The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-15

clinics be closed unless persona financially able to hire their own physicians desist from using the facilities of the city set up gratis for the needy, Health Officer Dr ID. J. Godfrey declares in his an- nual report for 1894 issued today. Dr Godfrey's report, a lengthy one, shows that the health department had a decidedly busy year amid that the results have shown less com nunicable diseases.
 During the year there were {. 1,735 local births and 1,O56 local deaths. Of this total number of deaths, 1SS were from com nlunicable diseases as compared with a total of 185 for 1888. The number Of communicable disease cases reported during the year amounted to 80g, a total of 352 less than the figure for 1883.
 Tnbercular Cases
 Among pr Godfrey's reconimen- dations is one calling for direct supervision of local tuberculosis cases by the city health depart ment. In his report he pays tri- bute to the Waterbury Anti-Tuber- culosis league for its handling of thetuberculosis cases but the doc- tor feels that the city should have direct supervision.
 Waterbury's milk supply main tains a very high standard, accord ing to the report. Dr Peter T. Keeley, local milk and food inspec- tor, had an exceptionally busy year but his tests found the va- rious samples of milk to be of high standard. Receipts at the city abattoir were slightly lower than anticipated, according to Dr God frey.
 During 1895 the city will enter the inter-chamber city health conservation contest which is con- ducted yearly by the national frey is now making plans for par ticipatioh in the competitionl.
 Among his recommendations for 1885, also, is one calling for h- censes for fish and meat markets, restaurants, bakeries and drug stores, an amendment to the milk license ordinance so as to take in all of the above mentioned lines. The full report of the health off, cer is as follows:
 During January, 1894, recom- mended to the board of public works, after an investigation of the methods of the collection and dis posal of garbage in this and other cities, that the health of the city would be better protected if the en- tire job was let by contract to an individual or corporation. was appointed to serve on committee to give further consideration to the subject. Bids were asked for. After much deliberation and thought it was decided to reject all bids and abandon the idea of a change because it was found that the city could collect the garbage at a much lower cost than the fig ure submitted by the lowest bid der. It was decided, however. that tho system could be improved up- onNand with the installation of modern sanitary garbage trucks we feel that a temporary solution, at least, has been achieved.
 We contemplate to enter Water bury in the Inter-Chamber City Health Conservation Contest which is conducted each year by the Chamber of Commerce of the Unit ed States.
 Infant and Child Welfare
 Infant Welfare work The nurses visited new babies with a copy of their birth certificates and literatures on Infant Care" for their mothers. When necessary, cases were referred to the baby clinics or their own private physi- clan for further care. Approxi- mately three quarters of the babies born in Waterbury were born :n hospitals. Most of those remaining at home had skilled nursing care. Such an important feature tends to lower our mortality rate, which has been dropping off in past years. It is with great satisfaction that we, note the decline in deaths or infants in the first few weeks or life. I believe the Visiting Nurses Association is to be highly com. mended for the splendid prenatal work 1t accomplishes.
 Pre- School Clinics-Concentra ed effort on the part of our nurses to bring to the attention of parents the need for pre-school medical at- tention has resulted in a large at- tendance at the various clinics during the past year. More chil- dren received immunization against diphtheria and smallpox this year than previous years. It is pleasing to note that parents are adapting themselves to the advisability or having this work performed before the child enters school, chiefly in the interest of their health. It IS felt that the pre-school clinic serves a real need in the commun- ity in covering that period until child enters the school. Parents visiting the clinics are instructed on the need of caring for their children so that they may enter school in as healthy condition as
 school Hygiene = Medical super vision of school children has been under the supervision of five med ical inspectors. Parochial and pub lie schools are included in all ad- yantages.. Special examinations are held at the high schools. Tnere was d substantial increase In the number of children given physical examinations and the number or children immunized against dipn- theria. Unfortunately, there mas heen no decrease in the number or defects found, but the parents nave been very cooperative in having remedial defects corrected as soon as notified by the school nurse. The nurses devote considerable time to checking on such cases inasmuen as the future health of the child depends on correction. Malnutri- ton. which one would expect to be quite prevalent now, has shown no increase. Each student in all grades has had a thorough examination. Extreme care was taken in the ioi- lowing up of any suspected skin eruption case.
 The work of the nurses has been conducted along the same lines as previous years. Schools are visited daily, routine examinations being held. Eye examinations are neld et least once year. Where scales are available children are weighed ana measured. The nurses assist the medical inspectors with physicai .h.t a.as al lstll Z.