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95
medical men in the district" by paying them a small fee for such notification
and, I am happy to say, although the system has only been working
a few months, a large number of cases have been notified to us and means
taken to prevent, as far as possible, its spread. I hope in the near future
that medical men as a body in the district will be good enough to give us
the information which is used only for purposes of disinfection, and to
improve, where necessary, the sanitary surroundings, and not for removal
unless at the patient's and medical attendant's wish. The following are
the sources from which we derive information of infectious diseases:—
The London Hospital kindly send us immediate notification of all
cases who apply for admission to them.
The Postal Authorities notify to us when any of their employes residing
in the district are suffering from these diseases, and I send a certificate
after disinfection has been carried out.
The District Medical Officers to the Board of Guardians also notify to
us all cases coming under their care, or in which they order removal to
the Fever Hospitals.
The Asylums Board report to us all cases admitted to their land or river
Hospitals every week and to all the Medical Officers of Health in the
Metropolis.
Thus, from the various sources, we get numerous cases notified to us
and as soon as possible the rooms and clothing are thoroughly disinfected.
SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS.
The house to house visitation has been steadily going on during the
past twelve months with the result that very many sanitary improvements
have been made. No less than 2,085 closets have been provided with
water supply, 1,241 dust-bins provided, and 949 yards paved. These
alone entail a large amount of work and the difficulties in the way of
getting these works completed vary very much; in some cases owners
and occupiers are both equally anxious for sanitary improvements in
the dwellings and surroundings. In many other cases one part of the
work will be done and the rest left undone until, by repeated writing
and visiting the owners, it does get accomplished. I consider that
such a large amount of work having been carried out without magisterial
interference, even in a single case, speaks volumes for the owners of property
and also for the tact, energy and perseverance, on the part of our
Inspectors. It is greatly to be regretted that there is no legislation to
enforce tenants to keep their houses in proper repair after having been
made so by the landlord, as we come across numerous instances where
tenants show an utter disregard for cleanliness, etc., and so we have to
come on the landlords to keep the properties in a sanitary condition.
There are still a large number of houses which require sanitary improvements
and which will be taken in hand in due course.
THE REMOVAL OF NUISANCES INJURIOUS TO
HEALTH.
The number of nuisances that have been removed during the past
year have been very large, as will be seen from the Inspectors' report,
and these it must be remembered do not represent the total number as