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199
[1904
Public-House Sanitary Accommodation. One of the most crying
evils in London is the want of adequate accommodation at Public-houses and
Beer-houses. Complaints are frequently received from ratepayers that streets,
particularly side streets, in the neighbourhood of these houses are used as
urinals. That they are justified is without question. But it is a difficult
matter to deal with, as there is no law in the Metropolis which enacts that
taverns shall be provided with urinal and w.c. accommodation which
can be easily approached from the bars. Several of the provincial boroughs
have obtained special legislation which enables them to deal with this want,
and, therefore, nuisances such as those experienced here are not so many.
Some thirteen years ago, when your Medical Officer of Health served the
County Borough of Sunderland in a similar capacity, he succeeded in prevailing
on his authority to seek powers, which they ultimately obtained, from
Parliament.
The Public Health Committee are fully alive to the annoyance and
nuisances that are caused in Islington, and have decided in future to ask the
magistrates to refuse the licences to houses where they arise through the
want of accommodation. It is a drastic, but very necessary, remedy.
Barbers' Shops.—On February 8th a report was presented to the
Public Health Committee by the Medical Officer of Health calling attention
to the danger arising from insanitary fittings, such as untrapped lavatory
basins, as well as to the skin diseases which might occur through the lack of
cleanliness on the part of the hairdressers and barbers, particularly with
respect to the articles and instruments used by them in their businesses, with
the result that every barber's shop in the borough was inspected, and the
sanitary defects made good, and that the following instructions, which were
the first of their kind issued in London, and probably in England, were
issued:—
HYGIENIC PRECAUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED BY BARBERS
TO PREVENT SKIN DISEASES.
The Public Health Committee, being aware that the neglect of
necessary hygienic precautions has been the cause of certain skin diseases,
and especially of a parasitic disease known as ringworm, strongly recommend
all Barbers to adopt the following means whereby these diseases
may be prevented:—
1.—The saloon or barber's shop, together with all the furniture, to
be at all times kept in a cleanly condition.