USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1888 > Part 10
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105 00
100 00
180
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
City Marshal, team furnished
$1,500 00
Captain of police
1,200 00
Sergeant of police, $3 per day.
Fourteen policemen, each .
1,000 00
Two policemen
900 00
Two policemen
825 00
Two policemen
750 00
First year of service .
750 00
Second year of service
825 00.
Third year of service
900 00
Fourth and subsequent years
1,000 00
POOR DEPARTMENT.
Seven overseers of poor, each
$50 00
City almoner and clerk of board
1,000 00
Warden of almshouse
700 00
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Water registrar $1,800 00
Superintendent of water-works, team furnished, 1,700 00
Inspector of meters and fixtures
1,200 00
Clerk
624 00
Engineer at pumping station, with house-rent
1,200 00
Fireman and watchman, pumping station, with house-rent . 600 00
181
SCHOOLS.
Superintendent .
$2,800 00
One teacher
3,000 00
One teacher
2,200 00
One teacher
2,000 00
Eight teachers, at $1,900
15,200 00
One teacher
1,800 00
One teacher
1,700 00
One teacher
1,200 00
Two teachers, at $1,500
3,000 00
Four teachers, at $1,000
4,000 00
Two teachers, at $950
1,900 00
One teacher
900 00
Nineteen teachers, at $750
14,250 00
Forty-nine teachers, at $600
29,400 00
Six teachers, at $550
3,300 00
Six teachers, at $500
3,000 00
Two teachers, at $450
900 00
One teacher
400 00
One teacher
220 00
One teacher
180 00
Secretary of School Committee .
300 00
JANITORS.
One janitor
$1,092 00
One janitor ·
768 00
One janitor
696 00
One janitor
624 00
One janitor
588 00
One janitor
456 00
182
One janitor
. 372 00
Three janitors, at $360
1,080 00
One janitor
276 00
Two janitors, at $264
528 00
One janitor
144 00
One janitor
108 00
One janitor
96 00
LIBRARY.
Librarian .
$800 00
Assistant librarian
500 00
Three assistants, each 450 .
1,350 00
Janitor
800 00
OFFICERS
OF THE
NEWTON CITY GOVERNMENT,
1889.
MAYOR. HEMAN M. BURR. Office Hour at City Hall: 9 A. M. Daily.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN. President, GEORGE PETTEE.
WARD ONE. EDWIN O. CHILDS.
WARD THREE.
ADAMS K. TOLMAN.
WARD FIVE. GEORGE PETTEE.
WARD TWO. N. HENRY CHADWICK. WARD FOUR. FREDERICK JOHNSON. WARD SIX. WILLIAM F. HARBACH.
WARD SEVEN. JOHN C. KENNEDY.
STANDING COMMITTEES, BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Committee on Elections and Returns.
ALDERMEN.
GEORGE PETTEE. EDWIN O. CHILDS.
Committee on Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions.
ALDERMEN.
EDWIN O. CHILDS.
JOHN C. KENNEDY,
184
STANDING COMMITTEES, BOARD MAYOR AND ALDERMEN. Committee on Police.
THE MAYOR. ALDERMEN.
FREDERICK JOHNSON. JOHN C. KENNEDY.
Committee on Licenses, Weights and Measures.
ALDERMEN.
FREDERICK JOHNSON. N. HENRY CHADWICK.
Regular meetings of the Board, first and third Mondays of each month, at 7.15 P. M.
Clerk of Board of Aldermen. ISAAC F. KINGSBURY.
COMMON COUNCIL.
President, LAWRENCE BOND.
WARD ONE. ALBERT W. RICE.
REUBEN FORKNALL.
WARD TWO. JOHN A. FENNO. EDMUND T. WISWALL. WARD FOUR. EVERETT E. MOODY.
WARD THREE.
LAWRENCE BOND.
ARTHUR F. LUKE.
FREDERICK J. RANLETT.
WARD FIVE. FRANK J. HALE.
WARD SIX. GEORGE F. RICHARDSON.
ELLIOTT J. HYDE.
ALBERT H. ROFFE,
WARD SEVEN. LOUIS A. HALL.
EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
Committee on Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions.
COUNCILMEN.
EVERETT E. MOODY. EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN. ELLIOTT J. HYDE.
Regular meetings of the Common Council, second and fourth Mon- days of each month, 7.15 P. M.
Clerk of Common Council.
JOHN C. BRIMBLECOM.
185
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF CITY COUNCIL.
Committee on Finance and Salaries.
ALDERMEN.
ADAMS K. TOLMAN. EDWIN O. CHILDS.
COUNCILMEN. President LAWRENCE BOND.
EVERETT E. MOODY.
JOHN A. FENNO.
Committee on Accounts.
ALDERMEN.
EDWIN O. CHILDS. ADAMS K. TOLMAN.
COUNCILMEN.
GEORGE F. RICHARDSON. LOUIS A. HALL. ELLIOTT J. HYDE.
Committee on Public Property.
ALDERMEN.
GEORGE PETTEE. N. HENRY CHADWICK.
COUNCILMEN.
ALBERT H. ROFFE. REUBEN FORKNALL.
LOUIS A. HALL.
Committee on State Aid, Soldiers' Relief, and Military Affairs.
ALDERMEN.
N. HENRY CHADWICK. EDWIN O. CHILDS.
COUNCILMEN.
ARTHUR F. LUKE. REUBEN FORKNALL.
ALBERT H. ROFFE.
Committee on Fuel and Street Lights.
ALDERMEN.
FREDERICK JOHNSON.
JOHN C. KENNEDY.
JOHN A. FENNO.
COUNCILMEN. FRANK J. HALE. ARTHUR F. LUKE.
186
Committee on Fire Department. ALDERMEN.
GEORGE PETTEE.
N. HENRY CHADWICK.
COUNCILMEN.
FREDERICK J. RANLETT. EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN. GEORGE F. RICHARDSON.
Committee on Highways, Streets and Ways, Sidewalks, Drains and Culverts.
ALDERMEN.
WILLIAM F. HARBACH. GEORGE PETTEE. N. HENRY CHADWICK. COUNCILMEN.
EVERETT E. MOODY.
EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN.
ALBERT W. RICE. ARTHUR F. LUKE.
Committee on Printing. ALDERMAN. FREDERICK JOHNSON.
COUNCILMEN.
EVERETT E. MOODY.
EDMUND T. WISWALL.
Committee on Ordinances.
ALDERMEN.
EDWIN O. CHILDS. WILLIAM F. HARBACH.
COUNCILMEN.
FREDERICK J. RANLETT. JOHN A. FENNO. FRANK J. HALE.
Committee on Claims.
ALDERMEN.
JOHN C. KENNEDY. N. HENRY CHADWICK.
COUNCILMEN. President LAWRENCE BOND.
FREDERICK J. RANLETT. ELLIOTT J. HYDE.
187
Committee on Almshouse and Poor. ALDERMAN. GEORGE PETTEE. COUNCILMEN.
EDMUND T. WISWALL. GEORGE F. RICHARDSON.
Committee on Assessors' Department.
ALDERMAN. WILLIAM F. HARBACHI. COUNCILMEN.
EVERETT E. MOODY. ELLIOTT J. HYDE.
Highway Surveyors. ALDERMEN.
WILLIAM F. HARBACH. GEORGE PETTEE. N. HENRY CHADWICK. COUNCILMEN.
EVERETT E. MOODY. EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN.
ALBERT W. RICE. ARTHUR F. LUKE.
Committee on Parks, Squares, and Burial Grounds.
ALDERMEN.
GEORGE PETTEE. FREDERICK JOHNSON.
COUNCILMEN.
ALBERT W. RICE. EDMUND T. WISWALL.
ALBERT H. ROFFE.
JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Sewerage.
ALDERMEN.
N. HENRY CHADWICK. ADAMS K. TOLMAN.
ALBERT W. RICE.
COUNCILMEN. FRANK J. HALE.
FREDERICK J. RANLETT.
188
Rules and Orders. ALDERMEN.
EDWIN O. CHILDS.
WILLIAM F. HARBACH. COUNCILMEN.
