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24
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
Department, and the instructions given by the Medical Officer of Health in reference
thereto." On the 27th November, 1896, a report was issued as the result of that
inquiry. It contained a number of specific complaints and recommendations, which
were fully discussed by myself in a Report (December 15th, 1896), and a supplementary
Report (January 12th, 1897). The whole question was then further reported upon by
a Committee of the Vestry (5th February, 1897). Although the latter documents do
not strictly fall within the year 1896, yet it would be impossible to present a proper
version of the matter without giving all the documents in their continuity. 1 have
therefore inserted in the appendix the whole of the above-mentioned reports, together
with a communication from the Local Government Board.
A perusal of these reports can hardly fail to call the attention of the reader to
certain points
1. The intelligent interest, both public and local, shown in health matters, and
especially on such a technical point as the disinfection of rooms.
2. The fact that the present system of administration is imperfect.
3. That among other causes the imperfection may be traced to the following:—
(a) Want of a refuge house.
(b) Want of a larger staff of disinfectors.
(c) Want of a special inspector to deal with infectious diseases.
(d) Want of promptitude of the Asylums Board in removal of cases.
In conclusion, I may add my hope that the interest recently shown in the important
question of room disinfection in this poor and ci'owded parish may not be
allowed to wane before the matter is placed on a sound and satisfactory footing.
At the request of the Vestry I have drawn up a provisional code of rules for the
guidance of the disinfectors (see appendix to Supplementary Report). It should be
pointed out, however, that the suggested code has not been adopted by the Vestry.
House to House Inspection.
The first section of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, directs that a house to
house inspection shall be made by the Local Authority. Such a visitation as that
intended by the framers of the Act was, for the first time in the history of this Parish,
commenced in 1894.
During 1896 1665 house to house inspections have been made, as against 1613 in
1895, and the results of such visits have been entered into the registers kept for the
purpose.
To repeat the words made use of for the last two years, I may, perhaps, be allowed
to add my opinion that this system of house to house inspection is likely to do more
towards raising the general health standard of your district than any single step yet
taken by your Vestry.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
An attempt has been made, during the year under report, to enforce the new ByeLaws
made in compliance with the Public Health Act, with respect to houses let in
lodgings, or occupied by members of more than one family.
So far, 228 dwelling houses, inhabited by the poorest classes, have been registered
in conformity with the Bye-laws.