London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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69
workshop supervision.
Overcrowding.—No case of overcrowding was discovered by the Staff during the year,
and only one case reported by the Home Office. In 1908, 9 cases were reported by the
Staff and 4 reported bv the Home Office, the corresponding figures for 1909 being 0 and 2
respectively.
Deficient Ventilation.—The numbers of workshops reported to be insufficiently ventilated
in 1906, and each succeeding year are 3, 4, 6, 0 and 0. It seems justifiable to conclude that
a real improvement has been effected in this direction.
Warming.—Although the maintenance of a proper temperature is intimately connected
with ventilation, yet the former is under the jurisdiction of the Home Office exclusively.
The Staff of the Department are, nevertheless, instructed to report any workshop which may
be either too hot or too cold, with a view to the case being brought to the notice of the Home
Office. No infraction of this enactment was reported last year.

Sanitary Conveniences.—The following figures show the improvement which has taken place in this matter.

1902.1903.1907.1908.1909.1910.
Insufficient92-2-3
Not separately provided3341992
Badly placed1813-318
Unventilated8-----
Defective292315111316

Sickness.—One hundred and forty-seven (147) cases of infectious disease occurred on
workshop premises, 57 more than in the previous year. Of last year's cases 12 were on outworkers'
premises. The numbers of each disease are shown below.
Scarlet Fever ... ... 18 (3) Erysipelas ... ... 4 (1) Chickenpox ... 20 (3)
Diphtheria ... ... 7 (1) Measles ... ... 64 (2) Whooping Cough ... 30 (1)
Enteric Fever... ... 3 (1) Puerperal Fever ... 2 (-)
Note —The figures in parentheses refer to out-workers' premises.
The deaths from the above diseases numbered eleven, five from measles and six from
whooping cough, one of the eleven being on an out-workers' premises. In 1909 the total
number of deaths was three. In addition to the eleven deaths mentioned above, there were
eleven (14 in 1909) deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis on workshop premises, including one
(two in 1909) on an out-worker's.
A careful scrutiny is made of the addresses whence cases of all forms of infectious
disease are reported and if any case occur on workshop premises, the necessary steps are
taken to prevent any work becoming the vehicle of infection. The majority of patients
suffering from the diseases mentioned in the Act are removed to hospital and the subsequent
disinfection includes that of any work, or work material, which has been exposed to
infection. No difficulty has been experienced in securing the observance of all necessary
precautions, and neither notices nor summonses have been required.
Bakehouses.—At the end of 1909 75 bakehouses were on the register, 17 of which were
"level" and 58 "underground." Last year eight bakehouses (one level, seven underground)
went out of use, and four (1 level, 3 underground) were re-opened. At the end of the year
there were 71 bakehouses on the Register, 17 level and 51 underground.
The 71 bakehouses left on the Register included 10 factory bakehouses, three level and
seven underground. These are under the supervision of the Department in virtue of the