USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1937-1941 > Part 14
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By authority of the General Laws, and with the ap- proval of the State Department of Public Health and of
37
the Town Counsel, the Board has formulated Rules and Regulations for the public health of the town. These are both practicable and reasonable and their observance should contribute to healthier and happier living in this community. The Board takes a pardonable pride in the fact that the School department has deemed this work worthy of being used as text books in its teaching of Civics, requesting forty copies for that signalled purpose.
The Board takes pleasure in noting the added fa- cilities afforded in the carrying out of its work through its extended quarters which the remodeling of tha lower floor in the Town Hall has made possible. The various clinics report an average of about eight hundred school and pre-school children in attendance every year.
The Board at this time wishes to commend Miss Marguerite Houle, its efficient Agent and devoted Nurse as well as thank the public of Southbridge for the co- operation received by the Board in its endeavors to pro- mote health and prevent disease.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM E. LANGEVIN, M. D.,
Chairman Board of Health, ARMAND O. DEGRENIER, D. M. D. HERVEY L. DESMARAIS, D. D. S.
-
38
REPORT OF THE AGENT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Honorable Board of Health Dear Sirs:
The various duties of the agent has made the work interesting and it has also been gratifying to note the general good health of the community, during the year.
A certain number of nuisances have been inves- tigated and recommendations made to assist those con- cerned to abate same, in the most efficient manner.
Considerable time and effort has been spent in col- lecting and arranging material for the publication of health "Rules and Regulations". These regulations in book form will assist the department in their endeavor to promote sanitation and the prevention of disease.
The following diseases dangerous to the public health were recorded:
Lobar Pneumonia 24
Measles 6
Mumps
6
Cerebro-spinal meningi-
tis
1
Opthalmia neonatorum
1
Tuberculosis-Pulmonary 7 Dogbite 11
Tuberculosis-
Chicken Pox
16
Other Forms 3
Scarlet Fever
4
Whooping Cough
26
Total 105
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List of deaths in Town for which this office has is- sued permits for burial.
DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Acute dilation of heart 1 Coronary Heart disease 1
Angina Pectoris
2
Coronary Sclerosis
. .
1
Anemia Aplastic
1
Anemia Pernicous 1
Coronary Thrombosis 6 Congenital Heart 1
Arterio Sclerotic
gangrene 1
Hypertensive heart disease 1
Arterio Sclerosis- (generalized) 6 Pulmonary Embolism 4
Arterio Sclerotic heart 1 Myocardial Degeneration 2
Chronic Myocarditis ..
2
Mitral regurgitation . .
1
Coronary Embolism
..
1
Senescent heart disease
1
Coronary Occlusion .. 2 Valvular heart disease 1
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Cerebral Thrombosis ... 1Cerebral Hemorrhage .. 9 Cerebral Abscess 1
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Adeno-carcinoma of
Diabetes Mellitus
7
rectum 1 Gangerous perforated
Cancer of colon 1 appendix 2
Cancer of cecum 1 Intestinal obstruction 1
Cancer of rectum
1
Intestinal Influenza
1
Cancer of stomach
3
Syphilis of liver
1
Cirrhosis of liver
2
Ulcerative colitis
1
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Cancer of lungs 1 Pneumonia Broncho . 5
Bronchial Asthma 1 Pneumonia Lobar 4 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1 Pneumonia Hypostatic 1 Spontaneous Hemopneumothorax .. 1
40
DISEASES OF THE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM
Adeno-carcinoma of
Chronic Interstitial
left breast
1
Nephritis
3:
Adeno-carcinoma of
uterus
1
Diverticulum of bladder
1
Cancer of breast
2
Uremia.
1
Nephropyosis .. 1
ALL OTHERS
Atrophic Arthritis ...
1
Prematurity
4
Cardio-renal vascular
Purpura Hemorrhagica
1
disease
1
Septicemia
2
Carcinomatosis
4
Still-born
13
Degenerative Arthritis
1
Lymphosarcoma
1
Suicide
5
Premature separation of placenta with hemorrhage 1
SUDDEN DEATHS PROBABLE CAUSE
Acute myocardial failure 1
Coronary sclerosis
...
1
Arteriosclerotic heart
1
Coronary thrombosis .
1
Cerebral hemorrhage .
1
Coronary occlusion ...
4
ACCIDENTAL
Fracture of hip
1
Asphyxiation with
poisonous gas
.
