Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
90
542, the homes of all of whom were duly visited. As the result of information supplied by the
notification of infectious diseases, 328 cases of such disease were found to have occurred on business
premises. In visiting the homes of outworkers it was found that underclothing was being made
in one home where children were recovering from measles, and in another where a woman suffering
from erysipelas was busy making shirts. Lists of out-workers resident in other districts were communicated
to the authorities concerned. One male and one female inspector are especially employed
on these duties.
Stoke Newington.—There were 137 workshops on the register. "In respect of cleanliness,
air-space, light, ventilation, and provision of suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences, the workshops
and work places in the borough are maintained in a satisfactory state.' There were 21
underground bakehouses, and a schedule of minimum requirements of such bakehouses with which
there must be compliance before certification, was adopted by the Borough Council. A list of outworkers
was kept, and lists of those resident in other districts communicated to the sanitary
authorities concerned. In a few instances it was necessary to stop home work on account of the
occurrence of a case of infectious disease on the premises.
Hackney.—There were 1,658 workshops on the register; in 985 women only were employed,
in 11 men only, and in 640 both sexes were employed; this number includes 157 laundries.
There were 137 inspections and 1,151 re-inspections of workshops by the female inspector, and
51 workshops were inspected by the male inspectors. Among the conditions found by the
female inspector were dirty rooms in 80, defective ventilation in 41, overcrowding in 20, and
absence of separate water-closet accommodation for the two sexes in six instances; she found
nuisances on 246 premises, dealt with 177, of which 154 were abated and the remaining 69 were
dealt with by the district sanitary inspectors. Tlere were 119 bakehouses, of which 66 were
underground; these were systematically cleansed. Dr. Warry states: "The Public Health Committee
are still considering the principles which should guide them in certifying underground
bakehouses as suitable for the trade carried on therein.' The number of kitchens of restaurants,
etc., inspected was 121, of which 31 were found to be dirty. There were 1,583 out-workers on tht
register, but the houses of only 219 were visited. Dr. Warry calls attention to the insufficiency of
the stall", and to the need for the appointment of an additional female inspector. Lists of outworkers
resident in other districts were sent to the several sanitary authorities. One female
inspector is usually employed in the inspection of workshops where women were employed and of
the homes of out-workers, the inspection of other premises devolving on the male district inspectors.
Holborn.—The number of workshops placed on the register was 350, and 750 were inspected;
162 notices were served, and among the conditions dealt with were 65 dirty workshops, 27 overcrowded
and 20 insufficiently ventilated workshops, as well as 19 instances of insufficient watercloset
accommodation. Notices were sent to H.M. Factory Inspector of 94 workshops in which an
abstract of the Act was not exhibited. There were 41 bakehouses in the borough, of which 37
were underground. Dr. Bond states that minimum requirements might be applied to the
majority of underground bakehouses, with which they should comply before certification, but
that it was" undesirable for the Council to lay down any hard-and-fast rules that could be applied
equally to all.'' Each of such bakehouses was being considered 011 its merits. The number of
kitchens of restaurants, etc., which were inspected was 122, and in respect of these 40 notices were
served; there were found six water-closets in improper positions, and in two instances additional
water-closets were required; in 16 instances the kitchens were dirty, and in six instances the
ventilation was insufficient. The number of out-workers placed 011 the register was 148. Special
inspectors are not employed on duties under the Act.
Finsbury.—There were 1,374 workshops on the register, this number including bakehouses
and laundries. Systematic inspection of workshops throughout the borough has not been so
extensive as it would have been had not the prevalence of smallpox made claims upon the time of
the workshops inspector. Nevertheless, 1,958 visits of inspection were made to factories
and workshops by the inspector, and much work done. In 10 streets which were thoroughly
inspected there were found to be 237 workshops, of which 61 were so dirty as to require notices
for cleansing. It is proposed to go through every street in the borough in due course so as to
obtain a complete record of all factories and workshops. The work done included 120 workshops
cleansed, overcrowding abated in 8 instances, drainage of floors of laundries carried out
in 2 instances, and additional water-closets provided in 43 instances. Notice was sent to
H.M. Factory Inspector of 32 workshops in which an abgtract of the Act was not exhibited.
As the result of personal inspection, Dr. Newman says that there were 220 restaurants, etc., in
which 964 people were employed in the actual preparation of food ; 150 notices were served for
considerable defects, some of the kitchens and cellars being in a disgraceful condition. There
were 69 bakehouses in Finsbury, of which 46 are underground. Dr. Newman states it is inevitable
that certain underground bakehouses will be closed. He presented his authority with a report on
bakehouses showing that among the conditions found in underground bakehouses was excess of carbonic
acid in the atmosphere in much higher degree than in bakehouses above ground. A copy of
requirements in respect of bakehouses was sent to each occupier in Finsbury, but each underground
bakehouse would be considered on its merits. Notice of 1,535 outworkers was received from
Finsbury employers and of 218 from other authorities, and the addresses of 941 of these were
communicated to other authorities. It had only been possible to make 81 visits to 62 home
workers. Dr. Newman estimates that there are not less than 750 home workers in Finsbury.
In three instances there was occurrence of a case of infectious disease in the homes of outworkers.
A summons was taken out in respect of a dilapidated and damp workshop, but the summons was
dismissed, the magistrate stating that the matter was one between landlord and tenant. One
inspector was especially employed in workshop inspection.