USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 58
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Principal
5,000.00
Income
1,639.75
6,639.75
J. Herbert Fletcher Fund: Principal
500.00
Income
10.00
510.00
Perpetual Care: Principal Income
43,890.00
13,768.03
57,658.03
76
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
Report to the Department of Correction has been made
Arrests made.
47
Assault and Battery
7
Abandoned Autos
14
Auto Violations
1143
Auto Accidents
64
Auto Licenses Suspended
144
Stolen Cars Recovered.
.
Breaking and Entering in the Night Time.
3
Cases in Ayer Court.
268
Complaints of Dead Animals Left on Top of Ground.
18
Suspicious Persons.
106
Camps and Houses Broken into
12
Dogs Killed by Automobiles
16
Dogs that had to be shot.
8
Duty at Public Gatherings
22
Dances Attended.
376
Driving Under the Influence
12
Drunkenness
21
Driving without a License
18
Family Disturbances
56
Fires Attended.
27
Funerals Attended.
11
Idle and Disorderly
29
Investigations made.
365
Jurors Drawn.
19
Men Taken to Jail.
11
Leaving the Scene after Causing Damage to Property
9
Leaving the Scene after Causing Personal Injury.
3
Larceny Complaints
18
Notices Posted.
20
Non-Support.
6
Public Nuisances in Beer Places.
14
Bicyclists Struck by Automobiles
4
Petty Complaints
1510
Stubborn Child.
1
Summonses and Notices Served.
284
Warrants Served.
14
Electric Wires down on Street.
23
Malicious Damage to Property
26
Patients Taken to Gardner State Hospital
6
Operating after License had been Revoked.
3
Cars Stopped for Speeding.
921
Complaints of Immoral Acts.
14
Trips to Union National Bank of Lowell
104
Fines in District Court
$ 3,405.00
Days in Superior Court.
78
Operation Road Block - Cars Checked.
309
Disturbing the Peace
5
Unregistered Autos
2
Uninsured Autos
2
Armed Robbery
1
.
6 Sentenced
·
.
·
·
.
.
.
.
·
. .
.
4
77
Suspended Sentences. Procuring for Minor Train Wreck.
8 1
1
John F. Sullivan CHIEF OF POLICE
REPORT OF HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 81 AND GENERAL HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE:
The usual Highway work was carried out this year which included the use of Gravel Pea Stone, Gravel, Asphalt, Screened Sand and Bitu- minous Patch on roads and streets that come under Chapter 81.
CHAPTER 90 - MAINTENANCE :
This Chapter was carried out under the provision of the contract. Sections of Concord, Graniteville and Boston Roads were resurfaced with Asphalt, Pea Stone and Sand.
CHAPTER 90 - CONSTRUCTION:
The 1960 Contract on Carlisle Road and Route 225 consisted of Grading, Placing Gravel Foundation, Drainage, Installation of Guard Rail, Paving and other incidental work.
The 1961 Chapter 90 Construction Contract was not received until December of 1961. The work on this Contract will be started early this spring.
DRAINAGE:
Drainage was installed on the following streets: Hillside Avenue, West Street, Pleasant Street, Hill Street and Plain Road.
George W. Wyman SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
Complaints Investigated. 223
Dogs Picked Up.
41
Dogs Turned over to County 19
Dogs Destroyed .. 3
Dogs Returned to Owners.
11
Dog Bite Calls Investigated 33
Cases in Ayer District Court
2
Complaints Filed with County Commissioners ...
6
Dogs Found Homes for. .
3
Dogs Struck by Cars ..
19
Cat Bites Investigated.
2
William C. MacMillan DOG OFFICER
78
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Value of Buildings
January 1, 1961
$ 7,786,300.00 1,552,675.00 808,655.00
Total Valuation = IT $ 10,147,630.00
Appropriations - Annual Town Meeting - March 11, 1961 Amounts taken from Available Funds.
1,006,726.85
121,622.75 97,060.00
Debt and Interest Charges for New School.
"
Water Department Loans
24,820.56
Street Betterment Loans
1,297.50
State Taxes including Underestimates of Previous Year
6,397.57
County = =
29,621.58
Nashoba Associated Boards of Health.
6,761.88
1961 Overlay Fund
18,317.64 1,257,514.93 442,559.63
Receipts including Overestimates of Previous Year .. .. Appropriation from Available Funds to reduce Tax Rate
50,000.00
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds. 563,822.09
693,692.84
Additional Poll Tax Commitments. 106.00
Street Betterment Commitment and Interest. 431.04
Farm Animal Excise Commitment. .