FREDERICK J. RANLETT. JOHN A. FENNO. FRANK J. HALE.
Read Fund. ALDERMEN.
JOHN C. KENNEDY. EDWIN O. CHILDS.
COUNCILMEN.
ALBERT W. RICE.
REUBEN FORKNALL.
EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN.
LOUIS A. HALL.
Clerk of Committees. BENJAMIN F. OTIS.
TRUSTEES OF NEWTON FREE LIBRARY.
JOHN S. FARLOW, President.
Alderman KENNEDY.
Councilman HALE.
JULIUS L. CLARKE.
EDWIN B. HASKELL.
A. LAWRENCE EDMANDS. WM. CLAFLIN.
Meetings first Tuesday in each month, 7 o'clock P. M.
BOARD OF HEALTH. THE MAYOR, ex-officio. OTIS PETTEE, President.
Alderman ADAMS K. TOLMAN. JESSE F. FRISBIE.
Councilman EDMUND T. WISWALL. J. FRANKLIN FULLER.
Clerk and Agent of Board. WILLIAM S. FRENCH.
Agent for Inspection of Plumbing.
WILLIAM S. FRENCH. Meetings first and third Tuesdays in each month, 4.20 P. M.
189
WATER BOARD. EDWARD W. CATE, President.
Alderman WILLIAM F. HARBACH. Councilman EDMUND T. WISWALL. FRANCIS A. DEWSON. LEVI C. WADE. Clerk. ALBERT S. GLOVER,
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS, AND TRUSTEES OF THE READ FUND.
GEORGE S. BULLENS. GEORGE C. LORD.
ALDEN SPEARE.
CITY SOLICITOR. WINFIELD S. SLOCUM.
ASSESSORS. SAMUEL M. JACKSON, Chairman.
HOWARD B. COFFIN. CHARLES A. MINER, Clerk.
Assistant Assessors.
WARD ONE.
R. ORLANDO EVANS. WARD THREE. WILLARD P. PLIMPTON. WARD FIVE. WILLIAM E. CLARKE.
WARD TWO. ALBERT A. SAVAGE. WARD FOUR. BERNARD EARLY. WARD SIX. GEORGE WARREN.
WARD SEVEN. EDWARD W. COBB.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS. GEORGE E. BRIDGES, Chairman. GEORGE H. BOURNE. RICHARD T. SULLIVAN.
Clerk. ISAAC F. KINGSBURY. OVERSEERS OF POOR. THE MAYOR, ex-officio.
WARD ONE. R. ORLANDO EVANS. WARD THREE. ANDREW J. FISKE. WARD FIVE. EUGENE FANNING.
WARD TWO. JOHN F. PAYNE. WARD FOUR. NATHAN MOSMAN. WARD SIX. GEORGE WARREN.
WARD SEVEN. JOHN WARNER.
190
Clerk. NATHAN MOSMAN.
Meetings first Thursday in each month, 3.45 P. M.
SECRETARY OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THOMAS EMERSON (Superintendent of Schools). Office at High School. Hours, Monday, 2 to 4 and 6.30 to 8 P. M.
OFFICERS AT CITY HALL.
P. O. Adress, West Newton, Mass. City Clerk, ISAAC F. KINGSBURY. City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, JOHN A. KENRICK. Deputy Collector of Taxes, MOSES CLARK, Jr. Auditor, BENJAMIN F. OTIS. City Engineer, ALBERT F. NOYES. Assessor and Clerk of Board, CHARLES A. MINER. Water Registrar, ALBERT S. GLOVER. City Almoner, Clerk of Overseers of Poor, NATHAN MOSMAN. City Messenger. J. D. WELLINGTON. City Marshal, CHARLES F. RICHARDSON.
OFFICE HOURS. S.15 A. M. to 12.30 P. M. 2 to 5 P. M.
Except Saturdays in June, July, August and September, when the hours are from 8.15 A. M. to 12.30 P. M.
Chief of Fire Department, HENRY L. BIXBY. Hours at City Hall, 2 to 5 P. M. Superintendent of Streets, WILLIAM E. FULLER. Hours at City Hall, 11.30 A. M. to 12 M., 4.30 to 5 P. M. Superintendent of Water Works, H. N. HYDE, Jr. Office at Pipe Yard, Austin Street, Newtonville.
