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Report of the Medical Officer of Health. 93
under the present Act, the price of land in the position in
which dwellings or lodging houses would be mostly required
and likely to be successful, that is, not likely to come upon the
rates for support, is practically prohibitive and that where
the price is reasonable there is. ample provision by private
enterprise. It is clear, too, that there is no such overcrowding
in the Borough as to necessitate a large outlay
with the probability of a partially rate-supported work.
During the many discussions and inquiries that have
taken place on this question, it has suggested itself to the
Committee, that probably no greater amount of good in improving
the conditions of the Working Classes in this Borough
could be done than by working in a new direction by forming
"bathhouses" in populous, poor districts. That is to take a
house in a populous and poor neighbourhood and fit slipper
baths in most of the rooms, the use of which might be
obtained at a very moderate cost, and the Committee therefore
recommends an investigation on these lines.
{Signed) JOHN GAY,
Chairman.
Council House, Wandsworth,
30th July, 1903.
The question of providing slipper baths, as mentioned in the
above report, was considered by the Committee, and it was decided
to erect on a suitable site in Clapham baths of that character.
The question of site is now being considered by another Committee
of the Council.
General Sanitary Work in 1903.
The following list shows the special inspections made by me
during the past year. In addition to these, however, a large
number of special inspections of underground bakehouses were
made before certifying to the Council that a certificate under the
Factory and Workshop Act could be granted.
(1).—Guelph Street and Lydden Grove, Wandsworth, with reference
to the general sanitary condition of the houses.