412.30
Total Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise Commitments . .
153,893.26
Levy of 1960 - $39,563.50 Levy of 1961 - 114,329.76
Polls.
1,880
Horses
25
Cows .
269
Neat Cattle.
20
Swine
1,200
Sheep
40
Fowl. 25,612
Chicks and Broilers
100
Acres of Land.
18,000
Dwellings
2,043
ABATEMENTS
POLL
PROPERTY
EXCISE
1958
$ 6.00
$ 172.20
$ 949.20
1959
4.00
12.62
610.24
1960
28.00
1,537.05
3,785.79
1961
$ 602.00
$ 16,559.76
$ 6,910.15
Norman K. Nesmith John J. O'Connell Carroll J. Rollins BOARD OF ASSESSORS
79
Land
Personal Property
11
All others.
Net Amount to be raised on Polls and Property. TAX RATE - $68.00 per $1,000.00
Gross Amount to be raised.
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
WARRANTS
May 5 1958
Personal Property
$ 278.80
$
Jul 14
Poll.
10.00
Motor Vehicle Excise
54.24
Jun 25
11
11
11
28.62
-
Jul 29
11
11
11
· · · · ·· ·
401.19
Sep
3
19
11
11
11
100.17
Oct 15
11
11
11
82.85
Nov 19
280.19
-
11
26
11
11
15.82
-
Dec 18
45.93
-
Excise Committed Jan 20 1959
2.00
-
May 7 1959
Real Estate.
5,374.79
-
11
11 11
Personal Property.
265.35
-
Nov 5
20.00
-
Jun
1
11
Motor Vehicle Excise
19.24
-
Jul 24
11
11
223.27
-
Aug 5
11
11
· · · · · · ·
50.51
Sep
4
-
Oct
8
11
11
11
11
527.80
-
Dec
9
11
11
417.71
-
11
Excise Committed Jan 22 1960
407.19
-
11
11
Feb
1
11
18.16
-
11
11
11
24
138.54
-
11
11
11
Mar 17
259.66
-
Mar 23 1960
Farm Animal Excise
130.96
Oct 14
Real Estate.
42,026.58
7,933.08
11
11
11
Personal Property
1,183.40
295.85
10
11
Po11
1,098.00
62.00
Jun 14
Motor Vehicle Excise
834.76
244.40
Aug 12
11
11
11
11
1,797.90
780.39
Oct 14
11
11
11
11
2,607.93
605.98
Nov 28
11
11
11
12,511.70
308.89
Dec 12
11
11
11
11
6,491.92
209.25
Excise Committed Jan 16 1961
11,474.27
583.09|
11
11
11
Feb 25
11
13,784.74
803.00
Mar · 14
11
13,885.85
666.85
11
11
Apr 4 11
418.64
6.70
Apr 28 1961
Farm Animal Excise
412.30
113.81
May 18
11
Poll
3,654.00
272.00
Aug "1
11
96.00
26.00,
Dec 21
11
11
10.00
8.00
Jul 26
11
Real Estate.
635,050.30
47,531.10
11
25
Personal Property
54,988.54
1,353.20
Apr 26 11
Street Betterment
216.31
-
Jul 25
11
11
431.04
-
11
11
9,194.03
9,194.033
Jun 2
11
Motor Vehicle Excise.
. .
22,245.86
1,012.07
Jul 24
11
11
11
43,450.81
3,306.65
Oct 12
11
11
11
. . . . . .
35,418.83
10,062.31.
Nov 27 11
11
11
11
..
13,219.26
4,207.68
$ 936,183.64
$ 89,586.33.
Walter Teresko - TAX COLLECTOR
-
11
· · · · · · ·
189.17
-
· · · · · · ·
109.57
Nov 10
·
. .
11
· · · · · · ·
228.94
-
=
· · · · · · ·
· · · · · · ·
· · · · · · ·
. ....
11
OUTSTANDING
-
May 16 11
-
...
.
·
.
80
Dec 28
11
11
Poll
REPORT OF WESTFORD WATER DEPARTMENT
RECEIPTS
Water Rates
Guarantee Deposits - Services
$ 64,368.24 4,771.88
Guarantee Deposits - Extensions
7,444.26
Additional Services and Miscellaneous
2,102.07
$ 78,686.45
EXPENDITURES
Maintenance and Operation
Wages and Salaries
20,209.75
Trucks and Backhoe - Gas, Repairs etc.
