London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1897
Forty-second annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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141
1897
principle. Now when each workroom has to be measured and to have a notice affixed, as
to the number of persons who may be employed, no one can err through ignorance. No
doubt the liability to a visit from an inspector is an aid to some in resisting the temptation
to overcrowd.
Sanitary Defects.—In the course of inspection I have discovered and reported to you
the existence of 329 nuisances, liable to be dealt with under the Public Health Act.
I have served 111 intimation notices and have supervised the abatement of 181
nuisances.
The following is a table of the workshops in which women are employed, and which I visited during the year.
| Nature of Business | Number of workshops. | Number of workrooms therein. |
|---|---|---|
| Dressmaking | 248 | 300 |
| Tie making | 78 | 88 |
| Mantle and costume making | 74 | 104 |
| Millinery and infants' millinery | 61 | 100 |
| Fur sewing | 52 | 66 |
| Blouse and apron making | 38 | 44 |
| Artificial flower making | 32 | 69 |
| Underclothing making | 30 | 40 |
| Jet and bead work | 22 | 35 |
| Tailoring | 21 | 22 |
| Fancy leather goods making | 20 | 29 |
| Boot upper and infant shoe making | 9 | 16 |
| Cardboard box making | 7 | 14 |
| Wig making | 5 | 10 |
| Collar and cuff making | 5 | 8 |
| Curtain making | 3 | 4 |
| Frilling making | 3 | 4 |
| Confectionery | 3 | 24 |
| Rag picking and sorting | 3 | 9 |
| Toy making | 3 | 5 |
| Lamp and candle shade making | 3 | 4 |
| Fancy goods making | 2 | 5 |
| Button hole making | 2 | 3 |
| Bassinette hood making | 2 | 2 |
| Photographic paper preparing | 2 | 5 |
| Funeral furnishing making | 1 | 1 |
| Artificial fly making | 1 | 1 |
| Balloon making | 1 | 1 |
| Embroidery sewing | 1 | 4 |
| Gold beaters' skin preparing | 1 | 4 |
| Surgical appliances making | 1 | 2 |
| Curling pin making | 1 | 1 |