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of means for practising "judicious selection of raw water for waterworks purposes." The satisfactory
quality of the Metropolitan water supply is judged, he says, by average results, and the worst results
need to be brought "more closely into agreement with the best results."
A first special "Research Report" appeared in May, 1908, in which Dr. Houston dealt with the
vitality of the Typhoid Bacillus in samples of raw Thames, Lee and New River water. In practically
all the experiments, 99.9 per cent, of the typhoid bacilli perished within one week. A second "Research
Report," which appeared in October, 1908, gave the results of special search for the typhoid bacilli in
samples of raw Thames, Lee and New River water. The results were negative, but Dr. Houston notes
that "the value of the work depends largely on how far the negative evidence can be accepted, even in
a relative sense, as conclusive."
The medical officer of health of Woolwich refers to the quality of the water supplied by the
Plumstead well of the Metropolitan Water Board. It was found that when the pumps were worked
at a lower rate " the chlorine present in the water has been reduced from about 10 parts to 6 parts per
100,000."' Dr. Davies mentions a suggestion which had been made that the excess of chlorine may
possibly be due to water being drawn through from the river into the chalk by excessive pumping.
Dr. Collingridge states that a considerable number of artesian wells have been recently sunk in the city
and more are under construction, the object being to avoid the heavy charges for water supplied by
the Metropolitan Water Board.
Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors.
During 1908 the Public Health Committee of the Council had under consideration the question
whether the staff of sanitary inspectors was sufficient for the performance of the duties which devolved
upon the borough council of Bermondsey. In 1906 the Council had caused inquiry to be made by its
medical officer into this matter the medical officer of health of Bermondsey having repeatedly
called attention to the need for the appointment of a female inspector for the inspection of workshops
in which women are employed. The result of inquiry by the Council's medical officer was to show that
for this and other purposes the staff of sanitary inspectors needed to be strengthened and after prolonged
correspondence with the borough council, the Council resolved to represent to the Local Government
Board that the borough council had failed to appoint a sufficient number of sanitary inspectors.
Inquiry into the representation was made by Dr. Sweeting on behalf of the Local Government Board,
and the Board made an Order requiring the borough council to appoint three additional inspectors. A
health visitor was appointed by the Bermondsey borough council in January, 1909, for the purpose
of utilizing the information obtained under the Notification of Births Act, that council having been
urged by Dr. Sweeting to take this step.
The Council also placed itself in communication with the Deptford borough council on the question
of the sufficiency of the sanitary staff of that district, a vacancy created by the resignation of one of the
sanitary inspectors not having been filled by the appointment of another inspector. As a result of this
communication, an inspector was appointed by the borough council.
The annual reports supply the following information as to appointments of additional sanitary
inspectors and health visitors. In St. Marylebone two additional male inspectors were appointed and
a temporary female inspector was employed to assist the female sanitary inspectors during four months
of the year. An additional male sanitary inspector was appointed in Wandsworth, and an additional
female sanitary inspector was appointed in Hampstead. In January, 1909, the borough council of
Stoke Newington resolved to appoint a female sanitary inspector, and the borough council of Poplar
appointed a health visitor in May, 1908. (The Stepney borough council had under consideration, on
the recommendation of their Public Health Committee, the question of the appointment of two health
visitors, and, on the representation of the Stepney Council of Public Welfare, that of the appointment
of a female sanitary inspector, but resolved not to make such appointments. The question of the
appointment of a health visitor was considered by the Camberwell borough council, but no appointment
was made.
Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907.
In January, 1908, the Board of Education issued a schedule of essential points to be observed
in the medical inspection of school children.
On the 3rd November, the Council approved the appointment of five additional school nurses,
two of them being primarily appointed for work arising under the Education (Administrative
Provisions) Act; and on the 17th November the Council, for the purpose of this Act, approved a scheme
for the employment of a medical staff as follows:—16 officers (to be known as school doctors), at a
salary of £150 per year ; assistant school doctors, to be employed, 24 as from the 1st December, 1908,
24 as from the 1st September, 1909, and 24 as from the 1st September, 1910, each at a salary of
£120 a year, and thereafter 24 to fill vacancies caused by retirement. The scheme provides that
the holder of an appointment as school doctor or assistant school doctor shall not be eligible for
reappointment as such after a total service of three years ; that the vacancies occurring annually
among the school doctors at salaries of £150 a year shall be filled by the promotion of assistant school
doctors who are eligible for further service; and that casual vacancies arising in the staff of
school doctors shall be temporarily filled until the ensuing 31st August by the temporary employment
of past members of the staff. Appointments under this scheme were made in the
following month.
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