USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1885 > Part 15
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The sewer in Pine Meadow was opened early in April, and was rapidly pushed to completion. The Putnam Lane branch being through rock, delayed the completion of the work till the first of September. The whole tract of meadow land can now be drained by lateral sewers and made valuable. Across the meadow, Shrewsbury street is comprised entirely of layers of filling, put on from year to year. The sewer is laid on timber foundation in the centre of the fill. It was thought that the road-bed had settled all that it ever would when the sewer was built. It is found that such is not the case, and that the road still settles, carrying with it the sewer. A portion of the sewer is cracked and has spread some. It has been shored up to make it safe, and when sufficient time has elapsed for the road-bed to find hard bottom, will need to be relaid.
The sewer in Franklin street and Bloomingdale road was ren- dered very costly on account of the looseness of the soil and the previous location of a private sewer in the centre of the street.
238
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
The presence of this private sewer increased the cost of the public sewer at least one-third. Permission should never be given private citizens to occupy public streets with sewers in locations which may be wanted later for public sewers.
The most important work done the past year is the completion of the Crystal-Maywood street tunnel, which was in course of construction at the close of last year. This work, which was begun Sept. 10, 1884, was completed and the waters of Lincoln brook passed through it Oct. 16, 1885. The greatest hindrance to the work was the formation of the rock through which the tunnel was driven. It was in alternate ridges and depressions, so that there was liability at any time to run out of rock and into earth, an event always attended by loss of time and progress in tunneling, and in two instances necessitating an open cut from the surface of the street, which was thirty-eight feet above grade. These sections of open cutting materially added to the cost of the job, and added at least a month to the time required to do it. One section of earth was successfully tunneled, the soil being very dry. During the winter one great source of trouble was the freezing of the air-pipes, and consequent loss of time; this occurred on damp rather than very cold days.
In deference to citizens living near the tunnel, no blasting was allowed after eleven o'clock at night. To meet this requirement, and after a good deal of experimenting, it was found to be the most economical plan to require the drillers to work from twelve to fifteen hours, and to drill a heading and blast it each day. After the gas was removed a small gang of men entered each drift during the night, and cleared away the débris from the heading, so that drilling might begin at seven A. M. By this plan it was possible to get six blasts of three feet in each of the four headings weekly, or seventy-two feet advance, a result not attainable by any other arrangement.
Atlas powder was used during the greater part of the work as an explosive ; latterly a new powder called Forcite was used with better results. The gases from these powders are very pungent in the confined atmosphere of a tunnel, and workmen are fre-
239
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
quently overcome by them. The Forcite is the least objection- able in this respect. Both these explosives are rated at 75 per cent. nitro-glycerine.
Surface sewers have been built in both Crystal and Maywood streets to accommodate abutting estates, and these sewers have been connected with the tunnel beneath them through suitable stone inlet-basins, the one in Maywood street being the more elab- orate and built of cut-stone masonry. Both Crystal and Maywood streets have been graded and surfaced and placed in good condi- tion. Curves to accommodate catch-basins were put in at Main, Woodland and Florence streets. The only cause for anxiety is that two sections of about 200 feet each of the surface sewer were built in the recently filled sections of open cut ; these may settle and require to be relaid, but as both are pipe sewers and the distance not great, the expense will not be heavy.
It is a most satisfactory reflection that in this important work, necessitating the use of crude hoisting apparatus, raising an im- mense amount of material from forty to fifty feet, and in the almost continual use of a compound of the highest explosive known, for thirteen successive months, amounting in the aggre- gate to 17,000 pounds, that no person, either visitor or workman, received any serious injury.
The extension of the sewer through Park avenue, Tufts and Mason streets was begun in April and has been built as rapidly as posssible to the present time ; rock of considerable depth was found between Maywood and May streets. The sewer was com- pleted to Lincoln brook and the brook turned into the sewer on the day of the inspection by the sewer committee October 16th.
At present the section of sewer in Tufts and Mason streets is being built and it is hoped to complete it to the east line of Winslow street by February 1st.
The section in Mason street is developing a very bad quicksand, and this with frost very materially retards the progress.
The entire length of sewer built the past year, including the surface sewer in Crystal and Maywood streets, is 15,539 feet, or 2.94 miles ; with 63 catch-basins and 71 man-holes, making the
240
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
sewer system to consist of 50.94 miles of sewer, 1856 man-holes, 1082 catch-basins ; 333 permits to enter sewers have been granted the past year. Brick enough have been purchased and are in store to last the department until new brick are made next year. Two million one hundred and sixty-six thousand brick have been purchased of Gault & Head the past year.