Agent Board of Health, WILLIAM S. FRENCH. Hours at City Hall, 8.15 to 10.15 A. M.
STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE CITY CLERK FROM THE RECORDS OF HIS OFFICE.
MARRIAGES REGISTERED, 1888.
January
15
August .
. 12
February
17
September
17
March
8
October
26
April
14
November
23
May
16
December
21
June
33
July
15
Total
217
Birthplaces of the Above Contracting Parties.
Groom.
Bride.
United States
128
105
Ireland .
49
66
England .
10
5
Scotland
2
2
Spain
1
Wales
1
1
1
India
1
Totals
217
217
American
128
105
Foreign .
89
112
Totals
217
217
Canada .
26
36
France
1
Germany
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN 1888.
WARDS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
TOTAL
AGGREGATE.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
January
3
4
6
1
5
3
3
6
5
1
3
17
27
44
February
5
1
5
2
3
March
3
7
4
3
3
2
2
4
3
2
1
18
20
38
April .
5
3
6
6
1
6
3
1
1
4
4
3
22
21
43
May
3
4
9
2
2
4
2
2
4
1
1
1
18
17
35
.
4
3
5
4
5
3
4
2
1
3
3
3
1
30
15
45
July
2
1
9
2
2
5
3
2
4
6
6
1
1
1
19
24
13
August
4
3
5
6
2
3
5
2
2
2
1
1
2
4
18
25
43
September .
7
7
3
4
2
4
1
3
2
3
2
2
1
1
18
24
42
November .
·
5
2
5
3
5
5
2
4
1
5
1
26
12
38
Totals
38
43
59
50
31
43
39
26
25
30
49
30
16
15
257
237
494
Aggregate .
.
81
109
74
65
55
79
31
494
-
-
-
.
4
4
3
5
2
2
3
3
6
6
3
-
2
20
23
43
December .
·
6
1
1
29
11
40
·
-
22
18
40
4
7
3
1
1
9
3
June
7
4
October
-
.
--
1
2 - ! No | Fema e.
192
193
Birthplace of Parents.
Fathers.
Mothers.
United States
247
249
Ireland .
118
111
England .
40
38
Canada .
24
21
Nova Scotia .
28
38
New Brunswick
10
15
Newfoundland
4
4
Scotland
5
5
Sweden .
3
1
France
1
Holland .
1
Italy
1
1
West India
1
1
Dutch Guiana
1
1
Japan
1
-
Totals
494
494
American
247
249
Foreign .
247
245
Totals
494
494
6
4
Prince Edward Island
3
5
Germany
-
.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Fema e.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
39
January
4
3
3
7
3
3
1
4
4
3
1
1
1
1
17
22
29
February
.
2
3
4
3
2
2
2
3
4
2
1
1
2
4
3
3
14
12
26
May
.
.
1
4
4
3
2
2
3
1
3
1
1
June
2
1
3
5
3
4
6
1
1
3
3
4
1
1.
27
18
45
July
24
August
2
2
3
3
2
1
2
2
2
3
3
4
September .
·
1
3
5
2
3
1
1
1
6
1
1
2
1
1
13
9
22
October
.
-
-
.
1
4
3
2
1
2
3
1
2
07
December .
.
13
15
177
167
344
Totals
24
22
39
42
28
25
26
24
22
23
25
16
41
45
50
53
81
Aggregate .
46
.
3
WARDS.
1
2
4
5
6
7
TOTAL.
AGGREGATE.
26
3
5
5
2
2
3
1
3
2
1
2
1
1
15
15
30
March
.
-
.
3
1
2
2
1
3
2
1
3
2
1
13
7
20
2
1
2
2
2
12
14
26
3
2
1
1
13
11
1
13
17
30
November
1
2
2
2
1
13
14
27
2
-
3
2
16
13
2
2
1
1
11
15
1
April
5
8
.
28
344
--
STATEMENT OF DEATHS BY MONTHS IN EACH WARD.
194
3
195
Birthplace of Parents of Above Deceased Persons.
