USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1932-1936 > Part 3
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1
Color mixer
4
Contractor
2
Insurance agents
1
Chefs
3
Firemen
1
Hotel keeper
1
Lather
2
Metal Worker
2
Actor
1
Mason
1
School teacher
2
MISCELLANEOUS
Number of motor vehicle licenses
suspended 65
Goods stolen and recovered $5.206.50
Goods stolen not recovered $446.85
Motor vehicles stolen and recovered 17
Doors found unlocked by police officers 29
Accidents investigated 71
PROPERTIES OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
ON DECEMBER 31, 1932
Building and Land
$50,000.00
Two motor vehicles
1,700.00
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Two motorcycles
300.00
Equipment
1,000.00
Furniture
500.00
$53,500.00
In conclusion it is with pleasure that I extend in be- half of the police department and myself to the Honorable Board of Selectmen and other town officials, our most sin- cere thanks for their kindly consideration during the past year, and trust that the accomplishments of the department have been such as to repay them for their interests.
Respectfully submitted, ULRIC BRAULT
Chief of Police.
Southbridge, Mass. December 31, 1932.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
The Board of Health, Dr. Charles Simpson, Arthur Lavallee and Dr. Joseph G. E. Page organized by electing Dr. Simpson, Chairman, and Arthur Lavallee, clerk.
Meetings were held monthly on the last Friday and special meetings when needed.
The year has been a comparatively good one in South- bridge so far as public health is concerned. We have, of course had to contend with some of the contagious diseases which visit us every year, in spite of all the precautionary measures we might take, scarlet fever has been the pre- dominant disease of that character.
We have tried to educate the people to use utmost dili- gence in calling the family physician as soon as their chil- dren show any signs of sickness, but of course, that advice is not followed, in many cases and contagion follows, with all its train of suffering and anxiety to patient and family, and expense to the town.
The few cases of diphtheria we had last year were of a comparatively mild type without any deaths.
It is very gratifying to us to find that not one of the several hundred children who received toxin anti-toxin treatment in the last four years, was stricken with the disease.
There are various ways in which diphtheria may be spread from an infected person to a well one. The germs
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have been found on the bed clothing, handkerchiefs, candy, pencils and drinking cups used by infected persons. They are, of course, found in any discharges coming from the nose or throat of children who have the disease, or who are recovering from it.
There are, moreover, healthful carriers of diphtheria, who, although they have recovered from the disease, still carry the germs about and distribute them to people who have not had the disease.
If a child complains of sickness and particularly of sore throat, a physician should examine it promptly. A physician should be summoned immediately if the child complains of swelling of the neck or of any croupy condition with hoarseness.
Early attention is particularly important in small children because 85 percent of the deaths from this disease usually occur in the first five years of life.
In more than 10 percent of all cases a few germs can be found in the throat two weeks after all signs of the disease seem to have disappeared from the throat, and in one percent of the cases the germs are still found in the throat four weeks after the child is apparently well.
It is the duty of the physician in charge of the pati- ent to pronounce it well, and he will not wish to do this as long as the germs are still in the throat, sometimes when the germs persist for longer than three or four weeks it is necessary to use active antiseptics in the throat, and in a few instances the germs have persisted until the tonsils of the child have been removed.
Tuberculosis has been a source of considerable expense to the town as in years previous, but we consider that we are doing a great work for the poor victims, who are taken care of better in Massachusetts than in any other State in the Union.
Our inspection of private schools has been as thor-
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ough as possible under the circumstances. Parents have been notified of the different defects of their respective children and urged to remedy them.
We urge the parents to send their children, if they have not had the treatment for prevention of diphtheria to the clinic next fall, this treatment has been tested sci- entifically, it has been proved to be efficient and harmless to the child, it is sponsored and kept up financially by the State, and if we can judge by the results here, it is worth all the work we had to put in, to put it through.
We think we have done all in our power to make South- bridge, one of the cleanest, healthiest towns in the Com- monwealth.
There are two sections in the town that need sani- tary sewers, one is in the Litchfield Ave., section and the other is Wall Street, both of these sections are hard to drain and therefore sewers is the remedy.
Respectfully submitted, DR. CHARLES SIMPSON, ARTHUR LAVALLEE, DR. JOSEPH G. E. PAGE,
Board of Health.
