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at least twice in the year and the necessary cleansing effected. In Camberwell the number of
houses let in lodgings which were inspected was 409, and 488 notices were served. In Greenwich
the confirmation of by-laws was awaited, and no houses were registered during the year. In
Woolwich there were 129 houses on the register, 26 having been added during the year ; all were
inspected twice, and a large number four times ; many notices were served, and legal proceedings
were instituted in 2 instances for overcrowding; visits in the early morning were made; an
inspector was appointed especially for these duties in Woolwich parish.
The reports show, on the whole, progress in this method of dealing with houses requiring
special measures for maintaining them in sanitary condition, the advance in some districts being
much greater than in others. Medical officers of health in a number of instances express their
opinion of the value of this procedure. Dr. Reginald Dudfield writes that in Paddington the
annual cleansing required by the by-laws has been found to be of great value. Dr. T. Orme
Dudfield states that the registration of houses let in lodgings has been found very useful in
Kensington. In St. Pancras, Dr. Sykes reports, a vast improvement in such houses has been
effected. In Islington Dr. Harris states this procedure leads to greater cleanliness, but he points
out the necessity of inspection to ensure satisfactory results. In Finsbury Dr. Newman finds that
the regulation of such houses leads to substantial improvement in their sanitation. Dr. McCleary
reports that in Battersea regulation was of great assistance in raising the standard of these houses,
and in Woolwich Dr. Davis found that improved sanitary condition was the result of thus dealing
with houses let in lodgings.
Common Lodging Houses.
In November, 1894, the administration of the Common Lodging House Acts devolved upon
the Council.

In the year 1902 proceedings before the magistrate were instituted in 22 instances, resulting
in 21 convictions, the penalties inflicted amounting to £66 2s., with costs amounting to £12 2s.
In addition to the number of inspections mentioned in the table, there were 1,899 day
visits and 28 night visits to unregistered houses. The number of houses newly registered in 1902
was 15.
The number of cases of infectious disease reported in common lodging-houses was as
follows—Smallpox, 650; erysipelas, 14; diphtheria, 6; enteric fever, 7; scarlet fever, 2;
measles, 3 ; chicken-pox, 2 ; total, 684.
The following table shows the number of common lodging-houses, the authorised number
of lodgers in such houses at the end of 1902, and the number of houses registered in each district
during: the year—