REPORTS FROM TOWNS,

IN RELATION TO SANITARY IMPROVEMENT, ETC.

A complete annual report of a State Board of Health properly includes an account of the measures taken each year by municipal authorities, corporations or individuals, for the promotion of the health of the communities under their respective supervision or control. In order, therefore, to ascertain the facts in relation to such measures, and for the purpose of presentation in this Report, as in the reports heretofore issued, and in the continuance of the design to keep well informed of all proceedings throughout the State, on the part of town or city councils, or any form of municipal authority, in the appointment of health officers or boards of health, in the direction of improvements which have in view and seem to promise the promotion of public health; by the abatement of nuisances; the removal of unsanitary conditions and surroundings; or by the introduction of water for general use; or construction of sewers; or the establishment of other public works, which may not only be of great public utility and convenience, but also serve in some measure, large or small, in the prevention of disease, the Secretary has, as heretofore, solicited replies from the town and city clerks of the several towns and cities, or other municipal officers, in answer to questions proposed in a circular sent for that purpose.

It is designed and hoped that a connected history may thereby be secured of all sanitary improvements of a public character in all parts of the State, from year to year, and the gradual awakening of the citizens of the different towns to the necessity of sanitary public measures shown; and also whatever intelligent appreciation of such necessity, and whatever public spirit in existence in the towns there may be, as manifested by the readiness with which needed sanitary measures are adopted.

The following is the form of circular sent at close of the year

CIRCULAR No. 108.

OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH,

48 WEYBOSSET STREET, PROVIDENCE, R. I., Jan. 1, 1890.

To the Town Clerk:

It is, by statute law, made the duty of the Secretary of the State Board of Health to make inquiries of town or city clerks, or of the clerks of local boards of health, in regard to the general health and sanitary condition of the towns, and also in regard to measures taken for the improvement of the same. The law reads as follows:

PUBLIC STATUTES, CHAPTER 83.

SEC. 6. The Secretary of the said Board shall make inquiry, from time to time, of the clerks of town and local boards of health, and practicing physicians, in relation to the prevalence of any disease, or knowledge of any known or generally believed source of disease, or causes of general ill-health, and also in relation to the proceedings of the said boards of health, in respect to acts for the promotion and protection of the public health, and also in relation to discases among domestic animals, in their several towns and localities, respectively; and the said clerks of town and local boards of health, and said practicing physicians, shall give such information, in reply to said inquiries, of such facts and circumstances as have come to their knowledge.

The Secretary therefore respectfully makes the following inquiries:

1. Has any work for the promotion of public health been contemplated or completed in your town by the town authorities, or by private enterprise, during the year? If any, please state what.

2. If by introduction or extension of water service for general use, please state what proportion of the population, by estimation, was supplied with the same at the end of the year.*

*If not known by the person replying, please state where or of whom such information may be obtained.

3. If by sewage, state what the aggregate length of sewers, by estimation or otherwise, and about what proportion of the population had drainage connection with them at the end of the year.*

4. If by new ordinances in abatement of nuisances, or in improvement in heating or ventilating public buildings, halls, school houses, &c., or by drainage, or by compelling the removal of excreta, garbage, house refuse, &c., or for any sanitary purpose, please give terms and date of enactment of such town ordinance, or send copy of same, also state how far, to your best knowledge, all the sanitary ordinances have been enforced. Copies of town ordinances especially desired.

5. Has your town any legal board of health beside the town council? If so, please give the names of the officers of the same.

6. Please give the names of the health officers of your town.

7. Has gratuitous vaccination been provided in your town during the past year? What proportion of the population was vaccinated, according to your best knowledge?

8. Have undertakers promptly sent in their returns of death? Please give names of any who do not. (See Public Statutes, Chap. 85, Sec. 1.)

Respectfully,

CHAS. H. FISHER,

Sec. State Board of Health.

N. B.-The town or other clerk should charge a remunerative fee for replying to the above circular, and present to the town council or board of health, it being a service required by law.

*If not known by the person replying, please state where or of whom such information may obtained.

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REPORTS FROM TOWN CLERKS

In relation to the prevalence of disease, and to municipal proceedings in regard to public sanitary improvements, the promotion of public health, etc.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

BARRINGTON.

1. No new work for the promotion of public health by the town authorities during the year.

2. Some extension of water service for private use, supplied from Bristol and Warren water works.

3. No public sewerage.

4. No new ordinances in abatement of nuisances, or for any sanitary purpose.

5. No legal board of health beside the town council.

6. No health officers appointed.

7. No gratuitous vaccination provided during the year.

8. Undertakers have promptly sent in their returns of death.

M. H. WOOD, Town Clerk.

BRISTOL.

1. No new work for the promotion of public health by the town authorities, or by private enterprise, during the year, excepting the building of a sewer, about half a mile in length, by private parties.

2. By the extension of water service for general use, about one-third of the population are now supplied.

3. About half a mile of new sewers have been constructed during the last year, as above stated.

4. By action of the town council, three public buildings have been connected with new sewers.

5. No board of health beside the town council.

6. Health Officer, George H. Peck.

7. Gratuitous vaccination has been provided during the past year. The Superintendent of Schools attended to the matter very promptly.

8. Undertakers have promptly sent in their returns of deaths.

H. F. BENNETT, Town Clerk.

WARREN.

1. The health officer has carefully inspected premises in the compact part of the town.

2. There has been a slight increase in the water service during the year.

3.

There has been no sewer constructed during the year.

4.

No new ordinances were adopted having relation to public health.

7.

8.

No gratuitous vaccination was provided during the past year.
Undertakers have promptly sent in their returns of death.

CHARLES B. MASON, Town Clerk.

KENT COUNTY.

COVENTRY.

1. No work for the promotion of public health, except a more general care for the cesspools and house drainage.

2. Introduction of water service for general use contemplated for Anthony and Quidnick villages.

3. No sewerage.

4. Nothing new in abatement of nuisances, or for any sanitary purpose, cxcept as above.

5. Board of Health, John Winsor, M. D., G. Louis Wood, M. D., Charles L. Ormsbee, M. D., and F. B. Smith, M. D.

6. Health officers, same as board of health.

7.

No gratuitous vaccination provided during the past year.

8.

Generally, undertakers have promptly sent in their returns of death.

EAST GREENWICH.

S. W. GRIFFIN, Town Clerk.

1. No particular work for the promotion of public health contemplated by the town authorities.

2. By extension of water service for general use, do not know what proportion of the population was supplied with the same at the end of the year.

3. No public sewerage.

4.

No new ordinances in abatement of nuisances or for any sanitary purpose. 5. Board of health, the town council.

6. Health Officer, James H. Eldridge, M. D.