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185
Vestry,of course, went considerably beyond this, but, however desirable
they might have been, it was impossible at so late a period of the
Session to obtain for them the attention of Parliament. I felt it my
duty, nevertheless, to request the consideration of the President of
the Local Government Board to two necessary amendments of the
Bill, including the insertion of words in Section 19, to give the Inspector
of Nuisances the same power of entry as the Medical Officer
of Health. But not even this was done, and the Bill, practically unaltered
I believe, became law on the last working day of the
Session.
"The Society of Medical Officers of Health, desirous of making
the most of the new Act, prepared ' Suggestions for Regulations
with respect to Bakehouses,' for the guidance of the Sanitary
Authorities. The Acts do not authorize the making of regulations or
bye-laws, but it was felt that good would result should the Vestries
see fit to adopt the suggestions of the Society for the guidance of their
officers, and communicate them to bakehouse proprietors as an indication
of the requirements of the law. This course was adopted by
your Vestry ; the regulations were printed in large type and mounted on
cardboard, and a copy was supplied to each bakehouse proprietor in
the parish for suspension in the bakehouse.
" The Regulations were as follows :—
REGULATIONS.
' I. Every Bakehouse shall be kept ill a cleanly slate, and free from effluvia
arising from any drain, privy, water-closet, or other nuisance. The floors
shall be carefully swept at least once every 24 hours, and the sweepings
shall be immediately placed in an impermeable covered receptacle, and
removed from the bakehouse at not longer intervals than every seven days.
' 2. All the inside walls of the rooms of the bakehouse, and all the ceilings or
tops of such rooms, and all the passages and staircases of the bakehouse,
shall either be painted with oil, or varnished, or lime-washed. Where painted
with oil or varnished, there shall be three coats of paint or varnish, and the
paint or varnish shall be renewed once at least in every seven years, and
shall be washed, with hot water and soap, once at least in every six months.
Where lime-washed the lime-washing shall be renewed once at least in every
six months. The cleansing should be done in the months of April and
October.
' 3. The troughs and all the utensils used in the making of bread and pastry
shall be kept scrupulously clean.
' 4. A place on the same level with the bakehouse, and forming part of the same
building, shall not be used as a sleeping place,
(a) Unless it is effectually separated from the bakehouse by a partition
extending from the floor to the ceiling.
(b) Unless there be an external glazed window of at least 9 superficial
feet of area, of which at the least 4½ superficial feet are made to
open for ventilation.