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Report of the Medical Officer of Health. 175
Some misunderstanding existed in the minds of employers as
to the necessity for sending in the names of outworkers, and I am
certain that the number on the list does not accurately represent
the total number in the Borough. Every endeavour has been
made to ascertain where homework is carried on and to inform
all employers that it is necessary to send in a fresh list at the
statutory periods, but failure to do so has occurred in many
instances. I have advised the Council to print a circular calling
the attention of all employers of labour to this section of the Act,
and I trust that in future years the lists will be more punctually
forwarded to this Authority.
A general survey of all the Tables shows that the amount of
work performed by the staff with regard to workshops has been
this year been very great, and I am satisfied that there are very
few in the Borough which have not been inspected. The general
sanitary conditions with few exceptions was found to be very
satisfactory.
The only real difficulty that has arisen during the year has
been the provision of sanitary conveniences for both sexes in small
workshops, and also in lock-up shops. Generally speaking the
former has been remedied by the provision of an additional watercloset,
and the latter either by the erection of a new water-closet
for each shop or for a number of workshops grouped together.
In one or two instances where the shops were the property of a
Railway Company the occupiers were permitted to use the waterclosets
in connection with the adjoining railway station free of
charge.
STATEMENT OF WORK UNDER THE SALE OF
FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS.
During the past year 729 samples of Foods and Drugs were
submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis.
Of these 90, or I2'3 per cent, were reported to be adulterated.
In 61 cases proceedings were taken against the vendors of
adulterated articles, and in the other 29 cases the Council, taking
into consideration the circumstances of the purchase and the low
percentage of adulteration decided not to prosecute.
The total amount received in penalties under the above Acts
was £88 : 5 : o; and the costs recovered amounted to £28 : 15:0,
making a total of £ 117.