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59
WORKSHOP SUPERVISION.
Warming.—Although this is under the: jurisdiction of the Home Office qua temperature
of room, yet the Inspectors have to deal with the matter on account of the frequent use of
gas stoves without proper means of conveying the products of combustion into the outer air.
The weather was cold in January, and several cases of want of means of warming were
reported to the Home Office. One prosecution resulted, the defendant being fined £10, wi th
£3 9s. costs. Means of warming were provided before the summons was heard. During
November and December there were few really cold days, and therefore the Inspectors found
but few cases to complain of.
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Sanitary Conveniences.—No special case has to be reported under this head. The
accommodation, is, however, being gradually improved. The Order under Sec. 9 of the
Act, which does not apply to the Metrcpolis, prescribes certain provisions to exclude
from workroom emanations arising from closets and urinals, which might be usefully enforced.
They could not, however, be universally applied, as they would entail the reconstruction of
many premises.
Sickness.—Sixty-two cases of infectious sickness occurred on "workshop premises," 20 of
which were occupied by outworkers. The cases of the various diseases were—
Diphtheria 4 (2)
Scarlet fever 6 (2)
Erysipelas 1 (1)
Puerperal fever 1 (—)
Measles 24 (9)
Whooping Cough 20 (11)
Chicken-pox 6 (1)
Consumption (deaths) 10 (5)
Measles is now a " dangerous infectious disease " for all purposes save notification, but,
owing to the wording of Sec. 110 of the Act,* there is no legal power to take precautions to
prevent work being carried on in infected homes. There is need of an extension of that
Section to include measles, as the Inspectors have found dressmaking and mangling being
done in rooms where children ill with measles have been in bed. At present the only remedy
is to proceed under Sec. 08 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891—" exposing infected
articles."
Laundries.—The majority of the laundries are in the northern district. So much work
was accomplished during 1902 that there is but little to record on this occasion. The
Inspector (Miss O'Kell) reports that " a verv fair standard of cleanliness and order" has been
maintained during the year, only one laundry having been found in a chronic state of dirt.
Even here some improvement was noted at the end of the year.
The yards used as drying grounds, the majority of which were formerly unpaved and
undrained, are gradually being put into proper condition. The drainage of the floors of washhouses
has received attention, and the provision of hoods over the coppers has been found
to be a great improvement.
At three (3) laundries excessive temperatures were noted, and the attention of the Home
Office called to the premises. After consultation between the Medical Officer of Health and
the Inspector from the Home Office, suggestions were made to the occupiers which have
successfully removed the cause of complaint without involving a large expenditure on the
part of the occupiers.
Bakehouses.—The number of bakehouses on the Register remained unchanged during the
year, but there were two transferences from the " underground " to the " level" class—the
Register now containing 62 premises in the former category, and 17 in the latter. As regards
the "underground" class, the Inspector (Mr. Wansbrough) reports that he made 1,328
* The provisions of the Section apply to " the infectious diseases required to be notified under the law for
the time being in force in relation to the notification of infectious diseases "—Sec. 110 (5).