Fathers.
Mothers.
United States
Ireland
Canada .
107
101
England
20
20
Scotland
France
South America
1
1
Holland .
1
1
1
1
Wales
1
Unknown
12
16
Totals
344
344
American
162
162
Foreign .
170
166
Unknown
12
16
Totals
344
344
8
7
2
C1
1
Italy
1
Japan
27
33
Germany
162
162
a
196
OFFICE FEES. DR.
Assignment of account
$2 25
Assignment of income
25
Assignment of wages
3 25
Assignment of wages, discharged
50
Bills of sale 75
Foreclosure of pledge
50
Licenses, auctioneer .
12 00
Licenses, innholder
1 00
Licenses, intelligence office
14 00
Licenses, junk .
42 00
Licenses, liquor, 6th class .
21 00
Licenses, marriage
106 50
Licenses, milk, (prior to appointment of milk inspector) 4 50
Pool table .
2 00
Mortgages .
89 10
Mortgages, assignment of . 1 75
Mortgages, discharge of
8 75
Naturalization certificate .
8 50
Women's certificate of business on own account 75
Women's certificate of business on
own account, discharged 25
Total receipts $319 60
Dogs Licensed.
1,219 males, at $2 . $2,438 00
138 females, at $5 690 00
1 breeders' license
25 00
Total receipts for dogs $3,153 00
Aggregate collections
$3,472 60
197
CR.
By office fees paid monthly to city
treasurer . $319 60
Paid county treasurer, dog license re- ceipts . 2,881 40
Retained fees, 1358 licenses, 20 cents 271 60
$3,472 60
Dogs are distributed in the various Wards as follows :
WARDS.
1
3
4
5
G
TOTALS.
Male Female
141
226
1219
26
24
197 14
178 19
149 27
221 20
107 8
138
Totals .
167
250
211
197
176
241
115
1357
An increase of 42 dogs over 1887.
Registered Voters and Votes Cast. (From List used at City Election December 4).
WARDS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
TOTALS.
Men . Women
507 11
709 26
578 66
562 20
504 2
571 23
464 34
3895 182
VOTES CAST.
Men . Women
392 7
516 22
475 59
403 15
279 1
412 20
361 26
2838 150
Enrolled Militia.
WARDS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
TOTALS.
1888 . 1887 .
616 587
708 653
382 499
568 582
553 546
662 608
423 414
3912 3889
Gain
-
-
-
23
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF BURIAL GROUNDS FOR 1888.
Amount expended caring for the three city cemeteries and soldiers' lot in Newton Cemetery :
33 1-2 days' labor for men at $1.75
$58 62
6 1-4
66 at $2 12 50
10
66 66 66 horses at $1.50
15 00
Cleaning and re-setting soldiers' entablature
25 00
Top-dressing soldiers' lot .
20 00
Services of superintendent
200 00
Amount appropriated $400
$331 12
Unexpended balance .
68 88
$400 00
There were eighteen interments in the city cemeteries :
City lot in Newton cemetery
9
Centre street cemetery
4
Winchester street cemetery
4
West Newton cemetry
1
18
The cemeteries have been kept in fair condition. The city lot in Newton Cemetery has been finished up and laid down to grass.
The West Newton cemetery requires considerable labor to grade its very uneven surface, and it is hoped there will be money enough left from the appropriation for the year 1889, to do a part of the work during the coming season.
The Winchester street and Centre street cemeteries will need little more than to keep them looking neat and clean, un- less it is thought best to set out a few trees.
HENRY ROSS, Superintendent.
CITY OF NEWTON.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
THE BOARD OF HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR 1888.
E W'
BERTY AND UNION
FOUNDEL
1630
NC
NONA
TUM
PORAT
IT
NEWTON, MASS., NEWTON GRAPHIC PRESS, 188 ),
BOARD OF HEALTH OF THE CITY OF NEWTON. 1888.
HIS HONOR THE MAYOR, J. WESLEY KIMBALL. er-officio.
President. Oris PETTEE,
JESSE F. FRISBIE, M. D. J. FRANKLIN FULLER, Aidermm JAMES H. NICKERSON, Conneilm in HEMAN M. BURR.
