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
Islington 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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221
[1908
Upon reporting these cases to you, you caused a number of cards to be printed, for
distribution among the homeworkers, warning them "that if any infectious disease should
occur on the premises where homework is done, the homeworker must not return the work
to the factory until the Medical Officer of Health has been informed, or the Workshop
Inspector has called, after which, if necessary, the work will be disinfected, free of cost."
These cards have been dully left with the homeworkers. when visited
The nature of the work done and the number of persons engaged in each trade, is shown below: —
| Making, repairing, etc., of wearing apparel | 2,208 |
| Artificial flower making | 88 |
| Furniture and Upholstery | 14 |
| Paper bags and boxes | 81 |
| Brush making | 32 |
| Stuffed toys | 5 |
| Electro plate | 3 |
| Umbrellas | 2 |
| Chain making | 3 |
| 2,436 |
One hundred and forty-one statutory defects were found, and 79 intimation notices
served to remedy them; the nuisances consisted principally of dirty walls and ceilings, etc.,
and are scheduled in the list of nuisances found, shown in the earlier part of the report.
In 16 instances notice was served upon the owner of the premises to provide a
domestic water supply on the upper floors (L.C.C. General Powers Act, 1908).
This section of the Act has proved useful in helping to better the conditions under
which homework is carried on. The time and labour necessary to carry water from the
basement to the top of a three-storey house is a matter of considerable importance and
material cost to the homeworkers, with the result that in such cases, the use of water for
all purposes has been reduced to a minimum. But where the domestic water supply has been
carried upstairs in conformity with the Act, a marked improvement in the general cleanliness
of the premises has followed.
As I reported to you in 1908, the conditions under which homework is carried on
in Islington are fairly satisfactory. The systematic inspection of these places has brought
some of the most untidy and dirty workrooms to the average cleanliness, as the occupiers
understand that this is indispensable if they wish to continue working at home.
But of 869 inspected, only 99 were reported unsatisfactory for this cause.
During the period under report 212 letters of reminder were sent to employers failing
to send lists of their outworkers.
I remain, Sir,
Yours obediently,
(Mrs.) A. CATHERINE YOUNG,
(Inspector of Workshops).