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and was bound over. Letters of caution were addressed by the Council to women who were practising
in a similar manner.
During the year, 183 premises were registered as lying.in homes.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
In 16 boroughs voluntary schemes are in operation; in 1 an official scheme; and in 11 both
official and voluntary schemes. The work of the Council's inspectors under the Midwives Act stands
in close relation with that of the several maternity and child welfare centres, and the Local Government
Board recognise this work for purposes of grant.
Census of Homeless Persons.
In accordance with the practice which has obtained for several years, a census of homeless
persons in the County of London was taken on the night of 3rd March, 1916. The area covered was
practically coincident with that of previous censuses. The night was clear and bright, but very cold.
Few people were found in the streets, and a visit to the great railway termini, with a view to ascertaining
whether soldiers were experiencing any difficulty in obtaining accommodation had a negative result,
as very few soldiers were seen. As on previous occasions, the homeless persons were mostly found
in the more centrally.situated portions of the area covered. Persons sheltering under arches or on
staircases were found only in that portion of the Eastern district bordering on the City of London :
There were 7—all females—the lowest number yet recorded.
The homeless persons in the streets also showed a considerable reduction. On the night in question
there were 21 men and 16 females, as compared with 108 men and 56 women in 1915, and 296 men
and 76 women in the early part of 1914 before the war.
The common lodging.house population was less numerous than on any previous occasion, there
being 15,254 inmates, as compared with 17,305 in 1915 and 20,173 in the early part of 1914; and the
inmates of London casual wards fell from 179 in 1915 to 123.
In the free shelters and labour homes not licensed as common lodging.houses there was also a
great reduction in the number of inmates. A labour home with accommodation for 200 men had but
23 beds occupied, whilst at a large free night shelter only 63 of the 360 beds were made use of.
Work of the Chemical and Analytical Branch of the Public Health Department.
The work conducted at the Council's laboratory, 2, Savoy Hill, includes the examination of
samples received under the Fertilizers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1906. the Petroleum Acts, London
County Council (General Powers) Act, 1912, and the London Building Acts. A considerable portion
of the work consists in the examination of materials used in connection with works or contracts undertaken
by or for the Council, and samples of stores supplied. Special investigations are made in connection
with complaints concerning materials in use. Samples of the meals and milk supplied to necessitous
children at the Council's schools are examined periodically. Of 181 samples of milk examined during
the year, 29, or 16 per cent., were found to contain added water. This represents an increased percentage
of unsatisfactory samples as compared with previous years. The results of an extended inquiry into
the quality of milk meals have become even more unsatisfactory at the present time (May, 1917).
The medical officers of the metropolitan boroughs in which such unsatisfactory samples are found, are
communicated with in order that further samples may be examined by the public analysts under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Act, with a view to proceedings being taken where necessary. In a number
of these cases proceedings have been taken and fines imposed.
In addition to the work done at the central laboratory, systematic analyses of sewage effluent and
sludge have been made at the outfall laboratories. The special examination of the River Thames,
investigations in connection with the bacteriological treatment of sewage, and other questions arising
in connection with sewage treatment have also been dealt with at these laboratories.