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respectively". A comparison of the numbers of tenements of 1, 2, 3, and 4 rooms in the block dwellings,
with those in London generally, shows that 3.8, 11.6, 11.3 and 2.6 per cent, respectively are in block
dwellings. Thus, over 11 per cent, of the tenements of 2 and 3 rooms are in the block dwellings, while
a much smaller proportion of the 1 and 4 room tenements are in these dwellings.
The large proportion of 2 and 3 room tenements in block dwellings, when compared with the
proportion of such tenements in London generally, may be further seen on reference to the subjoined
table, which shows the percentage of 1, 2, 3, and 4 room tenements in every 100 tenements of less than
five rooms in London generally, and in block dwellings:—
London. Block dwellings.
per cent. per cent.
One-room tenements 22.2 10.6
Two-rooin tenements 30.0 43.9
Three-room tenements 27.0 38.6
Four-room tenements 20.8 6.9
Total 100.0 | 100.0
The number of the population inhabiting block dwellings in London was not ascertained in the
course of the inquiry, but, if it be assumed that the number of persons per room in each class of
tenement in such dwellings is equal to that in similar tenements of less than five rooms in London as
a whole, it will be found that some 189,855 persons are at present living in tenements of less than five
rooms in block dwellings in the county.
The rents of the tenements in block dwellings vary considerably in the several districts, but it
will be seen from the statement that about 3s. per room is the average charge.
Water sup-ply to tenement houses.
Reference was made in my last annual report to a report by Dr. Young on the subject of the
adaptation to use as tenement houses of houses originally constructed for one family in which attention
was called to the inadequacy of the provision of water supply in the basement and ground floors to the
inhabitants of the upper storeys of such houses. This matter was made the subject of a further report
to the Public Health Committee during the year (see Appendix III.), and the Committee recommended
that powers should be sought from Parliament to deal with the matter. These powers have since
been obtained.
Houses Infested With Vermin.
Increased use has been made during the year 1906 of the powers contained in section 20 of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, for the cleansing of rooms infested with vermin.

In commenting on the practice of putting a clean paper over old papers at the time of repapering
a room, Dr. Reginald Dudfield refers to the opportunity it gives for vermin to breed, and he states
that all landlords of houses in Paddington registered under the by-laws for houses let in lodgings have
been formally notified that any rooms which are repapered without preliminary stripping will not be
deemed to have been " cleansed " as required by the by-law.
Revenue Act, 1903.
The annual reports show the large amount of work which devolves upon many medical officers
of health under the Revenue Act. All premises concerning which application is made for exemption
* Including looms dealt with as nuisanccs.