1
Fracture of pelvis
1
Asphyxiation by smoke 1
Cerebral Injuries ... 1
Total
144
Respectfully submitted,
MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R. N.
Colloid cancer of uterus 1
Cholelithiasis
1
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Report of ANNUAL PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE ELEMENTARY PAROCHIAL SCHOOL CHILDREN
To the Board of Health Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen,
The annual physical inspection of pupils in the elementary grades covered a total of 1073 examina- tions, distributed as follows :
St. Mary's School
145 pupils
Ste. Jeanne d'Arc School
344 pupils
Notre Dame School 584 pupils
Notices to parents for defects to be corrected were as follows :
St. Mary's 46 notices
Ste. Jeanne d'Arc 120 notices
Notre Dame 200 notices
The apportionment of defects noted in our exam- inations reads :
Carious teeth 423 Eyes 15
Diseased tonsils 259 Skin 12
Disease of the ear 7 Heart 11 Scalp 37 Posture 15
Enlarged glands 11 Feet 5
As evidence of the cooperation of the parents in re- gard to notices sent them of defects demanding correc- tion, it is noteworthy that 40 children, whose tonsils a.
42
year ago had been found to be defective, this year re- ported to school with this defect remedied. Also of in- terest is the fact that in most instances where some de- fect was noted in Pre-School examinations such defects were corrected at once before the child's entrance to school.
No better proof of the benefits derived from the Dental Clinics could be alleged than the generally healthy condition of the permanent teeth of our school children.
This report affords us the opportunity of making public acknowledgement and of expressing our sincere appreciation to the parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish for their interest in the welfare of the children as evi- denced by their setting aside and equipping special quarters in the school building for the use of the Med- ical Inspector and his Assistant. This has added in no small measure to the pleasure of our work and we hope to its efficiency as well.
To all the Sisters as well as to Miss Houle, our de- voted and able Assistant, we express our thanks for their kind help in the work of this department.
1
WILLIAM E. LANGEVIN, M. D.
43
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH NURSE
To the Honorable Board of Health
Dear Sirs :
I hereby submit my report as Board of Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Tuberculosis Clinics-
The consultation clinic held the third Wednesday of each month, in the Town Hall from one to three P. M. has given the physicians in this area the facilities for confirming diagnosis and checking contacts. Any person with a request signed by their physician is admitted for x-ray and examination. The result is sent to the attend- ing physician. A hundred and eighty-six patients re- ceived this service, representing eleven towns, and twenty-one physicians. Six were admitted to state sana- toria. A general check-up of all reported cases of tuber- culosis in the community was made to re-classify them. After an x-ray, the apparently cured were placed in closed files. In March Mrs. Ellen Almeida, the field clinic nurse, from Westfield State Sanatorium, had four pa- tients x-rayed in connection with Dr. Pope's study on the Chadwick Clinics.
School Clinics-
The Board of Health and School department hold clinics annually during the month of March for the de- tection of tuberculosis among a group of pupils selected as the most susceptible. The high school age received special attention this year, because of the high morbidity rate known to exist between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five, also more cases of tuberculosis infections are likely to be found in this group than in the lower grades. The Mantoux test was used for the first time in our schools, instead of the Von Pirquet, because the
44
response when positive is more definite and more prompt than in all other tests.
Mrs. Helen Upham, educational secretary, for the Southern Worcester County Health Association, visited all the parochial schools, and explained to the pupils the procedure and value of these tests. Seventy-four percent of the eligible group were tested. The results were classi- fied as follows: One hundred and seven pupils were given the tests-thirty-two had a positive reaction,-three recommended for re-examination in one year,-twelve. recommended for re-examination, in two years,-five. childhood type of tuberculosis, four of this group recommended for re-examination in two years-one, recommended for re-examination in one year,-and one suspicious case of childhood type of tuberculosis was recommended for re-examination in one year.
Dental Clinics-
School statistics reveal that the children are af- flicted with decay of the permanent teeth to the extent that six to eight of every ten have this physical defect. Early dental repair is cheaper, more effective, less pain- ful and should be routinely accomplished for each child. With sixty-four clinics maintained by the Board of Health during eight months of the year, many children. received this service. Those who have had the necessary dental work done, in so far as the clinic program will al- low, received certificates.