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REPORT OF AGENT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report for the year of 1932.
The duties of your Agent for the past year have been most pleasant, the complaints being of minor nature and all except three having been satisfactorily corrected, these owing to the winter weather will be concluded in early spring.
The following contagious diseases have been reported to the board during the year, all have been visited and when necessary by the rules have been placarded and placed un- der quarantine.
Chickenpox 4 Diphtheria 5
Dog Bite 2
German Measles 1
Ophthalmia Neonatorium 2
Influenza 4
Lobar Pneumonia
13
Measles 7
Mumps
20
Scarlet Fever 43
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 5 Typhoid Fever 3
Other Forms T. B.
4 Whooping Cough 7
Following are the deaths that have occurred within the town and for which permits to bury have been issued.
Anemia
1 Mastoiditis 1
Accidental
5
Nephritis 5
Acidosis
1 Pneumonia (Lobar) 7
Angina Pectoris
3 Pneumonia (Broncho) 4
Arterio Sclerosis
.4 Premature Birth 1
Cancer
10 Pulmonary Embolism 1
Diseases of Brain 12 Septic Peritonitis 1
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Diseases of Heart 14 Senile Debility 1
Diseases of Liver
2
Suicide 2
Diabetis
2
Sudden Death (M. E.) . 8
Dystocia
1
Ulcers 1
Eclampsia
1
Urinemia 1
Gangrene of lung
1
Mitral Stenosis
1
Tumor
1
Still-born
12
Appendicitis
2
Total
116
The citizens each year learn the lesson more thorough- ly that cleanliness means better health and a more pleasant living condition, therefore less trouble for your Agent.
The routine work of issuing licenses, permits, taking histories of cases both in town and out so that the town's finances are protected have been faithfully performed.
I wish at this time to thank the Board and the citizens for their assistance in this work.
Respectfully,
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Agent of Board of Health.
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REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Milk Inspector of the Town of Southbridge, Mass.
I have issued 46 licenses to peddlers and 34 to stores, also 7 registrations to sell Oleomargerine.
The State Dept. of Agriculture intended to test all cows in this and surrounding towns during the year, but was unable to test only those in Charlton and Dudley, I think that early in the spring, Southbridge and Sturbridge will have them tested and the town will then have milk from cows free from tuberculosis.
Inspection of cows and the barns have received my attention and as before not any contagious disease has been traced to the milk supply.
I wish to thank the farmers and the Board of Health for their co-operation in this matter.
Respectfully,
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Milk.
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INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1932.
Number of Carcasses of Beef Inspected 32
Number of Carcasses of Lamb Inspected 3
Number of Carcasses of Veal Inspected 281
Number of Carcasses of Swine Inspected 207
523
Three Beef Carcasses were condemned for tubercu- losis.
One Veal Carcass was condemned for underweight.
One Hog Carcass was condemned for tuberculosis.
Respectfully yours, ARMAND W. GENDREAU,
Inspector of Slaughtering.
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS
To Honorable Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
We hereby submit our report for the year ending De- cember 31, 1932.
Total number of pupils examined 1,149
Defects Found
Teeth
713
Eyes 18
Nose & Throat
247
Heart
22
Poor Posture
18
Skin condition
6
Anemic
3
Malnourished
144
Growth on tongue
1
Low Mentality
1
Defects Corrected :
Tonsils & Adenoid Operations 37
At this time we wish to thank the Pastors of the sev- eral Churches and the public as well as the Board of Health for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, DR. CHARLES SIMPSON, DR. JOSEPH G. E. PAGE,
Health Inspectors.
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REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1932 :
During the year there has been installed 74 water closets, 56 sinks, 64 baths, 85 basins, 15 washtrays, 2 floor drains. and 1 urinal.
This work has had several inspections while in pro- gress, and in all cases has been properly installed.
Two changes in our by-laws have been suggested and if they are placed in warrant, I think they should be ap- proved by the Town.
The first puts the Plumbing Business on a more equit- able basis and the second will reduce the cost of plumbing.
At this time I wish to thank the plumbers and the public for their co-operation.
Respectfully,
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Plumbing.
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REPORT OF HEALTH NURSE
To the Honorable Board of Health :
I hereby submit my report as Board of Health Nurse, for the year 1932.
