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7. Twenty instances were discovered in which the bakehouse was
used as a sleeping-place; the custom where this was found being to
admit the men some hours before the time for commencing work,
so as not to disturb the master for the purpose of letting them in.
In one of these instances the air was liable to be especially foul
by the absence of a sulphur flue, and in another by the privy
being within the bakehouse.
8. In two instances the sleeping-place for the workmen was a few
inches below the level of the bakehouse; in one of these the
sleeping place was without any means of ventilation.
9. In five instances the men slept in the loft over the bakehouse and
furnace—a very hot place. In one of these the man informed
Mr. Godbold that the boards were so hot at times that he could
scarcely stand upon them, and that the place in consequence of the
heat was swarming with bugs. One of these sleeping lofts was
the medium through which alone the hot air and steam from the
bakehouse could escape.
10. In two instances sleeping rooms on a level with the bakehouse
were not ventilated by windows, opening to the extent required by
the statute.
11. Mr. Godbold, in his night visits, did not discover any youths
under eighteen years of age (apparently) at work.
12. There are fifteen establishments where it is stated that the
business is conducted without night work.
As the Act appears to be designed very much for the benefit of the
Bakers'workpeople, I may further add,—1. That there were in Islington
at the census of 1861, 502 males over twenty years of age occupied as
bakers and seventy-three as confectioners. 2. That during the three
years, 1860-2, twenty-one bakers over twenty years of age died, which
is a mortality of about forty-two per 1000 every three years. 3. That their
mean age at death was fifty years, twelve dying under, and nine above
that age. (The mean age at death of bakers generally as determined
by Dr. Guy, is forty-two years ; weavers, whose business is certainly not
conducive to longevity, have still, according to Dr. Guy, the advantage
over bakers of living on an average nine years longer.) This mean
age at death would give to our bakers, when twenty years of age, an
expectation of life of thirty years, whereas the expectation of life of
the male population of the country generally at that age is forty years,
according to the " English Life Table." 4. That of these twenty-one
bakers, twelve or more than half, died of consumption, or disease
of the lungs; four of disease of the brain, or paralysis; three of
inflammation or haimorrhage of the stomach and bowels; and one from
diabetes, leaving one who died from the ordinary decay of nature.
This liability to chest disease in bakers is also in correspondence
with Dr. Guy's observations, who on questioning 100 bakers, found
that eighty (thrice as many as among printers' compositors) were
subject to chest diseases more or less severe.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Offices,
October 10 th, 1864.