Number of children who reported to clinic .. 488
Number of extractions 78
Number of fillings 244
Number of cleanings 358
Number of children who received certificates 253
Diphtheria Immunization Clinics
Toxoid is given in a series of three doses, three weeks apart, by the Board of Health physician, and the schick test six months later, to determine the exact
3
45
number of negative cases. Each year we emphasize the value and protection of this preventive measure for the pre-school group (six months to six years) as the most susceptible age. One hundred and fifty-eight were in- oculated, which included forty-one pre-school children.
Pre-School Clinics
In the early Spring each year, these clinics are scheduled to give parents an opportunity to have their children examined and defects corrected, as far as pos- sible, before they enter school. The Board of Health physician and dentists in charge of this work interview the parents and inform them concerning the numerous services offered, by the local health department for child welfare. Seventy-one children were examined, and de- fects listed as follows-twenty-four enlarged or diseased tonsils,-nine enlarged servical glands-one with a skin eruption-one heart condition-one with poor posture- two had eye squints-twelve received dental certificates and forty-eight parents signed permits to admit their children to the Fall toxoid clinic.
Five girls were sent to the Sterling Health Camp for a period of eight weeks. Selection of children was made on the basis of exposure to tuberculosis. During the summer they follow a carefully planned schedule, get- ting the proper amount of rest, recreation, also a well balanced diet. Each child gained weight-two gained seven pounds each, one three and a half pounds, and the remaining two,-one and a half pounds. The annual sale of Christmas seals maintains the camp, and pays for the services of a nurse to assist at the monthly tuberculosis clinic.
One thousand and seventy-three children in the elementary grades of the parochial schools, were exam- ined by the school inspector, assisted by the nurse. Sev- eral were found with the same defects recorded year after year, however on the whole parents co-operate, and have defects corrected as soon as possible. Upon investigation, in many cases, we find
46
lack of finances the real reason for the apparent indif- ference to the doctor's recommendations. Fortunately we have several organizations, who are always willing to assist in the correction of defects, and have been most generous, whenever called upon for aid. The recipients have been most grateful.
Communicable diseases reported to the Board of Health were quarantined and placarded, according to local requirements. The family received instructions con- cerning precautions necessary to prevent the spread of disease.
At this time I wish to thank all organizations and individuals who have co-operated and assisted in any way.
Respectfully submitted, MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R. N.
47
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen:
This year, the town of Southbridge has been fa- vored with an unprecedented boom in the construction and alteration of new and old buildings, the plumbing business alone showing an increase of almost 100% com- pared to other good years.
Having been active in the plumbing business until my appointment a year ago last June, I realized some of our plumbing laws were somewhat antiquated as to theory and practice, causing no small amount of con- fusion and misunderstanding, much of it to the detri- ment of the property owners. With your kind co-opera- tion and that of the master and journeymen plumbers of this town, we took advantage of the recommendations of the so-called "Hoover Code", dating from 1924, and formulated a schedule of pipe sizes and capacities ade- quate to the requirements of this community. The re- sult has been most satisfactory in the savings from less materials and labor, together with a sanitary aspect that is modern and in accordance with the latest tested and approved practices and methods of the trade.
The general public has no conception of the exact- ing requirements of our more modern plumbing devices, and it is my duty to warn and protect the public from the dangers it would be exposed to if the installations were left to any handyman, or made in a haphazard, hit -. or-miss style, with little or no regard as to the safety of the buildings or their occupants. Therefore, plumbing
48
permits are now required for all types of plumbing work, except the repairing of leaks, and the citizens of this town will reap the benefit through closer supervision and better service from my department.
Your Board also established a schedule of fees for permits in effect from May 1st to Nov. 1st. The fees were, as much as possible, proportionate to the type and amount of work for each job. During that time I collect- ed $781.00, which I turned in to the town Treasurer. This money was voted to me at the special town meeting of Nov. 20, to be applied to my salary for this year.
Here is a detailed report of my work during the year ending Dec. 31st.
Permits granted 399
Number of Inspections
751
Water Tests
134
New Fixtures Installed
1387
Old Fixtures Installed or Relocated
104
Unfinished Jobs 21
Water Closets
New 275
Old 44
Lavatories
New 271
Old 12
Bath Tubs
New 214
Old 7
Kitchen Sinks
New 163
Old
5
Laundry Trays
New 40
Old
4
Urinals
New 11
Old
2
Slop Sinks
New 5
Old
2
Shower Pans
New
19
Sink & Tray Comb.