Health education is first and foremost in the daily work, and plays an important part in creating habits of right living among the children.
The parochial school children were examined by the medical inspectors, assisted by the nurse. Defects recorded and notice sent to parents, with recommendations, follow- ed by home visits. Heretofore, the pupils were weighed and measured a couple times per year, to see if each one main- tained a given normal standard. However, health workers who have studied height and weight charts, in relation to the child's well being, have been unable to gather definite information on this matter. Since then the child's growth and development as a whole through the year is considered a better indication of good health than acquiring a certain height and weight.
The dental clinic is opened every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning, from Oct. 1st to June 1st, is main- tained by the Board of Health, and service is rendered by the local dentists. All school children attending the first four grades have the privilege of receiving care, which consist of prophylactic and repair work. They are also taught the value of oral hygiene and stimulated to care for their teeth, by awarding them a dental certificate after all necessary work is done. The immediate correction of de- fects in this clinic is most gratifying.
Number of children who reported to clinic 822
Number of extractions 256
Number of fillings 350
Number of prophylaxis 543
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Bright colored posters distributed in the store windows about town announced the pre-school clinics in the Town Hall, May 26th and 27. The school physicians examined one hundred and fifty-two children, in order to give the parents an opportunity to have defects corrected, that might handicap them during their school days. A physically fit child is seldom retarded.
Three hundred and forty children were inoculated for the prevention of diphtheria, shortly after the opening of school in Sept. This group will receive the Schick test in six months, to ascertain the number rendered immune by the treatment. Those immune are entitled to a certificate, two hundred and five were distributed this year.
The Chadwick clinic personnel, consisting of Dr. Mar- tin, an X-Ray technician and a nutritionist, re-examined a special group, according to their regular schedule. The State Dept. of Health organized these clinics to assist com- munities, to find early symptoms of tuberculosis in children and thereby prevent the disease in the adult. The parents contact with the doctor and nutritionist, is very valuable in broadcasting health measures.
Every year the anti-tuberculosis league distribute seals for sale, to raise a fund to maintain a health camp at Ster- ling, and help in securing medical and surgical treatment, whenever necessary. Last summer three girls, spent one hundred and eleven days at camp and a hundred dollars was used for dental and tonsil operations. The children selected for camp are usually recommended by the Chadwick clinic, as suspicious, or contact cases of tuberculosis. Each child gained in weight, and showed improvement in habits as well as behavior.
The general means of communicable disease preven- tion, is through the teaching of isolation, quarantine and immunization ; also to emphasize the importance of conva- lescent care to prevent complications.
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The following objectives, cover the tuberculosis ser- vice the nurse endeavors to render to all reported cases. To assist in arranging for medical supervision, also nursing care either in the home, or in an institution, and to secure an early diagnosis. The home visits to tubercular patients encourage them to carry on and help to readjust them for the long period of inactivity.
At this time I wish to thank all organizations and in- dividuals who have co-operated and assisted in any way.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R N.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the People of Southbridge :
In making our report for 1932 we feel that the citi- zens have been kept informed as to conditions and it would be needless for us to attempt to further explain conditions or to anticipate what the coming year will bring. We do however wish to call your attention to the increase of persons aided compared with the increase of money expended. The number of applications received during the year has been in excess of any previous re- cord.
The Mothers' Aid division has also increased but the Infirmary account does not vary from year to year although we have more inmates at present than for many years. The Old Age Assistance Bureau has in- increased by 11 cases, but we cannot from our short ex- perience with this work anticipate just what 1933 will bring. This year the town has received something for its money spent for Welfare work. We have furnished the Highway Department 27,567 hours of labor which the recipients of aid have given in return for assistance received.
The Outside Relief has increased mainly on account of lack of employment and in many cases where a man is working full time, the wages received will not feed, clothe and house his family. Until rents, fuel, and many other commodities are reduced to the level of wages, this class of aid must continue and the long duration of such cases is also responsible for the increase.
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Mr. Joseph N. Payant has been reappointed for his 21st year as Warden of the Infirmary. Mr. H. H. Michon is now completing his sixth year as agent for the Board and has been reappointed for the coming year. We wish at this time to express our appreciation of both of these men and assure the citizens that they are both efficiently and faithfully filling their respective positions. This year the board has made a change in medical service and has appointed Dr. Charles Simpson as Town Physician. The Board also appreciates the co-operation of the Town Ac- countant, Mr. Joseph Desrosier, the Highway Supervis- or, Mr. Adelard Bouchard and all Town officials.
