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however, has been done in this parish to give effect to the requirements
of the sub-section, which, are of an obligatory
character. In December, 1894, the Medical Officer of Health to
the London County Council prepared a return, showing what had
been done, in the way of providing the required accommodation,
by the Sanitary Authorities, to the number of 20 (out of 43) of
these bodies ; such accommodation varying widely in extent and
suitability in the different districts. The Medical Officer stated
that " somewhat different views had been taken by the several
Sanitary Authorities who have provided a shelter, as to the
character of the accommodation which is required. In some
instances this accommodation is provided for use by night, but in
others, only day accommodation has been considered necessary.
The time occupied in the removal of infected articles to the
disinfecting station, in their disinfection, and in their
extends to several hours. The time occupied in the purification
of the room, often the only room of the family, extends
to many hours. It is obvious, therefore," as the Medical
Officer pointed out, " that the use of the shelter by night
must be contemplated in any arrangements made; provision,
however, which would meet the necessities of the use of
the dwelling-room by night, has not, in a number of instances,
been made." The Medical Officer further stated •' that
the opinion was frequently expressed during the inquiry, that
poor persons were unwilling to use the accommodation which had
been provided ;" but that, "in connection with this difficulty it
deserves to be pointed out, that these people need the experience
which time can only give," and " will eventually find this
accommodation meet their convenience," so that " the use of
shelters will grow from year to year." The final observation is
" that the expectation that the poor will avail themselves of these
temporary homes must depend very largely upon the shelter being
made reasonably attractive, as in the case of hospitals and
mortuaries." I need hardly say that I concur in the views of the
Council's Medical Officer on this important question; and to
emphasize the necessity for a shelter in this parish, it will suffice
to say that (as I pointed out in the same sixth report), during the
year 1894, when infectious disease was by no means excessively
prevalent in our midst, some 64 cases occurred in families
occupying single rooms; that in every such case the room was
disinfected, and was generally, but not without exceptions,
closed for a period of 24 hours, and, therefore, during one whole
night, necessarily to the great inconvenience of numerous poor
persons, many of whom, it is to be supposed, would have been glad
to make use of a shelter had such accommodation been available.'