Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the four weeks, October 11th to November 7th, 1903...
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spective, and "does nut enable the Sanitary Authority to require
the removal of an old brick or other fixed ash-pit," unless it is in
such a condition as to be a nuisance. The Committee allege that
"these old fixed receptacles often become filled with refuse and give
rise to recurring nuisances," and therefore the Sanitary Authority
should hare power to require their demolition in all cases in which
moveable receptacles shall have been provided-a course certainly
desirable.
The sixth proposal relates to "the inspection of premises where
food is prepared for sale," and in connection therewith reference is
made to a recent illustration of the difficulties which beset the
sanitary inspector when the occupier of premises takes it into his
head, for whatever reason, to refuse admittance to that official. The
Committee advise that the power of entry should he enlarged, so as
to enable the Sanitary Authority to examine premises where food is
prepared for sale, and so to "require the removal of conditions which
are likely to give rise to contamination." The Committee reported, in
1902, on kitchens of hotels and restaurants-"a matter which has
recently excited considerable public attention," and think that the
powers they suggest "would be very useful to Sanitary Authorities
in this connexion."
This was shown in a report by one of the County Council's
Assistant Medical Officers of Health, after an enquiry, made in 1898,
us to "the circumstances under which certain articles of food are
prepared for sale in London," which pointed to the desirability of giving
Sanitary Authorities power to "require the removal of conditions
exposing food to the risk of contamination." "Such powers have
already been given in the case of milk, and certain provisions, with a
similar object, and directed against the contamination of bread, have
been in force for a number of years." The Committee remark that
"there is no reason why provisions which are necessary in the case of
bakehouses should not be necessary with regard to any place where
food is prepared for sale"—a remark which leads me to observe
that the provisions for securing bread against contamination are
insufficient, and that the County Council would do well to include in
their proposed Bill a provision to enable them to frame by-laws to
regulate the, construction of bakehouses, and the conduct of the
business of a baker.
The seventh proposal relates to "the payment to sanitary
authorities of penalties imposed on ice-cream vendors and manufacturers."
These penalties are now payable to the police, but the
Committee think it only just that the authority which takes proceedings
should receive the fine.
The eighth proposal relates to the "sorting and sifting by hand