View report page

83
(4.) The absence of a register containing a complete list of the workshops in the district
and setting out the conditions of these premises. The preparation of such a register should
be proceeded with forthwith.
(5.) The failure of the present system of house refuse collection to ensure its removal
every week from all premises. A reorganisation of the system should at once be undertaken
so as to ensure this object.
(6.) The desirability of requiring in the by-laws as to houses let in lodgings a minimum
cubic space per head of 400 feet in rooms occupied by day and by night, instead of 350 feet
which is stated to be the amount specified in the draft by-laws.
In October the Committee reported to the Council that they were informed by the vestry that the
defects pointed out by Dr. Young were then receiving the vestry's attention, that houses let in lodgings
were being put upon the register, that a register of workshops was being prepared, that improvements
were being carried out in the system of dust collection, and that upon the representations of the vestry
the Local Government Board had confirmed the by-law with the lower air space required for
each person in houses let in lodgings. In March, 1898, however, the Committee were able to inform
the Council that the vestry had decided to alter their by-law so as to increase the requirement of 350
to 400 cubic feet of air space, and thus to make it in this respect uniform with that of other London
sanitary authorities.
St. Luke—In November, 1897, I also presented to the Committee a report by Dr. Young on
the sanitary condition of St. Luke, (see Appendix V.) and the Committee thus reported on
November 30th to the Council—
After some correspondence with the Vestry of St. Luke, Middlesex, on the question of the adequacy
of their sanitary staff, we thought it desirable that an inquiry should be made by one of the Council's
assistant medical officers of health into the sanitary condition and administration of the parish. An
inquiry was accordingly made by Dr. Young, and his report states that the existing 6taff of sanitary
inspectors is insufficient for the requirements of the parish. Dr. Young, moreover, found that the bylaws
of the vestry as to houses let in lodgings were so drawn as to exempt from their application
tenements which should be subject to them, and it is desirable that his recommendation that the bylaws
be revised in this particular should be seriously considered by the vestry. Other recommendations
made by Dr. Young relate to the desirableness of dealing with certain premises under the Housing of
the Working Classes Act, of improving the method of collection of house refuse, and of adding a separate
chamber to the mortuary for the bodies of persons who have died of infectious complaints. Dr. Young
also points out that the shelter which is being provided for the use of persons during the disinfection of
their rooms is open to objection in certain respects.
We have had the report printed, and have sent copies to the vestry, with a request for their observations
upon it. We propose to report again to the Council after a reply has been received. In the
meantime we have given instructions for copies of the report to be sent to the members of the Council,
and placed on sale.
Holborn—In my last report I stated that the Council had represented to the Local Government
Board that the District Board of Holborn had failed to appoint a sufficient number of sanitary
inspectors for the district. A letter has since been received from the district board stating that at the
desire of the Local Government Board they have decided to appoint an additional sanitary inspector.
Medical Officers of Health and Sanitary Inspectors.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, requires that the Council shall pay a moiety of the
salary of every medical officer of health and sanitary inspector appointed or re-appointed after the
passing of the Act. Up to the end of the year 1897, 43 medical officers of health and 204
sanitary inspectors had been thus appointed or re-appointed.

During the year 1897, in addition to duties more immediately connected with the Public Health
and Housing Committees of the Council, the Public Health Department was concerned in enquires
arising out of a number of references from other committees of the Council, among which may be
mentioned the Reformatory and Industrial Schools, Asylums, Building Act, Appeal, Parliamentary,
Local Government, Parks and Open Spaces, and Water Committees.