London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1893

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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55
factories and workshops, intimating to them the existence of the disease, in order that they should
discontinue the supply of work." A tabular statement shows that in 16 cases the water-closet
accommodation was insufficient, and was subsequently provided.
North District—No water-closet accommodation had been provided in fifteen instances.
St. George-the-Martyr, Southwark—121 workshops were entered in the register-book kept for
the purpose. " In several instances cleanliness and efficient ventilation have been enforced, overcrowding
and other nuisances have been abated, and separate water-closet accommodation has been
provided for the two sexes. The medical officer of health points out that four-fifths of the out-workers
lived in other metropolitan districts or outside London. For instance, of the out-workers employed by
the large firms (engaged in trades mentioned in the order of the Home Secretary), the majority in the
tailoring trade live in Whitechapel, and many in the boot business so far afield as Northampton."
St. Olave—The medical officer of health, referring to the order relating to out-workers, reports
" The list was to be repaired and kept up to date by the occupier of every factory or workshop and
every contractor employed by such occupier, and was open to the inspection of the sanitary authority.
This Board took every means of making the order known, but the order did not require the lists of
outworkers or copies of such lists to be sent to the sanitary authority, and consequently the order was
of little practical good in the district. Few of the out-workers living in this district have their
factories and workshops situated within it, and consequently it is impossible to follow up these cases.
It would have been of great service if the occupier of the factory or workshop were ordered to forward
the list of his out-workers to the respective medical officers of health of the various sanitary districts."
Bermondsey—The report of the chief sanitary inspector shows that improvements were effected
in 76 workshops.
Battersea—Sanitary conveniences were required to be provided in 8 instances.
Wandsworth.—Glapham—106 workshops were inspected, and were found generally satisfactory ;
seven required cleansing and lime-washing, and in two there was insufficient water-closet accommodation
; four new water-closets and two new urinals were provided. Putney—During the year all the
workshops have been inspected and found in a satisfactory condition, with the exception of one case
of overcrowding, and one case where lime-washing was required. In both of these the defects were
remedied. The medical officer of health points out in connection with the out-workers' order that a
notice was served on all the occupiers of the factories and workshops referred to requiring them to keep
lists of their out-workers. A list of these out-workers was drawn up twice during the year, and notices
sent to the sanitary authorities where these workers resided. No lists were received from other
parishes. "For all practical purposes, therefore, the order is a dead letter, so far as we are concerned."
He recommends that lists should be sent to a central authority at regular periods, with a view to the
necessary information being sent to each sanitary authority.
Greenwich.—Greenwich Parish—42 premises inspected. Deptford Parish—" The workshops
and factories have been inspected, and many sanitary improvements have been carried out."
Plumstead—Two clay pipe factories inspected, the ventilation of one found to be unsatisfactory.
Bakehouses.
The majority of the reports of medical officers of health show the work which has been done
in connection with bakehouses in the year 1893. In several instances reference is made to the
disadvantages attending the use of bakehouses situated below the ground level. It is a frequent
practice in London to use the basement for this purpose, and often the area which abuts on the front
of the bakehouse is enclosed and occupied as part of the bakehouse or by the oven with which it is
provided. Statements condemnatory of bakehouses so situated are found in the reports relating
to Fulham, St. George Hanover-square, St. Pancras, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Bermondsey, Battersea,
and St. George-the-Martyr Southwark, and in the report of the last district, account is given of flooding of
certain bakehouses by sewage from the sewers. The medical officer of health of Kensington discusses
the subject at length, and refers to previous reports in which he has recommended the regulation of
bakehouses by by-laws. The medical officer of health of Fulham recommends the annual licensing
and registration of bakehouses and the prohibition of the occupation of those below the ground level.
The medical officer of health of St. George, Hanover-square, expresses the opinion that all underground
bakehouses should be closed. The medical officer of health of St. George-the-Martyr, Southwark,
recommends, inter alia, the licensing and regulation of bakehouses, the prohibition of the use as a
bakehouse of a cellar or place almost or altogether below the level of the street, unless it has been
occupied before and up to a certain fixed date. The reports relating to some districts contain an
expression of opinion that the bakehouses are not unsatisfactory, and in one instance (Putney) that
further legislation is not required.
The reports of the medical officers of health of the following districts afford information as to
the steps taken during the year for the improvement of bakehouses—
Paddington—96 bakehouses, regularly inspected.
Kensington—316 bakehouses, such action taken in individual cases as was found necessary.
Hammersmith—63 bakehouses, inspected quarterly, nine found insanitary, notices served and
complied with.
Fulham—75 bakehouses, regularly inspected, found to be fairly satisfactory, great improvements
having been made in the water supply, drainage, &c.; all but five underground, and this too in the case
of those recently opened in new districts.
Chelsea—68 bakehouses, under inspection.
St. George, Hanover-square—56 on the register, all thoroughly inspected and the necessary
improvements carried out by the owners, notices having been served.
St. James, Westminster—27 bakehouses, periodically inspected and works of improvement
carried out.