Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics of the Parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green during the year 1895
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7. The making of bye-laws as to house - drains and
drain-fittings under Section 202 of the Metropolis
Local Management Act.
We are fully aware that the work of raising Bethnal Green
to a proper standard of healthiness is great and onerous,
and that it will require sustained efforts during a prolonged
period for this purpose. The Vestry are, however,
advised by able and energetic officers, and are possessed of
considerable power from the legislature for the performance
of their public health duties.
In the course of our inspection we have received every assistance
from Mr. Forrest and Mr. Hilditch, and our thanks
are due to the Vestry for the use of the Vestry Hall, and
also to their officers who supplied us with all the information
required."
We are, &c..
(Signed) D. CUBITT NICHOLS.
SHIRLEY F. MUEPHY.
"Having been present throughout the inquiry, we concur in
the foregoing report, excepting that taking into consideration
the assistance given to the Sanitary Inspectors by
other officers of the Vestry, we are of opinion that one
additional Inspector, or three in all, would be sufficient to
meet the requirements of the Parish."
(Signed) CHRISTOPHER FORREST.
JAMES GEORGE HILDITCH.
The report of the Commissioners was referred to a special Committee
for consideration, and after several sittings it was decided to
appoint one additional officer. Accordingly in December 1889, Mr.
Gerald Watts was made a third Sanitary Inspector.
With the increase in the staff, I again offered to attend daily at
the Vestry Hall for the purpose of supervising the work of the
department, and this time my offer was accepted as an experiment
for twelve months, but taking into consideratfon the reluctance with
which any authority over the staff was delegated to me, I never felt
that I had any mandate to do more than exercise a general super-