View report page

90
GENERAL
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
The statistics of sanitary work appear very dull
reading unless lit up with understanding and imagination.
To anyone not knowing the conditions of life in
Bethnal Green, the fact that 859 premises were
inspected house-to-house (i.e. in detail), and that 5,050
others were inspected because of some particular cause
for complaint might seem to have little significance.
Yet, these inspections serve to illustrate how necessary
is the constant vigilance of the sauitary inspecting
staff in order that the recurring dilapidations associated
with old property may be promptly and effectually
dealt with. Allusion is made later to the more general
aspect of the housing question. Here I need only
comment on the practical public health value of the
day-to-day work of the sanitary staff in the prompt
removal of defects in w.c's., sinks and gullies, the
cleansing of dirty rooms, the remedying of dampness,
etc., the provision of proper dustbins. Each individual
item may be of limited importance, but in their
totality these matters represent a considerable prevention
of possible dangers to health. The development
of new branches of public health activity in no way
minimizes the fundamental importance of sound
environmental conditions. The increased power over
our environment which greater knowledge now gives
us, makes the sanitary supervision of dwellings, streets,
etc., more important, rather than less.