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, 89
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 843 premises were inspected
house-to-house (i.e., in detail), and that 4,932 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 sanitary 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 prvention
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.