A schedule of the personal property belonging to the depart- ment may be seen at the Superintendent's office.
Respectfully submitted.
R. H. CHAMBERLAIN,
Supt. of Sewers.
WORCESTER, December 31, 1885.
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1885.
Alderman-JOHN R. THAYER,
M. D. GILMAN,
Councilmen ₹ JAMES EARLY, At Large-DR. JOSEPH SARGENT, ALBERT CURTIS,
Terms expire, 1886.
Term expires 1886.
1887.
STEPHEN SALISBURY, DR. THOMAS H. GAGE,
1888.
1889.
ORGANIZATION.
President-ALBERT CURTIS. Secretary-STEPHEN SALISBURY.
Auditors
JOHN R. THAYER.
JAMES EARLY.
Superintendent and Resident Physician.
DR CHARLES A. PEABODY.
Board of Commissioners of the Jaques Fund and Other Funds of the City Hospital.
ALBERT CURTIS,
Term expires 1886.
BENJAMIN WALKER, 1887.
CHARLES B. PRATT,
1888.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40. MEDICAL STAFF, 1885.
Consulting Physicians and Surgeons.
Joseph Sargent, M. D. Thomas H. Gage, M. D. Oramel Martin, M. D. Visiting Staff. Surgeons. J. Marcus Rice, M. D. Albert Wood, M. D. Emerson Warner, M. D. George E. Francis, M. D.
Physicians.
John O. Marble, M. D. Wm. H. Workman, M. D. Leonard Wheeler, M. D. Wesley Davis, M. D. (). H. Everett, M. D.
J. Bartlett Rich, M. D.
Oculist and Aurist. LEWIS S. DIXON, M. D. Pathologist. S. B. WOODWARD, M. D. House Officer. FRANKLIN M. EATON.
ORGANIZATION.
President- Secretary-CHARLES A. PEABODY, M. D.
LEONARD WHEELER, M. D.
Committee on Reports J. O. MARBLE, M. D. J. BARTLETT RICH, M. D. J. MARCUS RICE, M. D. Committee of Conference E. WARNER, M. D. A. WOOD, M. D.
Superintendent of Nurses. MISS GEORGEANNA RUSSELL .- Resigned. MISS Z. E. WHITAKER.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES.
To His Honor the Mayor, and to the City Council :
The Trustees of the City Hospital of the City of Worcester present their Fifteenth Annual Report, for the year ending November 30, 1885.
The ordinance establishing the City Hospital requires the Trustees, on the first Monday of January in each year, to present to the City Council an estimate of the amount of money required for maintaining and conducting the Hospital for the current financial year, and to report in detail the receipts and expendi- tures of the Hospital during the preceding financial year, to- gether with such other matter in reference to the general state of the institution as they may judge to be of public interest.
RECEIPTS.
The receipts during the preceding year, as copied from the books of the City Auditor, have been as follows, viz. :--
From the Appropriation by the City Government, $8,000 00
Commissioners of the Funds,
6,944 62
66 Board of paying patients, 2,282 10
Commonwealth for state paupers, 1,816 25
Making an aggregate of
$19,042 97
EXPENDITURES.
The expenditures have been ---
For Salaries and wages,
$6,041 90
Groceries and provisions,
4,108 03
Medicines and surgical instruments,
1,116 03
Crockery, tinware, etc., furniture, fixtures and repairs,
288 15
Fuel,
1,509 37
Gas,
715 20
244
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
Dry goods and bedding, rubber goods, hardware, etc., Ice,
598 98
155 54
Water rates,
257 60
Printing, stationery and blank-books,
173 57
Postage, telegrams, express, telephone and messages,
87 30
Blacksmithing,
19 10
Labor of man and team, repairs of harness, trucking and freight,
177 51
Board of horse, horse hire and hacks,
380 34
Traveling expenses,
37 00
Seeds, etc.,
33 00
Legal expenses,
81 73
Painting and repairs on buildings,
1,003 97
Phaeton,
220 00
Heating apparatus, boiler, and putting in sa'me,
355 77
Building foul ward, and grading,
1,431 34
$18,791 43
Balance to Sinking Fund,
251 54
$19,042 97
The report of last year informed the City Council of the generous gift of six thousand dollars from Mrs. Sarah Gill, for the erection of a new pavilion for male patients, commemorative of her late husband, George W. Gill. Very early in the year, a com- mittee of the Trustees was appointed to report upon the proper method of carrying out the purposes of the gift, and soon after, the Trustees were authorized and directed by an order of the City Council to proceed to the erection of the pavilion. On the 4th of April the committee submitted a plan prepared by Messrs. Russell & Huidekoper, architects, in accordance with suggestions from Dr. Peabody, Superintendent, who had given the subject a great deal of attention and study, and who had visited other hospitals and corresponded with superintendents in the interest of this institution. The sanitary arrangements in this plan were suggested by those in the Johns Hopkins Hospital, at Baltimore, and were regarded as admirable. The plan itself contemplated a pavilion somewhat larger than those already erected both for the advantage of the Hospital and also to provide for as large a number as possible of the class of patients whom Mrs. Gill said it would have gratified her husband to assist.