1,009.58
Office Supplies and Equipment
522.40
Advertising
90.25
Repairs to Equipment
38.60
Pipe, Copper Tube, Hydrants & Misc. Supplies
7,913.16
Fuel, Light and Power
2,971.17
Telephone
209.17
Insurance
329.88
Legal Services
249.40
Pipe Privilege
5.00
Dig, Backfill and Patch Road
286.80
Test Wells
1,688.09
Repairs to Building
47.87
35,571.12
Refunds - Services
81.09
Refunds - Extensions
994.59
Transferred to Backhoe Account
(From Extension under Guarantee Deposit)
96.00
Extensions Covered by Guarantee Deposits
Birch Road #2
Pipe and Misc. Supplies
$ 349.35
Backhoe
96.00
Labor
108.65
554.00
King's Pine - Boston Road
Pipe and Miscellaneous Supplies
4,921.56
Payments on Loans
Large Water Loan
16,110.00
Elm Road Extension
3,228.00
Lake Shore Drive South - Extension
580.00
Main Street and Concord Road Extensions
3,008.00
Patten Road and Oak Road Extensions
1,197.06
Beaver Brook Road Extension
697.50
67,038.92
TURNED OVER TO SURPLUS
$ 11,647.53
81
EXTENSIONS - Under Guarantee Deposits
BIRCH ROAD EXTENSION #2 - McGrath and Berube
Deposit
Expenses :
Pipe and Miscellaneous Supplies
$ 349.35
Backhoe Labor
108.65
554.00
KING'S PINE - BOSTON ROAD - Hicks
Deposit
5,500.00
Expenses :
Pipe and Miscellaneous Supplies
4,921.56
Balance to be used in 1962 (Work not completed)
DORIS ROAD EXTENSION
Balance of cost received in 1961
395.67
Expense recorded in 1960
FIR ROAD EXTENSION - Bonanno
Deposit
$ 994.59
Refund
(Did not go through)
WATER LINE FROM PLAIN ROAD, NABNASSET TO NEW GRAVEL-PACKED WELL
Appropriation - From Water Surplus Expenses through December 31, 1961:
$ 25,000.00
Pipe and Miscellaneous Supplies
$ 13,062.45
Labor
1,450.98
Dig & Backhoe & Hot Top.
1,100.00
Advertising
48.95
15,662.38
Balance to be used in 1962
$ 9,337.62
TRANSFERS TO BACKHOE ACCOUNT
Balance in Fund as of December 31, 1960 $ 299.30
From Extension under Guarantee Deposit in 1961 96.00
Total in Backhoe Account as of December 31, 1961 $ 395.30
Chester H. Cook, Chairman Alfred T. Wark, Secretary Hervey J. Cote BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
82
$ 554.00
96.00
578.44
$ 994.59
REPORT OF WATER SUPERINTENDENT
Gallons Pumped at Westford Station.
75,066,100
Gallons Pumped at Brookside Station. 34,431,444
Total Number of Gallons Pumped. 109,497,544
New Services Installed 36
Hydrants Installed. 4
New Extensions :
Birch Road #2.
170 ft. 6-in. Pipe
Plain and Nutting Roads 3,290 ft. 10-in. Pipe
Albert E. Mountain SUPERINTENDENT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
The same Board of Fire Engineers were again appointed by the Selectmen.
The organization remained the same with Francis J. Mulligan as Clerk and Edward N. Lamson, Chief.
Edward N. Lamson was appointed Forest Warden.
1961 was a very good year for the Fire Department and the Town.
The Fire Department answered 131 calls which is the low for the last five years. Six of our largest and most serious fires were of suspicious origin and were investigated by the Fire Marshall.
Westford answered four mutual aid calls, two in Chelmsford, one in Lowell and one in Ayer. Fortunately Westford did not have to ask for help.
The ambulance answered 145 calls, 13 more than the previous year - which is about the increase in calls we are getting each year.
The Engineers are appreciative of the cooperation of the Depart- ment and the excellent manner in which our switchboard is handled by Mrs. St. Onge.
