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the following headings (1) canned foods, (2) butchers' meat, (3) meat in tripe dressers' shops,
(4) dairies and cowsheds, (5) ice creams, (6) other foods, e.g.: eggs and fried fish. There are many
riverside wharves in Stepney at which canned foods are landed, and examined with all practicable
care, and Londoners are indebted to the officials of that and other boroughs, where foods of foreign
origin are landed, for such protection as they enjoy from risk of being injuriously affected by
unsound, unwholesome or diseased articles of diet.
Tinned and Preserved Foods formed the subject of a discussion, opened by the Medical Officer
of Health of the Borough for Stepney, at a meeting of the Society of Medical Officers of Health
(Metropolitan Branch), a resolution being passed to the effect that "it is necessary, in order to
secure better protection for the public in regard to tinned and preserved foods, that legislation
should be passed embodying" suggestions (inter alia) for identifying the manufacture, and the date
of canning; requiring any person in possession of unsound canned foods to notify and surrender
them to the local authority, and providing for expert examination of contents of a proportion of the
tins from each imported consignment, before the food is placed on the market, etc. The opinion
was expressed that" the use of preservatives in canned foods is unnecessary, and should not under
any circumstances be permitted." The resolution was ordered to be forwarded to the Local
Government Board, the Board of Agriculture, the London County Council, and the Metropolitan
City and Borough Councils; the latter bodies being invited to support the views of the Society by
making representations to the other authorities named, with a view to the desired legislation being
promoted.
THE WORK OF THE SANITARY INSPECTORS.
The Sanitary Inspecting Staff comprises a chief inspector, ten male inspectors, and two lady
inspectors of workshops, workplaces and laundries where women are employed. The table at page
97 contains a summary of the work of the male inspectors (so far as it admits of tabulation) in
their several districts; of which six are in North Kensington; i.e., north of High Street, Notting
Hill, and Holland Park Avenue; and four in South Kensington, three of them to the south of Kensington
High Street and Kensington Road; the remaining district lying between the main
thoroughfares named. The work of the inspectors is carried out under the supervision of the
Public Health Committee, the Council having conferred on that body authority to enforce the provisions
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, 18901903,
and the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, etc.
Supervision of underground work—reconstruction and trapping of drains, etc., was, as from
the beginning of 1905, transferred from the Borough Engineer's department and placed under the
Sanitary Inspectors, who during the year supervised the reconstruction of the drainage systems of
137 premises. A considerable number of drains were voluntarily reconstructed by owners or
occupiers of houses, after the deposit of plans for the approval of the Public Health Committee,
particulars of which will be found in the Borough Engineer's report.
The Sanitary Inspectors are charged with the further duty of collecting samples of food
and drugs for analysis by the public analyst; the number of samples collected last year was 650.
Written Intimations of nuisances were served by the inspectors to the number of 2,566.
As a result of these intimations, many works of sanitary amendment were carried out forthwith,
thus realising the object of the legislature, and obviating, in many instances, the necessity for service
of statutory notices. On the intimation form a red ink note authorises the person liable to
abate a nuisance to make what, for convenience, may be called an "appeal" to the Committee
against the requirements of the sanitary inspector. Appeal, which is of rare occurrence, usually
takes the form of an application for an extension of the time specified for carrying out works.
Statutory Notices for the abatement of nuisances to the number of 541 were issued by
direction of the Committee.
Notices under the by-laws for houses let in lodgings, to the number of 1,197, were served.
Legal Proceedings.—In eight cases proceedings were instituted: in one instance, for an
offence under the by-laws for registered houses, the fine inflicted being £3; in six cases for noncompliance
with the Council's notices, the fines inflicted, in three cases, amounting to £2. Orders
were also made in these three cases, and also in two other cases. In one case the summons was
withdrawn, the required work having been executed. In one instance proceedings were instituted
for the conveying of offensive matter through the streets, a fine of £5 being inflicted. The fines
in all amounted to £10.
The subjoined table recommended for use by the Metropolitan Branch of the Society of
Medical Officers of Health is inserted at the request of the Medical Officer of Health of the London
County Council.