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that confectionery, cakes, etc., were kept in glass-fronted cases as far
as possible, thus obviating contamination from dust, etc. The standard
of cleanliness is excellent; the type of construction, the decorative
finish of the walls, floor coverings and general arrangements of the
establishment have been designed to attain to the highest hygienic
standard. We have nothing but praise for the cinema, restaurant and
shop.
GENERAL MATTERS.
Epidemic Diarrhoea.
The most obvious cause is overcrowding ; approximately 50 of the
cases notified were living under overcrowded conditions, and no fewer
than 31 families of these latter 50 were living in one room. These
were mostly in the Church Street, Hales Street, Giffin Street, Crossfield
Street area "represented" some seven years ago. This housing question
works in a vicious cycle ; here in this area we have our highest infantile
death-rate and our highest general death-rate, relatively, to all the
wards in the Borough. The people here are very poor; few could
afford to go to Downham or Becontree. There is no reason, to my
way of thinking, why the County Council should not dispose, to begin
with, of one or two houses, and build tenements. By degrees, and in
course of time, the whole area could be dealt with. No doubt we shall
always have the poor with us, but surely we might help them and raise
them up to higher things. It is wrong to talk of separate houses for
them—that is an ideal, but one, I am convinced by experience, that
will not work. The best thing to do under the circumstances is to
build tenements, put in selected families, and gradually raise the
standard of these people.
Our enquires into Diarrhœa cases were surprising and pleasing, in
that room after room was found to be quite clean. Injudicious dieting
was an associated cause, and this in spite of keen health visiting and