Edward N. Lamson Leo R. Larkin Francis J. Mulligan Carl R. Nylund Hubert V. Raymond BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
83
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
The Board of Public Welfare granted assistance on an average monthly caseload in 1961 as follows:
Medical Assistance for the Aged 20
Old Age Assistance 39
Aid to Dependent Children 3
Disability Assistance 10
General Relief 2
Changes in eligibility requirements in Old Age Assistance and Disability Assistance were made during the year. In Old Age Assist- ance, citizenship and the additional residence requirement for non- citizens were removed. In Disability Assistance, the eligibility age was changed so that persons 65 years of age and over were no longer able to receive this type of aid.
In June 1961, an amendment was made to extend the Aid to Depend- ent Children program to include additional needy children deprived of parental support due to unemployment of parents, if they met the other eligibility requirements.
The Medical Care Plan was revised and several of the fee sched- ules were increased. Rest Home rates for Public Assistance recipients were also increased.
Several acres of land, formerly part of the Westford Infirmary, are to be used by the School Department for the future home of the new Middle School.
William C. MacMillan Samuel A. Richards Reginald Blowey BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
REPORT OF THE WIRE INSPECTOR
There were 219 Wiring Permits issued. The Appropriation was used as follows :
Appropriation for 1961
$ 800.00
309 Inspections made @ $ 1.50 $ 463.50
Supplies, Clerical, Postage
and Telephone 84.40
547.90
Unused balance of appropriation $ 252.10
Norman E. Day WIRE INSPECTOR
84
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
MEMBERS : Ralph E. Cole, M.D., Chairman Lucien J. Menard Edward F. McLenna
The Westford Board of Health was organized for the year 1961 with the election of Ralph E. Cole, M.D., as Chairman, the other two mem- bers being Lucien J. Menard and Edward F. McLenna. Dorothy Healy, R.N. was appointed agent, services on loan from the School Department.
This has been a particularly busy year. The Board has again been fortunate, as we have been for quite a number of years, in having the services of completely interested members and having in attendance an average of close to 100 percent. There have been twelve regular meet- ings of the Board with a number of special meetings. These meetings have been attended by townspeople with particular problems.
The Westford Board has been regular in its attendance at the Nashoba Associated Board meetings and have found these to be particu- larly helpful since they represent the problems, solutions and trials of the fifteen member towns. Mr. Menard and Mr. McLenna have likewise attended the Courses given by the State at the Regional Meetings con- ducted by the State Department of Health for instruction of local Boards. These have been so successful that they are to be expanded.
The complexities of modern day living, the expansion of develop- ments, and the use of adjoining land, coupled with the changes in de- tergents and new household appliances, have compounded the problems of not only the local Board but of Health Departments everywhere. We have been faced with decisions that involve the future and many times we have felt that there is no real solution to some of these problems.
The volume of work and the services delivered to the citizens of Westford by the Board of Health and its agent, the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, is best represented in the following report from Nashoba. It may be well to point out at this time that the local Board of Health is responsible for the activities of its agent and is quite willing to carry out such responsibilities.
The following is a summary of some of the direct individual ser- vices rendered during the past year :
Dental Program - - 343 Stannous Fluoride Treatments given to children in Grades 2, 5 and 8
Polio Clinic - 341 shots given
School Immunization Clinic in Grades 1, 6 and 11 - - 181 Diphthe- ria and Tetanus shots and 163 Polio shots given
Tuberculin Testing Program - - 264 Children in Grades 1 and 9 were tested
85
18 Well Child Conferences were conducted by Dr. Mary Donald 243 children made 363 visits
Rabies Clinic 167 dogs immunized. This Clinic was conduct- ed by Dr. Phillips assisted by the Dog Officer William C. MacMillan
120 Sewage Permits for new homes were issued as compared with 92 for 1960
We would like to thank the following volunteers who helped at the Well Child Conferences, Polio Clinic, Tuberculin Testing Program and the Pre-School Roundup: Mrs. Ruth N. Hall, R.N., Mrs. Norman Nesmith, R.N., Mrs. Edward M. Abbot, Mrs. Arthur Agnew, Mrs. John Aldrich, Mrs. Edward Billman, Mrs. Nelson A. Chisholm, Mrs. Lincoln Clark, Mrs. Ralph E. Cole, Mrs. Norman E. Day, Mrs. Clayton Dearth, Mrs. Herford N. Elliott, Mrs. Herbert Farrier, Mrs. Elroy A. Field, Mrs. Walter N. Fletcher, Mrs. Arthur L. Healy, Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth, Mrs. James L. Knowlton, Miss Marion Lord, Mrs. Thomas McGrath, Mrs. Kenneth Robes, Mrs. Daniel Sharpe, Mrs. F. Stanley Smith, Mrs. Christine Brown, Mrs. Doris Thunberg, Mrs. Barbara Whiting, Mrs. Rita Cassidy, Mrs. Margaret Bolger, Mrs. Mae Malone, Miss Alyson Hogg, Miss Sharon Saunders and Miss Joan Eliasen.
