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72
for without it the water tap might become a source of dampness and
cause considerable damage to the house. The section of the General
Powers Act quoted above makes no provision for a sink, and in some
cases the owners having provided water taps refused to fix sinks beneath
them. In these cases the house appeared to be without the "sufficient
drain" required by section 73 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855,
and after the service of notices under that section the sinks were duly
provided.
Pears have been expressed that these sinks might be misused and
fouled and so become a source of nuisance. This, however, has not been
our experience in Hampstead. The provision of water taps and sinks
has led to an improvement in the sanitation of the premises, and has
been much appreciated by the tenants.
Staff of the Public Health Department.
In the early part of 1909, Inspector Edmonds retired from the
Council's service, and his District, No. 4, which is coterminous with the
Kilburn Ward, was taken over by Inspector Grimsley, who had previously
been in charge of No. 2 district, comprising Wards 3 and 7. To fill the
vacancy the Council appointed Mr. C. H. Taylor, who began his duties
on May 14th. During the year Mr. E. J. Cooper, resigned his post as
Clerk-Draughtsman on his acceptance of an important appointment at
the Hampstead Garden Suburb as Secretary to the Hampstead Tenants,
Limited. Mr. H. C. Dobson was appointed to succeed Mr. Cooper, but he
resigned in October and was succeeded by the present Clerk-Draughtsman
Mr. A. Narramore.
Public Mortuary.
During the year the bodies of 85 persons were brought to the
Mortuary as against 78 last year—53 by order of the Coroner, 14 by
the Police, and 18 at the request of friends of the deceased persons.
In 67 instances, or 79 per cent, of the bodies admitted, inquests
were held, and in 37 instances, or 43 percent., post-mortem examinations
were made.