New Britain herald., 1917-04-18

should be vaccinated before being al- lowed to attend school; giving hear ings to milk dealers against whom charge had been brought by the de- partment; securing larger appropria- tions for collection of garbage
 Dr. Reeks' financial report showed a balance on hand of $78O.80. The biggest single item during the year was the construction of the slaughter house. which cost $5,251.7S. The re- port on laboratory work includes 2, 791 chemical and bacteriological examina- tions made during the year. There was an increase in the cases of scar let fever over those a year ago and the statement includes the assertion that the real control of communicab b1e diseases will come about not by hys- terical actions but when cases are diagnosed early and promptly report ed to. the health department. The need of a tuberculosis clinic to aid in this work is also mentioned.
 Health Dept. Too Small.
 The report continues: There is grave danger of any small modern health department assuming to under take too much for the size of it's working force. This department has been forced almost into this position because of the rich field of work in the city. But we plan to cope with the situation by making short cam paigns of about month each upon the various lines of work during the sea- son in which the most good may be accomplished.
 'As New Britain reaches out in it's growth, many streets are being built upon which are not severed. This necessitates the building of cesspools which often overflow, causing an in- sanitary condition. The sanitary de- partment has to deal continually with this condition in one or another sec- tion of the city. Because the nature of the soil in which some cesspools are dug prevents the absorbtion of their contents.
 The question might we'll be con- sidered by the common council of forbidding the opening up of lands for building purposes unless such land is improved sufficiently to properly care for household drainage. This
 would be a step in the right direction to prevent nuisances of the worst kind.
 ':As each branch of the department has grown the work of keeping the
 statistics has grown proportionately so that during the past several months it has been impossible for the office clerk to take care of all the work alone. This has necessitated other employees giving some of their time assisting in keeping the records. It seems as though it would be neces- sary this coming year to employ ad- ditional clerical help.
 "The bureau of vital. statistics kept
 by the city clerk. shows that New Britain still holds first, place in low
 death rates of:ahy city of over 5000 in the state. Last year our death rate was 12.3 per thousand. The average throughout the state was 16.3 per thousand.
 "In conclusion, permit me to ex- press on behalf of the entire force, our appreciation of the many cour- tesies extended by each member of the board"
 Other Reports Made. pr. B. D. Radcliff, milk and food inspector, in his report tells of the rigorous campaign for cleaner milk in New Britain and states that in some instances it was necessary to put dealers out of business to accomplish this end. In the report of Miss Sara A. Carroll, tuberculosis nurse, hope for greater public cooperation and in- .terest for the future year is expressed. Miss Gertrude Johnson, laboratory nurse, reported 2,791 chemical and bacteriological examinations. The plumbers examining committee = ported that during the year twenty seven applicants were examined for JOurneyman plumbers licenses Eighteen of the former were granted licenses and four received master plumbers licenses