


From 90 to 100 years


1


2


3


63


68


131


SUMMARY OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS


Deaths in Swampscott during 1946


69


Non-residents dying in Swampscott


4


Swampscott residents dying out of town


66


Total deaths of Swampscott residents 1946


135


Death rate per 1,000


11.4


Total number resident deaths, male


63


Total number resident deaths, female


72


Average age, males


61.8


Average age, females


61.9


Deaths under 1 year in town


1


Deaths under 1 year out of town


5


Total births in town, resident


1


Total births in town, non-resident


0


Total births out of town


201


Stillbirths in town


1


Stillbirths out of town


3


1946]


SUMMARY OF WORK


Number of communicable diseases reported


277


Number of cases placarded 117


Cases investigated


43


Cases released


231


Certificates issued to attend school and work


129


Children excluded from school


105


Suspected cases of communicable diseases


7


Quarantine violations


2


Reports to:


State District Health Officer


236


State Department Public Health (Deaths)


52


Inspector of Animals


46


Other cities and towns


11


Milkmen


5


Laundry


2


Schools


196


Miscellaneous


212


Number of communicable disease complaints


8


Number of communicable disease conferences


256


Number of communicable disease inquiries


157


Number of children given Schick test


123


Number of immunizing doses of toxoid given


331


Number of patients admitted to sanatorium


2


Number of cases discharged from sanatorium


3


Number of adults examined and X-Rayed for tuberculosis


231


Number of children examined and X-Rayed for tuberculosis


18


Number of cultures submitted for examination


131


Number of sputum specimens submitted for examination


1


Number of dogs inoculated against rabies


335


Number of conferences


524


Number of inquiries


1043


Complaints received:


Ashes


101


Garbage


283


Dead animals


83


Miscellaneous


295


Number of inspections made


69


Verbal notices given


132


Written notices to abate


21


Legal notices to abate


4


Laboratory supplies distributed


682


Letters written


1445


Number of telephone calls


2651


Number of office visits


2709


Miscellaneous


1818


PERMITS AND LICENSES


The following permits have been issued during the past year:


Burial


80


To keep fowl 138


1


To keep pigeons


2


To keep rabbits


4


To torch for fish


4


To construct cesspools and drains 6


To funeral director 1


To maintain a stable


3


To keep horses


3


BOARD OF HEALTH


151


To keep ducks


152


TOWN DOCUMENTS [Dec. 31


The following licenses have been issued during the past year:


To sell methyl alcohol 9


To maintain a recreational building 1 To collect soap grease 3 To massage 1


The sum of $16.50 has been collected for licenses and permits issued during the year and the said amount has been paid to the Collector and his receipt obtained.


Respectfully submitted,


CLARENCE W. HORTON,


Health Officer.


Health Nurse


To the Board of Health:


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1946:


Communicable diseases placarded


8


Communicable diseases investigated


52


Examinations for communicable diseases


183


Examinations for release


19


Exclusions from school


4


Physical examinations


658


Dental examinations


1150


Home visits


348


School visits


56


Kindergarten visits


7


Tuberculosis patients visited


57


Tuberculosis follow-up visits


13


Schick tests


123


Clinics and meetings


15 310


New baby conferences


Consultations


2


Parophial children weighed


328


Clinic children weighed


1


Ear examinations (Parochial school)


0


Eye examinations (Parochial school)


288


Patients taken to Sanatorium Clinics


22


Sanitary inspections


1


Pre-School examinations


0


Miscellaneous


168


Respectfully submitted


MARION M. THOMPSON, R.N., Health Nurse.


3


Violations of quarantine


153


BOARD OF HEALTH


1946]


Dental Clinic


To the Board of Health:


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit the following report of the activities of the Dental Clinic during the year ending December 31, 1946:


It is very gratifying to report that there has been a general im- provement in the condition of the teeth of the children in the elemen- tary grades of the public and parochial schools.


Conclusive evidence that the children in the grades are not neg- lecting their teeth is found in the records of our clinic which shows that during the past 5 years the average extraction of permanent teeth was 3 per year while the extraction of 70 to 80 per year was the general average.


Spring and fall examinations were held as usual and defects were corrected when requested.


The following is a detailed summary of the work of the past year:


Extractions (temporary teeth) 114


Extractions (permanent teeth)


0


Local anaesthetic 92


Pulp cappings 1


Fillings (permanent teeth)


341


Fillings (temporary teeth)


468


Prophylaxis


318


Examinations


2100


Miscellaneous


92


Respectfully submitted,


JAMES J. FENELON, D.M.D.,


Dentist.


Milk Inspector


To the Board of Health:


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1946:


The following licenses and permits have been issued during the year:


To sell milk (Dealers) 21


To sell milk (Stores) 34


To sell frozen desserts 29 To sell oleomargarine 10


The sum of $47.00 has been collected for the licenses and permits issued during the year and the said amount has been paid to the Collector and his receipt obtained.


Respectfully submitted,


CLARENCE W. HORTON,


Milk Inspector.


154


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Inspector of Plumbing


he Board of Health:


( men:


herewith submit the following report for the year ending ier 31, 1946:


D Plumbing permits issued 103


Installations approved 101


is.


ar


The sum of $236.00 has been collected for the plumbing permits 1 during the year and said amount has been paid to the Collector .is receipt obtained.


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD C. PHILLIPS, Plumbing Inspector.


Board of Trustees of the Public Library


To the Citizens of Swampscott:


The Board of Trustees of the Swampscott Public Library pre- sents its report for the year 1946.


CIRCULATION AND ATTENDANCE


A comparison of the statistics concerning circulation, attendance, and the number of borrowers with those of 1945, shows a decrease of 7,482 in the first, and increases of 640 and 977 in the second and third, respectively.


The circulation of adult fiction was 2,620 less, while that of adult non-fiction was 1,158 more. Juvenile fiction, non-fiction, and periodi- cals fell off in circulation 3,753, 1,579, and 204, respectively.


Adult borrowers increased by 762, read fewer books of fiction, and more of non-fiction. There were 204 more juvenile borrowers, but fewer books were read by that group.


The attendance of adults was greater by 2,590 and that of juveniles 1,852 less.


Of the many factors responsible, the most important is the com- plete change, within a year, of the personnel of the library staff, with the exception of the librarian. In fact, there has been too great a turnover of the staff during the past three years. Much time elapses before patrons become well enough known to the staff so that helpful suggestions as to books can be made and needs adequately met. While this results in fewer books being read by adults, with children it is a much greater handicap.


We have been fortunate in our replacements on the staff, but low salaries have made it impossible to obtain those with degrees in library science. The Board of Trustees has asked for an increase in the appropriation for salaries, well aware that it is only one step


155


TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY


1946]


toward the attainment of an entire personnel trained in library science.


Story-telling in the juvenile department has been interrupted during the year, but will be restored to its former important place in the regular library plan for juveniles. Doubtless that will stimulate the reading of more and better books by that group. That is one of the principal aims of that department, since the development of a wide vocabulary and the ability to read fast are so essential to suc- cess in doing school work. The home, the school, and the library must cooperate in this endeavor, if economical learning is to be achieved.


AN ADDITION NEEDED


The installation of four cases in the basement will permit fur- ther storage of books there, but they will be filled in two years. At least one-third of the books for adults are shelved there now, al- though the arrangement is a most inconvenient one. It can not be opened to the public and it means increasing absences of the staff members from the discharge desk to get books from the basement.


Some of the urgent needs, which only an addition to the library can meet, are:


More space for the expansion of the card catalogue


Adequate seating capacity for readers


Sufficient room for periodicals




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