CLERK. HAAC F. KINGSBURY, Jan. 1st to Muy Ist.
AGENT OF BOARD.
NATHAN MOSMAN. Jan. Ist to May 1st.
AGENT FOR INSPECTION OF PLUMBING. ALBERT F. NOYES, Jan. Ist to May Ist.
CLERK AND AGENT OF BOARD. WILLIAM S. FRENCH, fron May Ist.
CONSULTING ENGINEER.
ALBERT F. NOYES, City Engineer.
MEETINGS : First and Third Tuesdays in each month, 4 20 P. M.
REPORT.
To HIIS HONOR THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL:
"( Blessed Health ! Thou art above all Gold and Treasure." -Sterne.
In accordance with the requirements of the Public Stat- utes, the Board of Health herewith submits its annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1888.
Massachusetts stands foremost among the states which have provided wise and beneficent measures for the preserva- tion of the health and welfare of its citizens. To this end it has conferred upon local Boards of Health, as well as its State Board, powers, which to some seem almost autocratic. It is often a difficult question to determine just where private rights become subordinate to the public good.
Realizing the inherent right of the individual to gnard his property against intrusion, this Board has always sought to impress upon those with whom they are brought into contact that it is only through the constant yielding or giving up of the individual prejudice or opinion that concerted action can be had and the greatest good accomplished. It has been their aim to educate and elevate the public to a higher standard of
6
sanitation each year, and teach them that the rules and regula- tions for the preservation of health, which have been adopted from time to time, are for the benefit of each individual and not for the personal aggrandizement of any member or men- bers of the Board. So during the past year the aim of the work of the Board has been to secure results through the edu- cational rather than through the forcing process.
Undoubtedly, as our city loses its suburban character, it will be found necessary to adopt more stringent measures from time to time, and our citizens will be called upon to make more extended sacrifices of their personal liberties for the protection of their own, their families, and their neighbors health. The Board has been fortunate in having an ex- ceptionally intelligent class of people to deal with, and so far it seems to have been eminently successful in its work, and its suggestions have usually been received with respect, and in most cases heeded and adopted.
It has proved to be a wise provision of the city charter which gives to its subordinate officers and to its Boards, a stable tenure of office, and to no one, probably, more than to the retiring Mayor, Hon. J. Wesley Kimball, is due the suc- cessful organization of the Board. Through this provision a degree of permanency is obtained sufficient to check unwise or hasty legislation, while from the members obtained each year from the city council comes enough of the element of change as will infuse new thought and energy and prevent stagnation or falling into ruts. Consequently a policy once carefully studied and decided upon, can be carried on and worked out to its fullest capacity for good, until it shall be demonstrated that on account of its own weakness, or from the unceasing march of progress the time has come when it must be modified or changed.
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For years Newton has held the enviable position of hav- ing the lowest death-rate of any of the cities of the Common- wealth. While we cannot say that we shall again hold that position for the year that is just passed, we feel confident that we shall not stand very far down on the list. An eminent writer has said that the true estimate of the healthfulness of a place is determined by its deaths from zymotic diseases, and of children under five years of age. An examination of the causes of death and of the ages of the decedents shows that in this respect we have nothing to complain of. The percentage of deaths from zymotie, or what are often called preventable diseases, is lower this year than last ; this, too, in spite of the fact that the climatic conditions were fully as bad, if not worse, in 1888 than in 1887. The unusually frequent and heavy rains have brought the contents of cesspools to the surface in many places and have caused them to overflow, and at the same time have produced a luxuriant growth of vegetation. Each of these causes has no doubt been an important factor in develop- ing the increased amount of typhoid fever and malaria which existed over the previous year. For this reason also, during the coming year, the Board will undoubtedly be called upon to exercise a larger amount of care to prevent the rise and spread of some epidemic disease.
Agent.
During the year 1887 the officers who had been acting as the agents of the Board intimated their desire to be relieved of their work. It was therefore deemed best by the Board to unite the three offices into one, and have the position taken by one who could devote his entire time to the service of the Board. The work of the Board had been constantly growing in volume until it had reached such proportions as to demand the whole time of one man. An appropriation was according-
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ly secured for this purpose, and after holding in February an examination of all applicants under the direction of the Civil Service Commissioners, the Board selected the present Agent and Clerk, who after serving the six months probationary period required by law was elected permanently to that position.