In closing we wish to express our appreciation for the help of the other departments, the most willing volunteers, the School Depart- ment, for the extensive services of Miss Healy and the outstanding services of Mr. MacMillan as Dog Officer.
Ralph E. Cole, M.D., Chairman WESTFORD BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF HOUSE NUMBERING COMMITTEE
The Committee has met and arranged a plan with the Selectmen for numbering the houses in Westford in accordance with the By-Law voted at the Special Town Meeting of June 22, 1961.
The Committee plans to proceed with the work as soon as the By- Law has been approved by the Attorney General.
Norman E. Day, Chairman John W. Loney, Secretary Allister F. MacDougall Walter Nyder Wallace E. MacQuarrie HOUSE NUMBERING COMMITTEE
86
NASHOBA ASSOCIATED BOARDS OF HEALTH
Board of Health Westford, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I have the honor of presenting my first annual report as Medical Director of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health. During my brief tenure, I have been constantly impressed with the quality of service which can be made available when communities such as yours join forces with their neighbors. By doing so you have met well the responsibili- ties of a health department at a relatively low cost. The personnel who serve you are well trained and qualified in their respective fields. This is indeed a bargain in the true sense of the word.
Through the teamwork of the associated towns, many of the health hazards of yesteryear have been reduced or eliminated. However, new problems engendered by the "population explosion" and man's increased longevity now face us. Chronic disease prevention, rehabilitation and mental health will comprise an ever increasing segment of health activ- ities. Building booms are placing a great load on sanitation services. Nashoba must be prepared to meet these problems as it has those in the past.
I should like now to review the activities of the past year. For these services your town of Westford contributed $6,761.88 or $1.08 per capita.
ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
There have been several major changes in the staff of the Nashoba Health Center during the past year.
Dr. Eleanor Smith, after five (5) active and productive years, resigned her position as Director to join the U. S. Public Health Service. At the present time, Dr. Smith has been assigned to the Ohio State Health Department as a consultant in Chronic Disease.
Mrs. Elizabeth White, Director of Nurses, retired in September to devote a greater amount of time to household responsibilities. Her eleven years of leadership produced many improvements in Nashoba's Nursing Services. Mrs. White was also active in Academic Nursing and held clinical faculty appointments at Boston University, Boston Col- lege, Simmons and Harvard.
At the termination of the Accident Prevention Program supported by the Hood Foundation, Mr. Robert Bradford, Health Educator in charge of the Program, accepted a position with the Public Health Service. He has been assigned to Kentucky.
I had the honor of being appointed to fill the vacancy left by Dr. Smith, after having spent the past five (5) years with the State Health Department; my last position being Acting Director of the Division of TB Control and Sanatoria.
87
Our new Nursing Director, Miss Dorothy Harrington, appointed in September, is well prepared in training and practical experience to assume her responsibilities. After working as both a Public Health and Hospital Nurse, Miss Harrington received a Bachelor's Degree from N.Y.U. She comes to Nashoba from Columbia University where she was awarded a Master's Degree in Nursing Education.
Mr. Merrill Plunkett was appointed to the Sanitation Department in June. He is a Registered Sanitarian who graduated from the Univer- sity of Massachusetts in the Public Health - Sanitary Bacteriology Program.
MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM
Since 1955, when your Medical Social Consultant was first em- ployed by Nashoba as a part-time Social Worker, there has been a steady and appreciable increase each year in her work. Because of this, in September 1961, the Medical Social Consultant's hours were increased so that she now works three-fifths of a week instead of one- half.
There have been referrals from each of the sixteen towns and a consistently growing number of referrals from institutions outside our area of our residents being discharged to their homes. The types of cases and problems have remained the same as in other years; prema- ture infants, retarded children, school behavioral problems, marital and family problems, mental health problems, problems of the aged, the chronically ill and the handicapped.
