View report page

19
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1896.
This number includes bodies brought from the St. George's Workhouse.
Post-mortem examinations and inquests were held in 88 cases, and inquests alone
in 32 cases.
During 1896 15 young children were suffocated whilst lying in bed with their
parents, as against 16 in 1895. This lamentable Joss of life might have been prevented
had these unfortunate children slept in cots.
The following list shows the particular morning upon which the above-mentioned
15 infants were found suffocated in bed:—
Sunday Mornings 4
Monday ,, 2
Tuesday „ 0
Wednesday „ 2
Thursday „ 3
Friday ,, 1
Saturday „ 3
15
Five bodies of those who have died from infectious diseases have been deposited
in the Chamber set apart for such purpose.
The Factory and Workshop Act, 1891.
338 Workshops have been registered by your Authority since January, 1892,
when the Act first came into operation.
Of this number 96 have been added during the past year. In many of these cases,
I am glad to say, that registration has led to either the abatement or the removal of
nuisance such as filth, overcrowding, and bad ventilation.
Special attention has been given to the water-closets, both as to sufficiency and
to a separate accommodation for the sexes. The late Home Secretary's Order, under
Section 27 (1) of the Act, first took effect on the 20th November, 1892. It was made
in the interests of the public and of those employed in " domestic workshops."
The Order remains only partly enforced in this parish, and will continue so unless
some means be devised to lighten the more pressing duties of the Sanitary Inspectors.
In my Reports for 1893, 1894 and 1895, I said, that in my opinion, a special
inspector would be required to carry the Order out thoroughly in your district.
This view of the question I would again respectfully urge upon the attention of
your Vestry.
The Factory and Workshop Act, 1895.
This important measure introduced by the late Home Secretary, Mr. Asquith,
came into force on the 1st day of January, 1896.
It forms a considerable advance on previous legislation both in raising the standard
of industrial environment, and in giving increased powers to the Authorities.
The chief points may be briefly touched upon. First and foremost, it provides
that a factory or workshop shall be deemed overcrowded if there be less than 250 feet
0f cubic space to each person during the hours of work, and of 400 cubic feet during
overtime.
It authorises a magistrate, on complaint of an Inspector, and being satisfied that
a factory or workshop is in a dangerous or injurious condition, to prohibit the place
from being used until such works as are necessary to remove the danger have been