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 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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90
Comparing the above list with that of 1909, it appears that less
tailoring work was sent to Stepney, and more to Paddington, Wandsworth,
Fulham, Hammersmith, Islington and Holborn. There is
practically no change in the number of persons living in Westminster
working for firms in other districts.
Workers are frequently in the employ of several firms, so that the
number of names returned does not necessarily coincide with the actual
number of workers, the actual number of persons resident in the City
is found to be 1,778, being 11 less than in the previous year. All those
living in Westminster were visited, and the sanitary condition, not only
of the rooms occupied, but of the whole house, was inquired into. The
actual number of houses in which outwork was being done was 974.
306 notices were served in resuect of 651 defects discovered in 263 houses.
They may be summarised thus :—
| 1909 | 1910 | 1909 | 1910 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanitary accommoda | Walls and ceilings dirty | 340 | 250 | ||
| tion— | Booms verminous | 48 | 17 | ||
| Insufficient | — | 4 | Booms overcrowded | 13 | 4 |
| Not kept separate | 25 | 10 | Rooms badly ventilated | 23 | 15 |
| Improper position | 1 | — | Gas stoves and heaters unventilated | ||
| Apparatus defective | 130 | 87 | 31 | 9 | |
| Requiring cleansing | 56 | 42 | Other defects (dampness, defective | ||
| Ventilation defective | 6 | 8 | roofs, floors, water supply, dust | ||
| Drains, &c., defective | 73 | 33 | bins, &c.) | 167 | 112 |
In 21 instances statutory notices had to be served before the work
required was done. In several instances where the rooms were dirty
or verminous the outworker was seriously warned, and in two instances
work was stopped until the conditions were improved.
Infectious Disease—A list of the cases of notifiable infectious diseases
which occurred in families engaged in the making, &c., of wearing
apparel, are given below. It was unnecessary to stop their work except
temporarily during the time disinfection was being carried out, except
in one case of typhoid fever. As the patient was too ill to be moved
rooms were taken elsewhere for the family and for use as a workshop:—