Cow Stables.
For a long time the Board had been at work reducing to a system and getting under their control the keeping of cattle and swine. Rules prohibiting their being kept within certain limits unless by a license from the Board, had been adopted from time to time and gradually all but two parties were in- duced to comply with the wishes of the Board. Finally it became evident that the Board would never succeed unless decisive action was taken. Accordingly a new draft of the rule relating to the keeping of swine and cattle was made by and with the advice of the City Solicitor, and the proper action was taken by the Board under that rule. In conse. quence it was but a very short time before these parties found it to their advantage to comply with the requests of the Board, and the nuisances were abated, and the parties are now con- forming to the licenses which have been granted them by the Board.
Diseases Dangerous to the Public Health.
About the first of November, 1887, scarlet fever made its appearance and spread with great rapidity over the entire city. Fortunately the disease was generally of a light and mild character, only one death resulting. This outbreak of the preceding year was continued during the early part of the present, preserving the same mild characteristics, except in a few cases, there being only two deaths during the year. By the middle of May the progress of the disease entirely stopped
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and no farther signs of it were seen, except in a few cases near the end of the year.
In the latter part of May, diphtheria in a virulent form broke out at Nonantum but prompt and efficient means were taken to keep the disease from spreading and, by so doing, it got no foothold where it could maintain itself. While many times it is impossible to say that any particular thing is the cause of the disease, yet if we find the premises filthy or no traps on the drain pipes, we know that we have found a good cause for development and that which might, but for this de- fect, have been thrown off the system, becomes rampant and terminates fatally.
It was found that no definite system of fumigation had been adopted or carried out by the Board, but that it was gen- erally left to the judgment of the physician and the honesty and capability of the citizen. As the state law makes it oblig- atory upon the Boards of Health, or their Agents, to be satisfied that this work be properly done, the Board instructed its Agent to see that all infected premises needing fumigation be thor- oughly and carefully done, and if necessary, that he do it him- self or employ some capable assistant to do it. Since that time all places wherein diphtheria or scarlet fever have appeared, have been thoroughly fumigated, and while not at this time en- tering into the merits or demerits of sulphur fumes, we cannot help feeling that it is in no small measure due to this work that we succeeded in preventing this out-cropping of diphtheria from becoming epidemic.
As before stated, the number of cases of typhoid fever was largely in excess of the previous year. Like diphtheria, this is a filth disease and is often created, nourished or devel- oped by bad drainage, by the turning up of new soil, or by contaminated drinking water. No doubt the heavy rains of last season aided in keeping cesspools full, and creating a
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heavy vegetable growth. In consequence a large amount of foul matter has been brought to the surface, decomposed and passed off into the air, sending forth this foul " spirit of the earth " to invade our homes and enervate our systems. In many cases, while not actually developing into typhoid fever, malaria, " which hides itself in a mantle of invisibility," en- ters the system and lays waste the forces of nature. Let us trust that the coming year will show a perceptible decrease in this form of disease.
Collection of House Offal.
Up to the middle of October the complaints as to the effi- cieney of service received by the Board for the performance of this duty, were numerous and far too well founded. There were some complaints which were unreasonable and should never have been made, but the majority of them were reason- able. The price for which the contractor was doing the work was without doubt too low and he was losing money. The growth of the city and the action of the Board itself in shut- ting off so many private piggeries, had increased the work far beyond any one's expectation when the contract was made. Another point in favor of the contractor is, that he is some- what at the mercy of his help. Should they for any reason pass by and negleet any house, the only punishment that can be inflicted upon the offender is 'to discharge him, and perhaps be obliged to take on one who is entirely unfamiliar with the ronte or the work, thereby creating a greater annoyance. How- ever. in this case, eternal vigilance of the contractor is the price of success. In consideration of extra work performed by the contractor in daily visits, etc., the Board allowed him an addi- tional compensation, Since that time there have been scarce-
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