New
87
Automatic Water Heaters
New 1
Hot Water Tanks
New 186
. . Old 26
Tankless Heaters
New 10
·Oil Burner Coils
New 16
"Gas & Oil Water Heaters
New 68
Old 2
-
49
Water Softeners
New 1
Washing Fountains
New
1
Soda Fountains
New 2
Laboratory Sinks
New 1
Washing Machines
New 1
Drinking Fountains
New 9
Air Conditioning Units
New 2
Water Pumps
New 4
Miscellaneous, Septic
Tanks, Repairs, etc.
New
87
Water Piping Jobs
New 33
I wish to thank sincerely the individual members of your Board, also Miss Houle, your very capable Agent, Mr. Rosario Normandin, the Town Counsel, the master and journeymen plumbers of Southbridge, the citizens and all others I have had dealings with pertaining to my work. Their sincere co-operation and devotion to their responsibilities have enabled me to accomplish an ex- cellent job of sanitation for the past year.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Inspector of Plumbing
50
REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Health,
Gentlemen :
As Milk Inspector, I hereby submit a report of my work for the year ending December 31, 1939, having been appointed by you on April 1, 1939.
The following licenses have been issued :
Peddlers or Vehicles 44
Stores, Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes 76
Oleomargarine 20
Ice Cream Manufacturers 2
I have also visited and inspected the following : Dairy Farms selling milk in Southbridge .. 26 Pasteurizing Plants 3
Ice Cream Plants 2
There is a constantly growing demand from the dairy farmers, the milk dealers, and the pasteurization plant operators, as well as the consumers, for the test- ing of milk sold in this town as is required by the State. Those engaged in the milk industry have to comply to State requirements and are compelled to send out of town for the testing and analizing of samples at great inconvenience and expense to themselves.
These hardships would be eliminated if the testing and analizing of milk was done locally, also it would guarantee a pure and wholesome milk supply to the citizens of this town through a well established and regulated local laboratory, as compared to the slipshod, hit-or-miss style prevalent in the past years.
51
As the Board of Health of this Town responsible for all health measures, it would also enable you to prevent or quickly localize any milk borne disease. Other towns of half our population have been testing and analyzing milk for several years. Evidently these towns and com- munities must have realized some benefits or advantages from such supervision to justify the added expense, otherwise they would have ceased to give to their citizens what would be to them a superfluous and un- necessary service. . . 1
There is still much truth in the old adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". If one is to judge from the statistical tables on diseases, com- piled by the American Medical Association, it must be borne in mind that prevention is by a large margin less costly than the eradication or the cure.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. CHAGNON
52
REPORT OF FOOD INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Health Gentlemen :
During the year, with the cheerful collaboration of your very able Agent, Miss Houle, and acting on the suggestions of the State and Federal Health Authorities, we added to our local Board of Health Rules a series of regulations in regards to Foodstuffs, and also on the same subject, a procedure to be followed in times of fires, floods, hurricanes or other emergencies.
These rules and regulations will greatly clarify and simplify matters if the Town is again afflicted with any catastrophe, and will also prevent the dumping of dam- aged or contaminated goods and merchandise in our markets if other communities are afflicted.
Since my appointment on April 1st, 1939, I have visited and inspected all stores, hotels, restaurants, lunch counters, cafes, markets, bakeries, soda fountains, bottling works and other places where food and mer- chandise are manufactured, kept for sale or stored.
Total number of inspections made 108
The merchants and the manufacturers of this town are cooperating with us in keeping their stores and es- tablishments in a clean and sanitary manner, and any suggestions I have made have met with their approval and have been carried out to the satisfaction of every one concerned.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH- A. CHAGNON
.
53
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Slaugh- tering for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Number of carcasses of beef inspected 15
Number of carcasses of veal inspected 154
Number of carcasses of hog inspected 230
Number of carcasses of sheep inspected . 27
426
Respectfully submitted, HENRY S. AUCOIN Inspector of Slaughtering
54
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE Office of the Building Inspector Building Report of 1939
Number of new homes 81
Estimated value of new homes $445,200.00
Number of new garages 77 (124 stalls)
Estimated value of new garages $22,000.00
Number of alterations 51
Estimated value of alterations $119,571
Total number of permits issued 159
Additional families provided for 145
Total estimated valuation $586,771.00
REMARKS:
The estimated valuation of new buildings, altera- tions, and garages built in 1939 is the highest on record in the history of the town, excluding industrial or pub- lic buildings.
