Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-25


thanks to the city hospital
No attempt has been made on the part
of the board, although authority is not
lacking, to force any patient to enter
the hospital the board believing that in
the end the good results achieved would
so impress themselves upon the physl-
clans and the public generally, that
families who were so situated, and few
families are, so as to give proper isola-
ton and care to the sufferers, would
voluntarily send them to the hospital.
The work of the year was reviewed,
and the changes in the building and
grounds noted Thanks were extended
for donations of old linen, books, papers
and toys.
The resident physicians report show
ed that the largest number in the hos
pital at any one time was 16.
PLUMBING.
S57 plans of plumbing were filed at the
Office during the year. 499 We're for new
buildings, II of which were stables and
4OS were for old buildings, 10 Of which
were for stables A total Of 1645 visits
Of inspection were made by the two
plumbing inspectors, an average Of two
to each job.
20 violations OF the ordinance were
fOund, WnlcQ were fecClueu.
The board of examiners of plumbers
remains the same as 1t has for the past
four years: Charles H. Peck is chair
man, James G. Coffey clerk, and John
w. Greene the practical plumber.
II examinations were held during the
year. 16 applicants for joUrneymen's
licenses were examined, II passed and 5
failed to pass, 8 of the latter not wait
ing to finish the examination. There
were 6 applicants for master plumbers
licenses, 5 Of which passed satisfactory
examinations and one failed to appear.
BATH HOUSE.
By order of the city council, the pub
lie bath house, which was finished in
July, was placed in charge of the de-
partment. It was opened for use July
20. Friday of each week was given to
the women and girls, and subsequently
every morning except Sunday, from 7
to 9, was added. This was 10 encourage
quite a number of young women and
girls, who were anxious to learn to
swim, but found it difficult when given
but a single day each week
1t is satisfaction to know that sew
eral of them acquired the art Of swim
ming during the short season that the
mend that the present house be given
TO the use of women and girls exclus-
lively and new and perhaps larger
mouse be built for men and bows, A
GOOD place, in our opinion, for the new
house would be on the south side of the
causeway east Of the Island House.
David Rigby was placed in charge Of
the house while used by men and bows
ana MISS Anna G. Wallberg had charge
OF the women and girls. The total mum
Der using the house during the season
was l2'4I. The largest single days
record for men and boys was on Fri
day, July %, when 475 used it. The
largest days record for women and
girls was 125.
STABLES,
There were filed during the year 92
applications for stable licenses, n of
these were for new stables with accom-
mediation for 249 horses and S cows. and
for additions to accommodate %
horses and cows. Six were to occupy
old stables with accommodations for 81
horses All Of these were granted ex-
cept one for horses, which was given
leave to withdraw, and one for 2 horses,
winch was voluntarily Withdrawn.
METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT.
The work of this department was
very satisfactory during the year, 1859
cultures were examined in all; S16 were
first cultures, 27S of which were positive
and 53S negative; second cultures
were positive which first were negative;
II had no growth; lat first cultures of
convalescence were examined, los of
which were negative and AZ positive.
There were Il second cultures of con-
II &C
and % negative. OF the "a third Gull
lures, were positive and II
negative. There were fourth cultures.
positive and negative. Three fifth
cultures were examined; 2 were found
to be negative and positive. In one
case Of conyalescence cultures were
taken, covering a period Of IL days af-
ter the membrane had disappeared be-
fore a negative culture was obtained. A
positive culture means one in which
the d1phtheria germs are present, and
negative one means one in which they
are absent.
CHAMBERS AND FARCY.
The number of cases of this disease
reported during the year were as fol-
lows: Chambers, s1i discharged 6, killed
%. There were 26 cases of farcy re-
ported; was discharged and 25 killed.
The total number reported was 81, OF
which so were killed and 7 discharged.
In April II cases Of CHAMBERS and farcy
were reported. In consequence Of this.
q consultation was held with DR.. Pc
tiers, chairman of the state board OF
cattle commissioners, and Mr.. L. F.
HerTick of this city, a member of the
board 1t was decided to close for a
time the public watering troughs and to
clean thoroughly and dislnfect them
before letting ON the water again. The
water was shut off May and not let
on again until July 1. An immediate
falling off in the number of cases
showed the wisdom Of the move. The
public auction sales held every Satur-
day were attended under the direction
of Mr.. Herrick, by a veterinarian, and
a number of horses, which had been
brought in from other places, were
found to be suffering with the disease.
In consequence Of these measures, the
number of cases dropped from II in
April to 10 in May, in June, in July
and only in August
MEASLES.
Measles prevailed extensively in the
early part OF the year, and was re-
sponsible for II deaths; 522 cases in all
were reported. This is probably only
a portion of the number of cases of
this disease that actually existed, for in
a great many families no physician is
called.
CATTLE REPORT.
J, Warren Ellsworth. inspector of ami
mails and provisions, presented the fol-
lowing report:
To the City Government. Worcester,
Mass:
As one of the three inspectors of an