The following figures are submitted for comparison :
Persons aided, 1931 1,310
Persons aided, 1932
1,893
M. A. Expenditures, 1931
$8,983.50
M. A. Expenditures, 1932 11,645.16
Old Age Assistance, 1931
3,292.87
Old Age Assistance, 1932 10,296.66
Infirmary Expenditures, 1931
5,989.22
Infirmary Expenditures, 1932
5,697.50
Outside Relief Expenditures, 1931
65,699.29
Outside Relief Expenditures, 1932
93,034.28
Receipts :
1931
$9,791.61
1932
19,064.75
Respectfully, HERMAS LIPPE, Chairman, GEORGE HARTWELL, Clerk, NAPOLEON J. BLANCHARD, HERBERT H. MICHON, Agent,
.
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REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE
The Cemetery Commission felt the necessity of car- rying on the work with the utmost economy this year. It has been our desire in the past to make at least one per- manent improvement each year. It has been planned for a number of years to do something of a permanent na- ture to several of the drives which receive the heaviest automobile traffic. Also to follow out a planned pro- gram that will extend over a period of years by planting ornamental shrubs and trees. This will accomplish two things, it will beautify the newer sections where lots have been sold during the past few years and where there is no planting now, also will replace some of the older plantings which are fast dying through age. We had hoped to put into partial operation both of these plans this year. We did not think it wise to do so at this time on account of general conditions and because the banks in which the Cemetery funds are invested were reducing their rates of interest making our income doubt- ful.
The Cemetery has been mowed, trimmed and raked at regular intervals throughout the summer and fall. Sunken graves especially in Perpetual Care lots have been graded as they came to our attention. The drives have been worked on and washouts filled. Special atten- tion has been given the section specified by Miss Hannah M. Edwards in a trust fund created by her for the care of this part. A portion of the fall was spent in the Cole lot removing dead trees and cutting out what brush had grown during the year.
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The pond at the east end of the Cemetery was fast being filled by the material that was being washed in. It was filled to such an extent that it would have been only a question of time before it would have been nearly eliminated. Through the co-operation of the Board of Public Welfare we were able to secure help and during the dry season the greater part of this dirt was removed.
There have been a great many lots in the older sec- tions that had pronounced depressions in them for many years. These depressions were not bad enouh to need immediate attention. This grading has been put off year after year on account of other work of a more necessary nature. This year by careful planning we have been able to grade all depressions in one whole section. While this does not show materially it adds greatly to the general appearance of the part worked upon.
There were four lots sold during the year and five accepted for Perpetual Care. The total amount received and paid to the Town Treasurer was $713.31.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. HARTWELL, Chairman, WARDWELL M. EDWARDS, DANIEL T. MORRILL,
Cemetery Commissioners.
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REPORT of the TRUSTEES of the LIBRARY
For the Town-
George Grant
Henry Tetrault
Fred E. Corbin
Louis O. Rieutord
For the Fund-
John E. Paige
LIBRARIAN
Ella Miersch
ASSISTANTS
Dorothy S. Bamford Alice Hebert
SUNDAYS
James W. Lavers
JANITOR
Romnaldo di Bonaventura
LIBRARY HOURS
Week Days, except January 1, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas-10 to 12; 2 to 9 p. m. Sundays, October-May, 2 to 5:30.
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REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Library :
CIRCULATION
With more time on their hands, and with less money to spend for amusements, men and women are turning more and more to reading, for their recreation. The is- sue of books for home reading during 1932, amounted to 118,375; more than double the number of books cir- culated ten years ago, forty-five percent more than five years ago, and sixteen percent more than a year ago. This means an average of more than eight books per cap- ita. Of this increase over last year; 10,000 volumes were fiction, 1,700 children's books, 500 foreign books, and 4,000 adult non-fiction.
READING WITH A PURPOSE
Most people read for the fun of it, but books dis- cussing present-day economic, political and social prob- lems have been in special demand; also vocational books. The library furnishes great numbers of books for the use of the high schools and the grade schools. In 1932, the Library issued 717 certificates to grade school pupils, who had read and reported on to their teachers, five books from the State reading for their grades; also 51 honor certificates for twenty books.
