London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Poplar 1898
Annual report, year 1898, on the sanitary condition with vital statistics of the parishes of Poplar and Bromley within the Poplar District
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63
to the district, so far as female labour is concerned, but a lady Inspector will not
benefit the parishes of Poplar and Bromley in regard to house-to-house inspection.
I have stated twice to the Board during my period of office the number of houses
(approximately) each Inspector has in his district, and I have pointed out that an
Inspector ought to have no more than 2500 premises to look after.
The following figures show the number of houses (approximately) each Sanitary Inspector has in his district:—
| Poplar, North | 5036 | Bromley, North | 4322 |
| ,, South (very large area) | 2808 | ,, South | 5000 |
| Total | 7844 | Total | 9322 |
North Poplar, the poorest sub-division, with its 5036 premises undoubtedly
requires another inspector. There is always a large amount of sanitary work
constantly on hand, and builders must be kept waiting as the one inspector cannot
possibly be at every job immediately he is required, because he must necessarily
be delayed on account of unforeseen exigencies occurring when work is about to
be passed.
North Poplar in its present condition in my opinion is much too large an area
for one inspector.