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 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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64
We are reminded every winter by the occurrence of fogs that there is
room for still further improvement if London is to be protected from
the evil effects of the pollution of the atmosphere by smoke. If the
public generally appreciate that it is a direct cause of illness and death,
that it lowers industrial output besides throwing an additional charge
for artifidial illumination and that it could be prevented, steps would be
taken to have the law made more stringent. A Bill for this purpose
has been promised.
It has been estimated that domestic fires in London caused about
2-|- times as much pollution as factory and furnace fires.
D.—Occupations and Workshops.
The following shorn the state of the register of work premises at the end of 1924:—
| Work Premises. | Total Number. |
|---|---|
| Tailors, outfitters, shirt makers, hat, cap and helmet makers | 1,694 |
| Dressmakers, milliners, embroiderers, lace makers, blouse makers, costumiers, lingerie makers, children's outfit makers, feather dyeing, corset makers, furriers, &c. | 947 |
| Leather workers, boot and shoe makers, harness makers, &c. | 55 |
| Carpentry, upholstery, carvers, gilders, &c. | 56 |
| Surgical and dental instrument makers | 4 |
| Tobacco manufacturers | 20 |
| Wig makers and hair workers | 45 |
| Printing, bookbinding, lithographers, envelope making, stationers, relief stamping, &c. | 51 |
| Jewellers, silversmiths and burnishers, diamond cutters and polishers, engravers, &c. | 55 |
| Metal workers | 7 |
| Miscellaneous—Basket making, fancy work, shoe ornaments, hat pins, stamp sorters, postcard tinters, fan makers, artificial flower makers, &c. | 61 |
| Florists | 26 |
| Laundries | 51 |
| Bakehouses | 80 |
| Photographers | 20 |
| Jewel case makers | 10 |
| Cinema film workplaces | 60 |
New workshops are always being discovered, at the same time the
occupation of premises on the register is constantly changing. The
use of 292 workshops was discontinued, and 320 additions were made
to the register during the year.