London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finsbury 1908
Report on the public health of Finsbury 1908 including annual report on factories and workshops
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5. Any infringements not rectified within the time specified on
the Complaint Note have always been complied with after a written
communication to the owners.
The following table gives a comparison of the past seven years as regards the women and children employed on the Canal Boats visiting this District:—
| Year. | Boats Inspected. | Persons found on Boats. | Totals. | Registered for. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men. | Women. | Children.* | ||||
| 1902 | 116 | 189 | 78 | 78 | 345 | 365 |
| i903 | 106 | 183 | 45 | 51 | 279 | 346 |
| 1904 | 1OI | 179 | 47 | 59 | 285 | 344 |
| 1905 | 1o9 | 207 | 33 | 58 | 298 | 349 |
| 1906 | 1O1 | 217 | 28 | 29 | 274 | 327 |
| 1907 | 1O3 | 181 | 40 | 43 | 264 | 322 |
| 1908 | 111 | 267 | 18 | 36 | 321 | 353 |
* The term children should be understood to include only those at ages as
stated in the Regulations—viz., under the age of twelve years. From this point of
view the total number of persons found on the boats may exceed the number for
which the boats are registered, and yet not infringe the Regulations.
6. No infectious disease has been notified or met with in the
canal boats, therefore isolation has not been necessary.
7. Cleansing.—In no case has a canal boat been detained for the
purpose of cleansing or disinfection.
Of the 101 boats inspected, it was found that 84 (including the
whole of the offensive cargo boats) were occupied by men only.
Among the 90 non-offensive cargo boats inspected, there were 17
occupied by women and children, and 1 by women only.
I have always found the occupants of the canal boats ready and
willing to accede to any request which I have felt it my duty to
make regarding cleanliness and good health.