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personal washing, drying clothes, &c., &c. Ten shops of each of the
following 18 groups were visited :—
Bakers and Pastrycooks.
Boot Shops.
Butchers
Chemists.
Confectioners.
Cooked Meats and Tripe Shops.
Dairies.
Departmental Stores
Fancy Goods.
Fishmongers and Poulterers.
Greengrocers, Fruiterers, &c.
Grocers and Provision Dealers.
Hairdressers and Barbers.
Ironmongers, &c.
News vendors.
Tobacconists.
Drapery (Soft Furnishing &c.). Wholesale Establishments.
In almost every instance the inspectors were received with courtesy,
every facility being granted for obtaining the information. The reports
were recorded on special cards under the various headings, and a digest
of the data was prepared by each of the Medical Officers. These digests
were further condensed and summarised in one report for the whole of the
seven districts. This report was sent to the Home Office. The preparation
of the report entailed several conferences of the Medical Officers
concerned, and necessarily took up a great deal of time, but as may be
supposed, the largest proportion of time was spent by the staff in inspecting
and in compiling information obtained.
The main features which emerged as far as the City of Westminster
is concerned are summarized as follows :—
The report in detail is still in the hands of the Government Department concerned,
and must for the present be regarded as a confidential document. The types of
shops were classified as to (a) size, and (6) class of business. Size.—34 large, 51
medium, 95 small; total, 180. Class.—24 high, 59 middle, 35 artizan and labouring
class trade. The remainder, 62, including 10 wholesale shops could not be definitely
grouped as to class of trade.
Hours of sale : Were longest in food shops. In some cases assistants attend on
a rota or it is a case of personal attendance by the proprietor. Sunday opening existed
in 23 • 3 per cent, of shops.
Premises varied greatly. In no case insanitary, but a few were of poor standard.
Ventilation: Was satisfactory. In a few draughty. Very good in dairies.
Only in one case " stuffy."
Overcrowding : Pound only in one case; but at " Sale " times in large shops
where crowds are attracted by cheapness there is a tendency.
Heating : Provided in 64 per cent, and was sufficient and satisfactory except in
6. No heating in a large proportion of butchers, fish and cooked meat shops.
Means of heating should be more generally adopted. — -
Natural lighting satisfactory in 75 per cent. Poor in certain small shops
Artificial lighting satisfactory in all but 7.