Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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Report of Medical Officer of Health.]
majority of the latter had been re-constructed under the supervision of the Department, which now
possesses a record of such work dating back to the end of 1889. Many other drains have in past
years been re-laid without any notice being given, over the re-construction of which no supervision
has been exercised.
Combined Drainage.—Between the presentation of the Report for 1899 and the close of
1900 five systems of combined drainage were referred to the Works Committee by the Sanitary
Committee, and re-construction recommended. The houses drained by such systems were :—
(i.) Nos. 23-35 (odd), Clifton Road.
(ii.) Nos. 8-24 (even), Westbourne Terrace North; 1-7 (odd), Westbourne Park Crescent;
1-9 (odd), Wesbury Terrace.
(iii.) Nos. 15, 16, and 17, Westbourne Street Mews.
(iv.) Nos. 25.and 27, Blomfield Street.
(v.) Nos. 22 and 12, Eastbourne Mews.
By arrangement with the respective owners, the under-mentioned combined systems were
broken up and independent drains constructed for each house, the Yestry bearing a considerable
portion of the expense in each case:—
18 and 19, Victoria Place.
67, Queen's Road and 21, Poplar Place.
The drain under No. 7, Leinster Street was re-constructed by the Yestry, with a better fall, the
owner contributing a small proportion of the cost. This drain receives a part of the drainage of
the cab stables in the rear of Nos. 5-8, Leinster Street, as well as that of the main building of
No. 7.
An order for combined drainage was made under Sec. 74 of the Metropolitan Management
Act, 1855, with respect to certain stables in Stanley Mews.
Byf.-laws re House Drainage.—The Bye-laws proposed to be made under Sec. 202 of the
Metropolis Management Act, 1855, draft of which was submitted to the Yestry in January, 1897,
are still awaiting confirmation by the Local Government Board. The delay has been due in part
to the wish to allow the new Municipal Councils the opportunity of considering the draft before its
confirmation.
Draft Bye-laws drawn up under the "Metropolis Management Acts Amendment (Bye-laws)
Act, 1899" were forwarded by the County Council to the Yestry on July 28th last, and referred to
the Joint Works and Sanitary Committee. The Report of the Joint Committee was before the
Yestry on October 16th last. The proposed Bye-laws, if strictly enforced, would result in the
creation of a very complete and valuable record of the construction and plans of house drainage,
but would involve a considerable outlay for those making only minor alterations, and an almost
prohibitive one for complete re-construction.
Workshop Supervision.—In pursuance of Sec. 26 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1891,
4 notices of workrooms newly opened were received from the Chief Inspector of Factories.
The rooms were measured up, entered on the Register, and cards stating the number of workers to
be accommodated issued. At the close of 1900 the Register contained 207 entries of workshops
and workplaces, comprising 318 separate rooms. Only 48 new workrooms were measured during
the year.
Complaints of insanitary conditions at 28 workshops were received from H.M. Factory
Inspectors, and duly attended to. The total number of inspections of workshops during the year
was 153, compared with 145 in 1899, and 67 in 1898. The amount of work which it has been
possible to get through is not sufficient to the needs of the district. It is hoped that, when the Staff
of the Department is re-organized by the Council of the Borough, provision will be made for
adequate supervision of workshops, &c.