Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-08

fore the court of common councll. on Monday evening at the April meeting, the city health officer, pr. N. B. Lewis. concluded with the following seven recommendations: 1. That the cuiVert in Comstock pond be completed. Z. That the outlet of Lum1s 'brooh III llle south channel of Yantic river above the West Side depot be cleaned. 5. Turner pond acquired and culvert con- structed through the same. 4. Rose place completed. 5. Yantic street be appointed. [ Franklin square and Main street to Market be flushed dur. ing the summer months, instead of swept.
 Vital Statistics.
 The vital statistics for the town compiled showed a death rate Of Is per cent. upon the estimated popula- tion of 29,060, the whole number of deaths in the year from January to January, exclusive of non-res1dents 1 being 4S6. The deaths of non -res1- dents added ss to that number. There had been 10 houses ftmigated for scar let fever, 24 for diphtheria and It Tor pulmonary tuberculosis.
 There had been s9 cases of measles in the year and one case of typhoid fever.
 Nuisances Abated.
 In the work of the year 2S miscel- laneous nuisances had been ordered abated and 20 vaults ordered abated.
  had been built from April, 1912, to April 1918, and that 492 fixtures had been connected with sewers in the same time, and that 127 new water closets had been installed.
 The Annual Report.
 The following were other paragraphs of the report:
 The end of this fiscal year finds the city nearly free of the severe con- ta gfous diseases. Only one case of scarlet fever is now in quarantine. No outbreak of scarlet fever or diph- theria has occurred in the schools during the year. Soon after school opened In September two cases of measles occurred in the primary build ing of the GreeneviI1e school, and dur ing the fall and winter months this disease has been quite prevalent. OW- ing to the changeab b1e weather many cases of pneumonia have occurred dur ing the winter months Other reSplra- tory diseases have also been preVa- lent. The usual rules regarding the attendance of children in schools have been enforced and nearly three hun dred permits to attend school have been issued to children.
 Hassam pavement has been laid in Franklin street,which greatly improves the street. This pavement should be kept clean, and an additional day man will be required for this purpose.
 On account of the large fall of rain during the spring months Of 1912 there
 
 mer several stagnant ponds which W ould become a breeding place for mosquitoes unless oiled. Accordingly two barrels of mosquito oil was spread over these ponds at the beginning of hot weather to prevent as much as possible this trouble.
 Posters in English and Polish were distributed showing the danger from them. This was, I think, followed by good results. There was quite de- mand for small circulars for children and grown people which l shall en- deavor to supply this year. The usual pamphlets on the care of infants and young children were distributed. These have only been printed in English, but I think these pamphlets should be printed in Polish for the use of Polish mothers as fully one third of all the children born in the town are Polish.
 Rose Place Dock.
 The wall and filling at Rose place were not completed durine the year, a s no money was available for this inn provement. Sufficient work had been done. however to temporarily abate the nuisance. I trust the work may be completed during the ensuing year.
 Lunnis Brook.
 The outlet Of Lumis brook, above the West Side depot, is filled with sewage and is dangerous nuisance during the summer months. An appropr1a-
  soon as possible before the hot summer weather arrives.
 Smallpox.
 During the winter and spring months of 1911-1912 an epidemic of smallpox occurred in Wi1limantic. For several months all cars used on this line were fumigated every night at the carbarn. Fortunately, no cases occurred in this city.
 Diseased Meats.
 In October complaint was made of the peddling of meat unfit for food in the city. A thorough investigation was mads and visit made to the farmer who peddIed this meat, about ten miles from the city. It was found that this was a ease of carelessness on the part Of the farmer, and he was ordered to return the money which he had re cefved for the meat. This was done and no prosecution was made. Com plaint was made in December that a butcher in this city had bought dis eased meat and had this meat in his was investigated and the meat was found in the market. Prosecution and conviction followed in the city court.
 Prosecutions.
 Two other prosecutions and convic- tions occurred during the year, one for emptying a cesspool in the street and the other for failure to report q case of pulmonary tuberculosis.
 Public Scavenger.
 Each year increases the difficulty in obtaining reliable people to clean out houses and cesspools which have to be cleaned. Excessive prices and poor service is the general com plaint from those havin~ this work done. Many cities have public scavenger appoint eG who does this work at a, fixed rate per cubic foot of material removed, and who furnishes a bond to the city to do this work in a satisfactory man ner. If this were done in this city it would be a great improvement upon the present method.
 Turner and Constoek Ponds.
 The filling of Comstock pond is now completed, but the cuIvert has never been extended to Broad street, which 1 have recommended for several years. This culvert should be extended this year, especially as the land adjoining is now used during the summer months as a public playground. Fur ners pond should be purchased by the city and cuIvert built through this pond and the pond filled. This will stbste the nuisance existing there and provide outlet for sewers which are needed in North Baltic, North. Hickory and Pratt streets.
 Yantic Street Sewer.
 Yantic street sewer is in an unsafe