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London Gas Act, 1905, a very noticeable increase has taken place in
the amount of sulphur contained in the gas supplied. Previously
17 grains per 100 cubic feet in summer and 22 in winter was recognised
as the standard, but the 1905 Act having removed the restrictions
requiring purification by means of lime, 35 grains is now about the
average amount, and even that has been exceeded (L.C.C. Minutes,
26th May and 7th July, 1908).
In several tenement houses unventilated gas cooking stoves have
been found in bedrooms, a situation likely to be a source of serious
danger. In one instance which has come to my knowledge, a child
who had been left in a room in which was such a stove was found
deeply affected, and some birds in a cage hanging in the room were
dead.
It is a matter of some difficulty to ventilate gas cooking stoves
satisfactorily; the provision of a hood with a flue may be sufficient if
there is no other means of exit for the hot air, and a supply of fresh
air is provided, but if there is a coal fire, or some other form of exhaust
drawing air from the room in which the gas fire is placed, a down
draught will be set up, and the provision of a hood communicating
with the open air will be useless.
Outworkers.—Firms giving out work in certain trades are required
to send in a list twice a year of those they employ. Outworkers
are constantly changing their addresses and their employers, so that
it is difficult to maintain a correct register. Considerable trouble is
still experienced in getting in the lists, and in many instances they are
obtained only after advertising, circularising, visiting, and, finally,
threatening with proceedings. There are still many employers who
appear never to have heard that lists have to be sent in. Eighty-eight
visits of enquiry to ascertain if outworkers were employed were made
by the lady sanitary inspectors.