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186
1902]

Inspections.—In the course of the year I have made 1,664 inspections and 1,732 re-inspections
and calls. These figures include inspections of:—(1) Registered workshops and laundries
; (2) the homes of female out-workers ; (3) the sanitary arrangements in factories and the
public conveniences for women.
At the time of the small fox outbreak in the early part of the year, I distributed, under your
directions, in the factories and workshops, leaflets calling the attention of employers to the advisability
of having their employees vaccinated, and bills on the subject to post on the workshop'
walls. In most of the better-class work-places all the employees were vaccinated, but in the
poorer places and in most of the laundries there were comparatively few persons vaccinated, as
they seemed to prefer the risk of an attack of small-pox to the certainty of being unable to
work for a few days, and thus losing their wages.
I refer to the results of my inspections under the following headings : —
Overcrowding.—Owing to the general dulness of trade there has been little tendency to overcrowd
workrooms. I found four cases during the year, and in these rooms the overcrowding
was abated. I have measured 269 new workrooms, and have distributed cards to be hung in
them stating their pubic capacity and the number of persons who may work in each.
Ventilation.—In four workrooms additional ventilators have been provided. I think that
there are signs that a belief in the value of fresh air is gradually spreading, and that on the whole
the workrooms are not so badly ventilated as they were, although they are still far from perfect.
It would be a great advance if it were found practicable to carry out the findings of the
recent Commission on Ventilation, and to judge of the overcrowding of a room by the purity of
the air, and not by the air space as at present. It is quite common to find a close and stuffy
room where there is more than the legal allowance of cubic feet per person, and on the other
hand to find one fresh and well-ventilated where there are more than the legal number of persons
at work.
Cleanliness.—The walls and ceilings of 118 workrooms have been cleansed and whitewashed
under my supervision during the year.
Sanitary Defects.—I have discovered, in the course of my inspections, in addition to those
mentioned above, 129 sanitary defects, liable to be dealt with under the Public Health Act. These
are detailed in the tabular summary of my work. In consequence of my reports the drains of
seven workshops were tested and re-laid under the supervision of the District Sanitary Inspectors.
I have served 53 intimation notices, and I have personally supervised the abatement
of 68 nuisances.