Services rendered on these problems have involved over 1,000 visits and telephone calls during 1961.
Your Medical Social Consultant has attended fourteen (14) profes- sional meetings, given four (4) talks concerning her work and Nashoba, participated on two (2) panels, arranged a speech therapy evaluation clinic and participated in the orientation of student nurses and a group of five (5) social work students.
NURSING AND PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES
Supervisory and consultation services have been available this year through the Nursing Director ..
Monthly staff meetings, planned for the benefit of all nurses serving Nashoba towns, have been attended regularly by Miss Healy and Mrs. Hall. The in-service programs are designed to meet the needs of the nurses in the area and also to keep them abreast of policy changes. and other business matters.
The Tuberculosis register and files for all Nashoba towns are maintained by the Nursing Director. The follow-up of current cases, suspects and contacts has been carried out with the full cooperation of your local Nurses.
The Nursing Department has as one of its functions the adminis-
88
trative responsibility of the preventive Dental Program. With the as- sistance of Miss Healy and Mrs. Hall, Nashoba's Dental Hygienist did three hundred and forty-three (343) Prophylaxis and Stannous Fluoride treatments in the spring.
LABORATORY
This is a breakdown of the total number of Tests performed by the Laboratory in 1961:
Diagnostic Bacteriology 1,099
Drinking Water 675
Beach or Bathing Water 191
Milk Tests 2,988
Special Projects and Studies 85
Of the total Water figure, the following is the number tested in your town of Westford:
Drinking Water 105
Beach Water 13
Milk and Diagnostic Tests as well as Special Projects and Studies we feel directly or indirectly effect every citizen in our Nashoba District. Therefore, we have not submitted a breakdown of these figures.
SANITATION SERVICES
As agents for your Board of Health, and acting under the author- ity delegated to us by them, the Sanitation Department has spent an- other busy year carrying out your Board's wishes and regulations.
The following services were provided to your town during the cal- endar year of 1961:
Milk Plants Supervised 15
Food Establishments Visited 22
Private Water Supplies Serviced 73
Nuisance Complaints Investigated 26
Visits Made for Private Sewage Disposal 275
In addition to these services, visits were made to kindergartens, nursing homes, schools, bathing beaches, summer camps and farm labor camps .
PREVENTIVE MEDICAL SERVICES
Well Child Conferences:
A total of 155 Well Child Conferences were held of which 18 were in your town. At the Westford Clinics 234 children made 363 vis- its.
Two (2) new tests have been introduced into the Conferences this year. The Ferric Chloride Test is used to detect a particular type of disorder, Phenylketonuria, which can lead to mental deficiency if
89
treatment is not instituted in infancy. The second test, the Tubercu- lin Test, is being used to screen for Tuberculosis. Many of the dread complications of this disease can be prevented if an infant with a positive reaction is treated early.
School Immunizations :
(Covering towns of Ashburnham, Ayer, Berlin, Bolton,) (Boxboro, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Shirley, Townsend & Westford)
2,025 Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio Shots were given in the schools this year. 344 of these were in your town.
Polio Clinics:
Fifteen (15) Clinics were held in 14 towns of the Nashoba District and were attended by 2,015 persons. 341 Polio Shots were ad- ministered in your town.
Rabies Clinics:
Rabies Clinics were held in 15 towns. A total of 747 dogs were immunized, 167 of which were from your town.
Vigilance against Rabies is all the more important now since a bat killed recently in this area was found to be rabid. The last case of Animal Rabies in Massachusetts occurred in a Fort Devens dog in 1949. There have been no human cases since 1937.
Premature Births :
There were 109 Premature Births reported from this area, 12 of which were from your town.
Tuberculin Testing:
1,324 1st graders and 563 ninth graders in the Nashoba Dis- trict were Tuberculin tested this year. Four Hundred (400) other students, new to the school system, were also done. In your town 264 children participated in the program. There were a total of 80 posi- tive reactors or 3% of those tested. In Westford the rate was less than 1%.
Two Hundred and fifty-eight (258) school employees requiring certification of freedom from TB were also tested. Positive reactors and their family contacts were X-Rayed at special follow-up clinics held at the Nashoba Health Center.
Rheumatic Fever Prophylaxis:
Under a new State program, arrangements were made for the distribution of Penicillin to ten (10) susceptible children in this area for the prevention of Rheumatic Fever. This service is now available to certain families who would not otherwise be able to af- ford the drug.
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