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During the year 52 cases of smallpox, 9 of scarlet fever, 7 of enteric fever, 4 of diphtheria, 19
of erysipelas, and 6 of measles occurred in common lodging-houses, and the necessary precautions
were taken in connection therewith. In addition to the cases of infectious disease mentioned, 66 cases of
non-infectious illness were brought to the knowledge of the Council's inspectors, and death occurred in
51 of these cases.
During the year 1895 the Council instituted legal proceedings against the keepers of 16
common lodging-houses. Fines were inflicted by the magistrate amounting to £33 and £4 6s. costs
in 12 cases. In the remaining cases the summonses were either dismissed or withdrawn owing to
completion of works.
Underground Rooms.
Information contained in the reports of medical officers of health shows that in 1895 the illegal
occupation of underground rooms was discontinued in the following cases—Paddington, 1 ; Fulham,
25, and in one instance proceedings were taken against the owner and the occupier; Chelsea, 18
"reported"; St. George, Hanover-square, 4 ; Westminster (St. Margaret) 11 ; (St. John) 15, and
in one case proceedings were taken and the offender fined. The vestry has for some time refused to
allow nine rooms at James-street-mansions to be occupied as dwelling-houses till certain works have been
carried out. St. James, Westminster, 11; St. Pancras, 18; Islington, 83; St. Giles, 13 closed or
altered; Strand, 7 ; Holborn, 44; Clerkenwell, 36; St. Luke, 27 ; Betbnal-green, 1; Whitechapel,
22, and 1 prosecution ; St. George-in-the-East, 22 ; Limehouse, 2 ; Mile-end Old-town, 5 ; St. George,
Southwark, 11; Lambeth, 42; Battersea, 12; Greenwich, 5; Deptford, 6.
Factories and Workshops.
During 1895 the Public Health Committee had under consideration the Factory and Workshop
Bill, which had been introduced into Parliament, and a letter containing suggestions for amendment
of the Bill was addressed to the Home Secretary. The Act of that year amends preceding Acts and
adds to the powers of sanitary authorities for dealing with unwholesome conditions in workshops.
Under the Act of 1878 every person beginning to occupy a factory was required to give to the factory
inspector notice of such occupation, and under the Act of 1891 similar notice was required to be given
in respect of workshops. Under the Act of 1895 it is required that notice shall be given of every
workshop concerning which notice has not already been given in compliance with the requirement of
the Act of 1891. These notices are to be subsequently forwarded to the sanitary authority of the
district in which the workshop is situated.
The Act of 1891 provides that the occupier of every factory and workshop and every contractor
employed by him in the business shall, if required by order of the Secretary of State, keep a list of
out-workers and the places where they are employed, which shall be open to inspection by the factory
inspector or any officer of the sanitary authority. The Act of 1895 now requires such occupier to