London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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workshop supervision. 61
Complaints.— In 1902 the Home Office forwarded 28 complaints, in 1903 10, and last
year 6—one of which being, however, apparently sent in error, as no evidence of any cause
for complaint could be discovered. The 5 other complaints referred to—
Dirty conditions, 3 ; insufficient ventilation and overcrowding, 1 each.
From other sources 18 complaints were received last year, relating to—
"Bad smells," 4 ; insufficient means of warming, 3 ; dirty conditions, 2 ;
overtime, 2 ; and " other matters," 5.
The complaints as to temperature and overtime were referred to the Home Office.
Overcrowding.—In 1902, 44 cases of overcrowding were reported, in 1903, 31, and last
year 16—a very satisfactory reduction.
Deficient Ventilation.—In 1903, 19 workshops were noted as insufficiently ventilated,
which number decreased to 10 last year.
Warming.— A steady improvement is taking place in the provision of means of warming,
but the reduction in the number of complaints has been in part due to the milder winter.
Unventilated gas.stoves are gradually being banished from workshops of all classes.

Sanitary Conveniences.— These are being gradually improved, as may be seen by comparing the complaints recorded by the Inspectors during the past three years :—

1902.1903.1904.
Insufficient952
Not separately provided33174
Badly placed181013
Unventilated85
Defective292823

All the closets reported last year as "badly placed" were in men's workshops inspected
for the first time. The defects were chiefly those of waste preventers out of order.

Sickness.—Fifty.three cases of infectious illnesses were reported at " workshop premises, 14 of the cases occurring in houses occupied by home workers. The cases reported are as follow :—

Scarlet fever10Chickenpox10 (5)
Enteric fever3 (2)Measles28 (7)
Erysipelas1Whooping Cough1

There were 11 deaths from consumption during the year at premises where workshops
exist, 4 being outworkers' premises.
The precautions taken were in every case found to be sufficient, and no action was
requisite under the special sections of the Factory and Workshop Act.
Laundries.— The conditions prevailing in these premises continue satisfactory. The
defects found during the year were of very small importance, and were promptly remedied on
attention being called to them.
Bakehouses.— At the close of 1903, 33 underground bakehouses were without the
certificate required by Sec. 101 of the Act, the necessary alterations being unfinished.
During 1904, 32 certificates were issued, one bakehouse being left over as incomplete.
The total number of bakehouses in Borough at the end of 1904 was 79, viz., 17 " level "
and 62 underground. Of the 79 bakehouses 8 are factory bakehouses, and 71 workshop. Of.
the former 91 inspections were made during the past year ; of the latter, 465. Four bakehouses
only were reported to be dirty. Four cases of sickness—viz., one each of scarlet
and enteric fevers, erysipelas and chickenpox—occurred on the premises.