London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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65
70 per cent. of the 2,200 (registered) workshops in the City both
men and women are employed, and in 10 per cent. women only.
There are besides, more than 3,000 outworkers residing in the City
whose houses it is the duty of the Sanitary Authority to visit. Besides
which, there is the inspection of houses let in lodgings and other
work in connection with domestic hygiene, which can be best done by
women.
Outworkers.—Firms giving out work in certain trades are required
to send in a list of those they employ. Outworkers are constantly
changing their addresses and their employers, so that it is difficult to
maintain a correct register.
| Class of Homework. | 1903. Number of Lists Received. | Number of Addresses of Outworkers. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1st February. | Up to 1st August. | Forwarded to Other Authorities.. | Received from Other Authorities. | |||
| Number of Lists. | Number of Outworkers. | Number of Lists. | Number of Outworkers. | |||
| Wearing Apparel— | ||||||
| Tailoring | 129 | 2,005 | 190 | 2,796 | 319 | 260 |
| Dressmaking and Ladies' Tailors | 40 | 640 | 51 | 750 | 99 | 20 |
| Bootmaking | 2 | 50 | 2 | 49 | 37 | 17 |
| Shirtmaking | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 9 |
| Drapery | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Lace | 1 | 39 | 1 | 47 | 41 | 3 |
| Cabinet making | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Fur pulling | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Other | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 175 | 5,746 | 247 | 3,655 | 517 | 334 |
Inspection of their houses has not been made except in so far as the
Inspectors have been able to include it in their ordinary work. I had
60 places specially examined, and in 17 instances it was necessary to take
action, thereby showing the need of inspection; besides, such inspection
is a statutory duty, and the Council may prevent work being given out
to persons using places which are unsuitable.
Causes of Death and Occupation.—The accompanying Tables XXIII.
and XXIV. show the causes of death among males and females engaged
in occupation. For males the list is fairly reliable, but for women it is
not so, as the occupation may not be stated in the death certificate,
hut wherever it has been given it has been recorded.
F