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

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London County Council 1900

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

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65
hand for obtaining the same In Fulham certificates were granted in respect of 78 separate tenements
and refused in respect of 262. In Westminster certificates were issued with respect to four
blocks of buildings. In Hackney 3 certificates were granted, the tenements covered by these certificates
being 54 in number. In Shoreditch applications were received concerning 115 dwellings,
75 of which belonged to the borough council, and certificates were granted to them. In Bethnatgreen
certificates were granted in respect of 285 tenements and refused in others, as the medical
officer of health was not satisfied with their sanitary condition. In Lambeth 130 certificates were
granted unconditionally, 138 conditionally, whilst in no single instance has a certificate been
refused. In Battersea 93 certificates were granted. In Clapham parish (Wandsworth district)
certificates were granted in the case of 15 buildings, comprising 73 flats.
Underground Rooms.
In the following districts underground rooms (illegally occupied) were dealt with—
Paddington, 1; Kensington, several; Chelsea, 4; St. James, Westminster, 7; Marylebone,
486 inspections were made; Hampstead, 2; St. Pancras, 2; Islington, 38; St. Giles, 5; Strand,
7; Holborn, 17; Clerkenwell, 17; St. Luke, 7; Bethnal Green, 6; Whitechapel, 54; St. Georgein-the-East,
44; Limehouse, 3; Mile End Old Town, 8; St. George-the-Martyr, 10; Lambeth,
84; Battersea, 8.
Workmen's Trains.
In February the Housing of the Working Classes Committee reported on the results of a
decision of the Railway and Canal Commissioners, that two additional workmen's trains should
as an experiment be1 put on from Enfield to Moorgate-street, starting at 6.25 and 6.48 a.m., and
that all the 3½d. fares on the route, viz., those from Wood-green, Hornsey, and Harringay should
be reduced to 3d. The Committee gave the results of an inquiry into the extent of use of these
trains, and reported that they " show that the company erred in its anticipation of the result of the
experiment, and that the evidence submitted by the Council was correct.'' In July the Council
instructed the Housing of the Working Classes Committee to consider and report what fresh
legislation is necessary in order to obtain additional facilities for workmen on the lines run by the
several railway companies having termini in the metropolis, and as to the advisability of the
Government being approached in the matter.
Inspection of Workshops.
With few exceptions, in all the reports of medical officers of health, reference is made to the
subject of inspection of workshops. In a number of the reports it is discussed in some detail, while
in others the proceedings during the year are shown in tabular form. In districts where officers
are especially allotted to this branch of the work of sanitary administration, considerable progress
has been made. In several districts female sanitary inspectors have been appointed for this particular
duty. Thus the reports show that such inspectors were employed in Kensington, St. Pancras,
Hackney, Islington, Marylebone, Poplar, and St. George-the-Martyr, Southwark. The
medical officer of health of Lambeth urges the appointment of a female inspector, and states that
such appointment was made subsequent to the termination of the year 1900. In the reports
relating to Paddington, Hammersmith, and Clerkenwell, it is stated that insufficiency of the staff
had prevented the work being adequately performed. Dr. Newman, writing of Clerkenwell, states
that " it has been found impossible to set apart a special inspector for workshops, though
undoubtedly this is the only way to ensure efficient inspection." The reports generally tell of the
keeping of a register of workshops, and of the results of their inspection. Of the legal proceedings
of which account is given may be mentioned a case heard on appeal. The question at issue was
whether a stable and stable-yard was a work-place, so as to make it necessary for the owner or
occupier to provide sufficient and suitable sanitary conveniences for the persons employed in or in
attendance at such premises. The horse-keepers and cab-cleaners, when not at work, lived with
their respective families in different rooms, having sanitary conveniences situated over different
portions of the premises. Hirers of cabs and horses were in attendance on these premises. Mr.
Justice Grantham and Mr. Justice Channell decided that the premises constituted a work-place.
Bakehouses.
In many of the reports of the medical officers of health, the number of bakehouses in occupation
in the district is given—Kensington, 134; Fulham, 85, of which 70 are underground;
Chelsea, 48, of which 42 are below ground; St. Georgei, Hanover-square, 40; St. James, Westminster,
42; Marylebone, 92; Hampstead, 39; St. Pancras, 182; Islington, 273, of which 166
are either entirely or partly below the level of the street; Hackney, 122; St. Giles, 24; Strand,
23; Holborn, 23, of which 21 are underground; Clerkenwell, 45; St. Luke, 30; City, 40; Shoreditch,
91, of which 59 are underground; Bethnal-green, 102; St. George-in-the-East, 27, of
which 17 are below ground: Limehouse, 40; Poplar, 86; Bow, 22; St. Saviour, 15; St. George,
52, of which 36 are above ground and 16 below; Newington, 70; St. Olave, 5; Lambeth, 246, of
which 30 were empty at the time the report was written; Battersea, 110, of which 48 were below
the ground floor level; Chapham, 47; Streatham, 38; Wandsworth, 39; Lewisham, 99; Woolwich,
40; Plumstead, 37; Eltham, 7.
Unwholesome Food.
A table in the annual report of the medical officer of health of the City shows that in 1890
.234 per cent., of the meat entering the Corporation markets at Smithfield was seized, and of
the meat seized 101 per cent, was diseased, 85 9 per cent, putrid, and 4 per cent, was unsound