View report page

40
Unfortunately, even when suitable washing coppers are provided,
they are liable to be grossly misused or wilfully damaged.
It is not at all uncommon to find the washing copper used for
boiling beetroot with a minimum amount of water.
"The steam is kept in" by covering the top of the copper with
the fouled lid of the ash-bin.
The copper may crack in the process.
The beetroot is subsequently sold from hawkers' barrows or from
baskets in the market streets.
In 3 houses, not connected with the present investigation, the
coppers were being used for melting waste fat, for ham boiling, and
for fish boiling, so that the other occupants of these houses were
deprived of the use of the coppers for purposes of washing.
In addition to the various nuisances described in the foregoing
pages— 21 other sanitary defects were found.
Notices were served for all these and abatement obtained.
Length of residence in Finsbury.—Thirty-seven families,
or 18.5 per cent., had lived in the borough for one year or less;
83, or 41.5 per cent., for five years or less. Removals, however,
from one address to another were quite common in a large number
of cases. These removals add a great deal to the work of
watching over the progress of the babies.
Reasons for cessation of visits.—These were various and
as follows:—The baby's condition was satisfactory and improving.
The family removed and was lost sight of—75 babies were withdrawn
from supervision in this way, a larger number than that
due to any other cause. In a few cases the mother was always
out, or was ignorant and apparently unable to understand the
instruction given. Fifteen of the babies died. Others were
received into hospital or infirmary.
In three instances the visits were said to be merely a "waste of
time."