245
CITY HOSPITAL.
The plan included also the erection of a building in front of the pavilion for administration rooms, and for separate rooms for patients whose disease or condition required isolation or special accommodation. This front building would also conform to the architectural front of the hospital buildings. It was soon ascertained that the generosity of Mrs. Gill would not meet the cost of all this structure. Thereupon our associate, Mr. Stephen Salisbury, with the considerate munificence which is a part of his inheritance, proposed to meet any expenditure that this enlarged scope might call for, coupling his proposition with the delicate condition that it should first be approved by Mrs. Gill. This excellent lady accepted at once, and Mr. Salisbury's proposition was presented to the City Council and was immediately and gratefully accepted.
The ways and means being thus provided, the final plans were completed and approved, and the specifications drawn up ; and the President advertised for proposals for the building. These were all in by the 20th of June, and were submitted to the Board, in conference with Mr. Charles H. Peck, Superintendent of Public Buildings, who had previously attended all our meet- ings and given us valuable counsel. The proposition of Mr. I. B. Crosby was found to be the most favorable and was accepted.
Mr. Crosby immediately entered upon his work, and every- thing has been done in the most thorough manner, under the direction of the architects, Messrs. Russell & Huidekoper, whose good sense, good taste and fidelity should be commended, with the approbation of Mr. Peck and the daily supervision of Dr. Peabody.
The buildings now approach completion. The Gill Memorial Ward will accommodate 20 patients, and the building which we call the Salisbury and which is two stories high, with an elevator, contains nine rooms, each with an open fire-place, and all neces- sary sanitary provisions.
The cost has been-
The Gill Memorial Ward. $6,000 00 The Salisbury, something more than 9,000 00
17
246
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
The city is to be congratulated for these valuable additions, without municipal expenditure, for the care of the sick and the needy, who may get here all the advantages of skill and care that humanity and wealth can provide.
THE KNOWLES BEQUEST.
The bequest of Mrs. Knowles has not yet been added to the means of the Hospital, and we have no official knowledge of our relation to it.
THE TRAINING SCHOOL.
The school for nurses, originally established to secure to our- selves good service, has worked very much to our good, and is also a considerable public advantage. Our advanced pupils sup- ply a public want, in care of patients outside of the hospital, under Dr. Peabody's direction, and also bring in some income to the Hospital. The attention of the City Council is called to what Dr. Peabody says upon this subject.
THE ISOLATED WARD.
The isolated ward, which has been erected without additional appropriation from the City Government, takes the place of the corridor which was originally erected for communication with a future pavilion and which has been occupied as an isolated ward for three years, and is now the means of entrance to the Gill Memorial Ward. The new building is as good as the narrow- ness of our territory will admit.
What Dr. Peabody has to say about the Laundry, and ampler accommodations for nurses when off duty, should be judiciously considered.
The number of patients the last year has been larger than ever before. The proportion of males to females-335 to 133- shows how important it has been for us to provide for the larger number of males.
247
CITY HOSPITAL.
The average mortality has been somewhat less than usual, having been 7.6 per cent. It was 10 per cent. in 1884, and 6.87 per cent. in 1883. Eleven of the 37 who have died within the last year died within 24 hours after their admission, and can scarcely be considered as having been treated.
WEEKLY EXPENSE.
The average weekly expense of patients the last year has been $ 9 54
In 1884 it was. 10 33
And in 1883 it was 9 83
ESTIMATE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY REQUIRED FOR MAINTAIN- ING AND CONDUCTING THE HOSPITAL FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
The Trustees feel themselves considerably embarrassed in regard to this estimate. The considerable enlargement of the Hospital, with the probability of an increased number of pa- tients, will call for more fuel, more light, more expense of nurs- ing, and more of all that goes to the nourishment and treatment of the patients. Also, the Gill Memorial Ward and the Salisbury will need to be furnished. And, further, the amount of receipts to be expected from paying patients is quite uncertain. This amount during the last year has been swollen by the large payment of $547.00 from the Boston, Barre & Gardner road for care of patients after the great disaster on that road in November, 1883. After careful consideration of every item of expected expense, as laid before the Board by Dr. Peabody, whose experience here makes his calculations very accurate, the Trustees hope to be able to conduct the Hospital during the current year with an appro- priation from the city of $12,000.00, in addition to their other income; $1,500 of this $12,000 to be applied to furnishing the new buildings.