Considering the fact that Southbridge has an assessed valuation of less than $12,000,000.00, the 1939 report would appear to be abnormally high. However, I do not consider it so, but rather believe that in the years immediately after the depression, Southbridge, which was affected only slightly due to its stable industries, needed additional tenements badly, but prospective build- ers fearing a relapse in economic conditions refused to build.
Therefore, I am of the conviction that many new homes built in 1939 should have been built a few years
55
ago, and the present shortage of tenements, despite the large number of new buildings, proves this.
The seemingly high number of garages built in 1939 are in reality insufficient. Southbridge has app. 3800 registrations, or one car for every app. 4 persons which is one of the highest rates in the nation. This leaves the town with approximately 150 stalls short. So one can readily see that many more garages are to be built to house all the cars.
Thus in the final analysis, the 1939 report is not as abnormal as it seems on the surface, and I believe that 1940 will be as great if not greater than 1939.
ARMAND DE ANGELIS,
Building Inspector
57
Report of the TRUSTEES of the JACOB EDWARDS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
TRUSTEES For the Town
Robert P. Montague Seaver Rice
Oswald Laliberte Edward E. LeClair
For the Edwards Bequest
Richard C. Paige, Chairman Gertrude W. Smith
George B. Wells
LIBRARY HOURS
Week Days, except January 1, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Armistice Day until 2 p. m., Thanksgiving Day and Christmas-10 to 12; 2 to 9 p. m .; (when. schools are in session, until 12:15) ; Sundays, October-May (for reading), 2 to 9.
58
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library:
Within a few months, past and future, the Library will be celebrating several anniversaries. Seventy years ago, in 1870, the agitation for a Public Library was be- gun in Southbridge, although it was not until the next year that the circulation of books to the public actually began, and not until 1872 that the Library was establish- ed in its own rooms in the Ammidown Block-rooms giv- en to the Town by Holmes Ammidown for perpetual use as a Public library.
In May, 1940, the Library will complete twenty- five years-a quarter of a century-of its life as the Jacobs Edwards Memorial Library, in the building given to the Town, together with its furnishings and the land on which it stands, by the children of Jacob Edwards- Robert Edwards, Hannah Edwards and Grace Edwards. Since 1926, the Library has received the income from the $50,000 bequest of Robert Edwards. In 1939, the Library began to receive the income from the $50,000 bequest of Hannah M. Edwards. During 1940, the Library should begin to receive the income from the $100,000 bequest to the Library of Miss Grace Edwards. It is largely due to the Edwards family that Southbridge owes its fine Library, of which the Town is justly proud.
To increase the value and usefulness of the Library to the Town, it will be necessary to have a much larger income in the future than the Library has had in the past. Even to keep up to the present standards, more in- come is necessary. Books cost much more, books are used much more and therefore wear out faster; even a build- ing as well built as the Library wears in twenty-five years-needs painting, a new boiler and a new elevator. More assistants are necessary than formerly; salaries and wages will increase. The great need of the Library is technical-practical-books; optics, mechanics, house plans, electricity, vocations, photography, radio, avia-
59
tion, etc. Unfortunately these books cost the most and are outdated most quickly.
Still another anniversary is that of your Librarian, who, on the first of last October, completed forty years as Librarian of the Southbidge Public Library.
Forty years ago, 20,026 volumes were circulated- to our townspeople; in 1939-as in every year since 1931 -more than 100,000 volumes were circulated.
In 1900, there were 17,655 bound volumes in the Library, but 1700 of these were public documents used almost not at all, and 2,000 bound periodicals. Now nearly all outmoded, out of date, poor quality, little used books have been eliminated. With few exceptions, the books now in the Library are up to date, worthwhile books, the best we could afford to buy in their line. A public library deteriorates at once if new books are not bought along all lines each year. There are 27,514 volumes in the Library.
Registration
In 1900, 4,117 names were registered. Since October, a reregistration of all borrowers has been in progress; 6.375 names have been registered or newly added; hun- dreds of other names will be gradually reregistered as' they use the Library. Great numbers of our townspeople read books from the Library though they are not regis- tered-they read books relatives or friends have borrowed.
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