London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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97
"With regard to the general principle, there is the Caledonian Hotel
case, where there was a laundry, and it seems that this case falls within
the spirit of that case. The spirit of that case seems to me to be this,
that where something is done in the hotel which if it was done independently
would be a trade, it cannot be considered a trade if it is
done in the ordinary course, and as part of the domestic policy of the
hotel. So, although that case does not directly bear upon it, I think it
is some sort of guide, and with reference to the 'dust' case, which was a
case as to the nature of the dust which was carried away, whether it
was domestic dust or trade dust, the High Court came to the conclusion
that it was really domestic dust; so, though that can be distinguished from
this case, and also the laundry case, still the spirit there does lurk that
where something is done, as I say, as part of the internal economy of
the hotel, that cannot be dealt with as if it was an independent trade, or
independent business. On the whole, although I think there is considerable
doubt surrounding the case, I come to the conclusion that the
prosecution is not sustained, and the summons must be dismissed."
According to this judgment, and a similar one in a case taken by
the Home Office with regard to a florist's business in a hotel, any subsidiary
business carried on in a hotel is exempt from special legislation
contained in the Factory Acts. They are still, however, workplaces,
and can be dealt with by the general sections, and by the Public Health
Act. Parliament, however, in the 1907 Factory and Workshops Act,
made laundries in hotels amenable to the special provisions governing
such places.
| Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Typhoid Fever. | Erysipelas. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 30 | |
| 7 | 3 | - | 1 | 11 | |
| (e) Persons from infected houses employed elsewhere | 50 | 15 | 5 | — | 70 |
| 69 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 111 |
Slaughter House.—There was only one (14, Regency Street) which
was used occasionally until Midsummer. No application was made for
a renewal of the license at the autumn meeting of the County Council.
Cowsheds.—There are only two cow-keepers, at 13, Marsham Street
(licensed for 19 cows), and at 7, Arthur Street (licensed for 12 cows, but