248
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
In closing this report the Trustees are glad to repeat their recognition of the fidelity and good judgment of the Superin- tendent, Dr. Charles A. Peabody, and of the ready and cheerful assistance which he has from Mrs. Peabody as Matron.
The work of the Medical and Surgical Staff cannot be too highly commended. Skillful men who give so much of their time to gratuitous service in care of the sick are great public benefactors.
In behalf and by order of the Trustees.
ALBERT CURTIS,
President.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND RESIDENT PHYSICIAN.
To the Trustees of the City Hospital.
GENTLEMEN : - I respectfully submit my Annual Report for the year ending November 30, 1885.
PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL, DECEMBER 1, 1884.
Males, 19
Females, 8
Total,
27
Medical, 14
Surgical, 13
Paying, 2
Free, 25
ADMITTED FROM DECEMBER 1, 1884, TO DECEMBER 1, 1885.
Males, 316
Females, 125
Total,
441
Medical, 197
Surgical, 244
Paying, 50
Free,
391
Accidents, 141
Births,
1
TREATED DURING THE YEAR.
Males, 335
Females, 133
Total,
468
Medical, 211
Surgical, 257
Paying,
52
Free,
416
DISCHARGED DURING THE YEAR.
Males, 317
Females, 120
Total, 437
-
Medical, 199
Surgical, 238
Paying, 47
Free,
390
CONDITION OF THOSE DISCHARGED.
Well,
209
Not treated, 8
Relieved,
164
Eloped,
6
Not relieved,
14
Died,
37
250
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
REMAINING NOVEMBER 30, 1885.
Males, 18
Females, 13
Total, 31
Medical, 12
Surgical, 19
Paying, 5
Free, 26
Largest number of patients in the Hospital, 43 ; smallest, 25. Daily average, 32.94 : - of males, 20.39 ; - of females, 12.55. Average time in Hospital, 24.19 days : paying patients, 19.62 ; free patients, 24.7.
For paying patients the rate per week has varied from $3.00 to $35.00 ; the average being $9.21.
Of the free patients, there belonged to the City, 193 ; to other towns, 37; to the State, 161.
Cause of Death :- Injury, 13; Bright's disease, 4; cancer, 3 ; meningitis, 3 ; quick consumption, 3 ; phthisis, 2; pneumonia, 2 ; cirrhosis, exhaustion, heart disease, intestinal obstruction, sep- ticæmia, typhoid fever, unknown, 1 each. 1
Death Rate : - 7.6. About one-third of the deaths occurred within twenty-four hours after admission.
RESIDENCE OF PATIENTS ADMITTED.
Worcester,
388
Other Towns in Massachusetts,
44
Other States,
9
441
BIRTHPLACE.
Males.
Females.
Total.
Worcester,
35
9
44
Other Towns,
51
16
67
Other States,
42
19
61
172
Ireland,
103
41
144
Great Britain,
25
9
34
British Provinces,
16
16
32
Other Countries,
44
15
59
269
251
CITY HOSPITAL.
OCCUPATION.
MALES.
Laborers,
107
Bartenders,
2
Mechanics,
57
Butchers,
2
Millhands,
13
Roofers,
2
Painters,
13
Artist,
1
R. R. employés,
11
Cigarmaker,
1
Teamsters,
11
Currier,
1
Farmers,
11
Fireman,
1
Carpenters,
9
Reporter,
1
Masons,
8
Sailor,
1
Clerks,
8
Steward,
1
Moulders,
5
Tailor,
1
Hostlers,
5
Tanner,
1
Bakers,
3
Tinker,
1
Barbers,
3
Woolsorter,
1
Printers,
3
Minors,
24
Peddlers,
3
-
Students,
3
316
Accountants,
2
FEMALES.
Housewives,
54
Cooks,
2
Domestics,
43
Doctor,
1
Minors,
9
Matron,
1
Laundresses,
4
School Teacher,
1
Nurses,
4
Dressmakers,
3
125
Operatives,
3
CIVIL CONDITION.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Single,
188
Single,
52
Married,
102
Married,
53
Widowers,
26
Widows,
20
Of the male patients 34 per cent. were laborers and 68 per cent. were single or widowers ; of the females 34 per cent. were domestics and 58 per cent. were single or widows.
