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160
In four instances work was found in connection with
infected premises, and in each case the necessary disinfection
of the materials on hand was carried out before being returned
to the employers of the outworkers in question.
As pointed out in previous reports this work is of a varied
and fluctuating character, causing continual alteration of the
registers.
This branch of Public Health Administration is an
extremely important one, and frequent inspections are necessary,
both with a view to remedying sanitary defects and also to
ensure against the possibility of disease being spread by the
transmission of infected work from one place to another.
Special attention was paid to the condition of the outworker's
rooms, and when necessary, cleansing was carried out.
Inspection of Home Workers.
During the year, 194 visits were paid to the homes of
outworkers. Special instructions regarding cleanliness and
ventilation were given where necessary, and all structural
defects were dealt with. Generally speaking the majority of
these homes, belonging to the more industrious section of the
poorer classes, are kept in a satisfactory state by the occupants.
Frequently they are more cleanly than houses kept by women
who are not home workers. Home work has no attraction for
the indolent sloven, and a woman who is energetic enough to
add to the family finances by her personal industry, will make
the additional effort of keeping the home and inmates clean and
comfortable.
Unfortunately when the husband is out of work or dead
and the woman becomes the sole bread winner other conditions
prevail. Having to work excessively long hours for so small
a pay she is handicapped and therefore unable to keep her