FACTS AND RESEARCH
Thousands of subjects have been looked up in books and periodicals, for adults as well as school child- ren.
CARE OF BOOKS
Every week from 40 to 50 postal cards are sent out notifying borrowers that books are overdue. At least one person mends books almost all day long. By this means,
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the expense of rebinding books is postponed-also, the books are not out of circulation for weeks, as they are when sent to be rebound. 1,184 books were discarded during the year. With 100 percent increase in circulation, the books naturally wear out twice as fast.
WHO READS THE LIBRARY BOOKS?
All ages-babies of three come in to look at picture books; all sorts of people-the uneducated and the edu- cated, and those in the process. Books must be bought for all sorts of intellects and abilities. There are now in the Library more than 29,000 books-and there are few subjects on which something cannot be found.
Under present conditions, it would be excellent if we could buy great numbers of practical books-books on all sorts of vocations. Unfortunately, the share of the Library's book fund which can be used for books of this sort, is small.
"The only true equalisers in the world are books; the only treasure-house open to all comers, is a library ; the only wealth which will not decay is knowledge; the only jewel which you can carry beyond the grave is wis- dom ... All that is needed for the acquisition of these in- estimable treasures is, the love of books."
Respectfully submitted,
ELLA E. MIERSCH,
Librariaan.
CIRCULATION BY MONTHS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
January
5260
5917
6942
6323
7261
8004
8435
9651
10018
10975
February.
5136
5825
6416
6108
7675
8103
8439
8560
9443
10501
March
5678
6526
6679
7122
8286
8776
9288
9285
9772
10830
April
4472
5783
5822
6321
7124
7452
8386
7940
7784
9426
May_
3980
4973
5184
5131
6446
6812
6902
6878
6599
7736
June
3999
4567
5603
5663
6166
6628
6481
6519
7065
8690
July_
4106
4839
5027
4682
5646
6213
6911
7072
6836
8869
Augus
4128
5253
5043
4419
6148
6574
7004
6986
7265
8840
September
4067
4743
4962
4843
5750
6467
6725
7969
7611
9593
October.
5149
5870
6184
6149
6785
7806
8520
9666
9598
11001
November
5342
5933
6590
6904
7438
7958
9330
9450
10332
11534
December
5324
5814
6189
6383
6949
7643
8097
9042
9847
10380
Total
5 6641 66043 70641 70048 81674 88436 94518 99018 102176 118375
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AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM OF STATISTICS
Population served (estimated)
14,264
Number of volumes lent for home use 118,375
Number of days opened during year
339
Hours open each week for reading Hours open each week for lending Number of volumes at beginning of year
54
29,355
Number of volumes added by purchase
841
Number of volumes added by gift
21
Number of volumes added by binding
14
Number of volumes replaced
442
Number of volumes discarded
1,184
Total number of volumes at end of year
29,489
Number of borrowers registered
8,894
Number of borrowers added 1931
661
Circulation per capita
8.29
GIFTS
The Library gratefully acknowledges gifts of books from the following: Christian Endeavor Society of Bap- tist Church, Mrs. Calvin D. Paige, Mr. Wm. McGilpin, (a valuable collection of bound music) ; Edwin Emerson ; National Sculpture Society ; Eddy Town Fund.
Also subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers from the following: Southbridge Press, New England Telephone Company, American Optical Co., Southbridge Knights of Columbus, Political Club of Citizens of Polish Descent, Isaac Walton League of Southbridge, South- bridge Rotary Club, U. S. A. Recruiting News.
561/4
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REPORT of the SEALER of WEIGHTS and MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The following is the report of the Department of Weights and Measures for the year 1932.
A total of 2,926 inspections of all kinds were made for the year 1932.
There was a decrease in the number of Gasoline pumps for this year but an increase in the number of meters. This means a reduction in revenue but not in the amount of labor required.
In order to reduce the expense of this Department, the telephone has been discontinued at the office in the Town Hall. All calls being taken over 871-M.
G. R. LARIVIERE,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
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DEVICE
Adjusted
Sealed
Non-Sealed
Condemned
SCALES
Platform over 5,000 lbs.
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