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

View report page

Paddington 1908

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

This page requires JavaScript

60
HOUSING.
Warming.—Although this subject falls under the jurisdiction of the Home Office, the
Inspectors of the Department are required to report premises which are either too hot or
without adequate means of maintaining a reasonable temperature in cold weather. The
latter always receives special attention whenever there is a marked fall in the temperature,
but only once was a workshop reported as too cold during the year.
Sanitary Conveniences.—The general improvement which has taken place with respect to
this part of workshop accommodation is manifest from the appended statement.

Water-closet Accommodation.

1902.1904.1906.1907.1908.
Insufficient922-2
Not separately provided334212
Badly placed1813--3
Unventilated8----
Defective2923231511

Sickness.—The cases of infectious disease, of all descriptions, reported during the year on
"workshop premises," numbered 93, including 21 cases in the homes of outworkers, shown in
parentheses in the appended statement.
Scarlet Fever 46(13) Puerperal Fever 1(—) Measles 28 (5)
Diphtheria 5 (—) Erysipelas 7 (3) Chickenpox 6 (—)
In addition to the above, 1 case of "consumption" was reported. The deaths from the
foregoing diseases numbered 8, viz., 4 from "consumption," 2 from measles, and one each
from diphtheria and scarlet fever, the deaths from measles being the only fatal cases on
outworkers' premises.
On receipt of information of any case of infectious illness the premises are specially
visited. Inasmuch as practically all cases of the notified diseases are removed to hospital it
is only necessary to see that any articles liable to convey infection are properly dealt with.
No orders to prohibit work were required during the year, and nothing transpired leading to
a suspicion of any spread of infection from such source.
Bakehouses.—There were 74 such premises on the special Register at the close of the
year, 16 being "level" and 57 "underground." Baking was given up during the year in 2
underground bakehouses, and resumed at 1 level bakehouse, which had been temporarily out
of use. When such places are re-opened after closure, a special inspection is made to see that
the place is in accordance with the prescribed requirements, and that cleansing, usually with
some improvements, is carried out.
Of the 73 bakehouses on the Register, 9 are "factories," but are nevertheless under the
jurisdiction of the Department, the special provisions of the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, over-riding the general rule under the Factory Act. Fifty-nine (59) inspections were
made of the " factory bakehouses," and 371 of the remaining 64 premises.
HOUSING.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
Registration.—At the close of 1907, 1,320 houses were on the Register. During the year,
47 were added to and 24 removed from the Register, leaving 1,343 effective entries at the
end of 1908. The registration of the 47 houses involved 831 visits. With the present
exemptions, comparatively few houses can be added to the Register, although many of the
houses now exempt ought, it is believed, to be registered.