REFUSED ADMISSION.
Males, 23
Females, 13
Total,
36
Medical, 23
Surgical,
11
Confinements,
2
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
Since the hospital was opened 3,500 patients have been admit- ted. Nearly one-seventh of the whole number has been cared for during the past year, exceeding by 20 per cent. the record of any previous year. The number of accidents admitted has in- creased in about the same proportion. During a considerable part of the year the hospital has been crowded, every available bed being occupied. The proportion of patients with slight ail- ments has been small, and about one applicant in twelve has been refused admission.
The indications for the need of more room have thus been very apparent, and we have cause to be grateful for the wise and kindly munificence which has added to the hospital the new Salisbury and Gill Memorial wards.
Notwithstanding the crowded condition of the hospital and the serious nature of many of the cases treated, the results have never been more satisfactory. These good results must be attributed largely to the care that has been taken of the patient and his sur- roundings. To banish from the Hospital, as far as is possible, the atmosphere of disease, and to have the wants of the patients faith- fully, conscientiously and intelligently attended to, are great helps in securing, not only the comfort and well-being of the patients, but also the confidence of the community. So far as these re- sults have already been secured, it is largely due to the training school for nurses which has brought to our aid an enthusiastic, devoted, intelligent and skillful service far superior to what could be had in any other way ; and though such a service, of necessity, costs more than the old way yet the amount of good that is ac- complished thereby cannot be measured by dollars and cents. In view of what has just been said, it is gratifying to know that the cost of caring for the patients has been, per capita, consid- erably less than ever before.
Work on the new buildings has been pushed as rapidly as is desirable and the construction has been very thorough and satis- factory. The general arrangement of the buildings is that of one of the other wards, but somewhat expanded, and with some changes in detail suggested by experience. The Gill memorial ward will accommodate twenty beds, and there are in the Salis-
253
CITY HOSPITAL.
bury, besides some rooms designed for special cases, several rooms for private patients. The small wooden pavilion erected by the City is to be used as an isolating ward and will contain four beds.
This provides very well for the present needs of the male side of the Hospital, but the demand for more room for women is now great and increasing. We have fifteen beds in the female ward. During the year the daily average number of fe- male patients (not counting those in private rooms) has been more than twelve,-of course the ward has been crowded much of the time. Then there is no arrangement whereby we can isolate objectionable female patients from the others. This is saying nothing of the maternity ward, which we now begin to hope for, and in behalf of which I can only reiterate the language of my previous reports.
What was said in my last report about our laundry needs to be repeated. Our present arrangement does not correspond at all with the rest of the Hospital, and should be considered as, at best, only a temporary affair. It should be removed from under the windows of the ward as soon as may be ; and I would recom- mend the purchase, if possible, of additional land at the rear of our present lot for laundry purposes.
Additional accommodations for the help must soon be provided. A dormitory or " Home " for nurses, however, would relieve the Hospital from the present necessity for such provision.
The ambulance owned by the Hospital is taken care of by the Police Department, which also furnishes the " service." This arrangement has worked well, so far, and the requests of the Hospital have always been courteously received at the Police Office and promptly answered.
The Training School for Nurses has now completed its second year, and the first class of five pupils is ready for graduation. The results thus far have been all that we hoped for, and the promise for the future is equally good.
During the last six months of the course the nurses are sent to private cases outside the Hospital. The object of this is two- fold : first, to secure a revenue for the nursing department of
254
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 40.
the Hospital ; second, to familiarize the nurses with the peculiari- ties of private practice while they are still under the control and instruction of the Hospital. Each member of the graduating class has been sent out to such work, and many expressions of esteem and satisfaction for and with the nurses and their work have been received.
In the month of September, Miss Russell, who had held the position of Superintendent of Nurses with much ability, was forced by ill-health to resign. We have been fortunate in secu ring as her successor Miss Z. E. Whitaker, for some years Principal of the New-York Hospital Training-School. She comes to us with a brilliant record and every promise of usefulness and suc- cess.
During the year the nurses have had several lectures from members of the visiting staff, and a series of lectures or lessons on cooking and preparing articles of diet and drink for the sick, given by Mrs. Peabody.
They have also received bedside instruction, and had stated examinations by the visiting staff.
The Patients' Library has received some valuable donations of books, which have been much appreciated. Many friends have kindly remembered the Hospital with timely gifts, and have otherwise shown their interest in our work.
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