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49
DEPARTMENTAL.
The staff of the Public Health Department consists of, in addition to the
medical officer of health, a deputy medical officer of health (Dr. Prior, who was
appointed during the year successor to the late Dr. Bywater) two drainage inspectors,
one outdoor superintendent, one meat and food inspector, one house-to-house
inspector, five district inspectors, three women sanitary inspectors, one dust inspector,
one chief and four assistant clerks and an office youth.
The keeper of the public mortuary, the matron and the one female and two male
members of the staff of the shelter and baths, the two disinfectors, the men and
women attendants at the underground conveniences, and the men employed in
flushing the overground conveniences, are also attached to the department and
immediately responsible to the Public Health Committee.
Effect of the War.—At the outbreak of war a considerable number of the
members of the outdoor staff were called up as well as several from the office itself,
viz.:—one of the women inspectors, Miss N. C. Stokes. who was on the Reserve of
Nurses, and is now in France ; Mr. C. H. Scowen, one of the assistant clerks, who was
in the 9th Middlesex Regt. (T.F.) and is now in India ; and Mr. W. J. Howe who
joined the 2nd London Sanitary Company, R.A.M.C. (T.F.) and is now in Egypt.
From time to time other members joined the forces and arrangements had to be
made for carrying on their work.
In connection with this the members of the staff remaining most loyally cooperated
and the quality of the work done is in no sense inferior to that of previous
years. In quantity the work increased considerably as a direct result of the war.
At the beginning a large number of premises were used in connection with
mobilization, and called for a certain amount of attention. Very early Lord's
Cricket Ground was placed at the disposal of the War Office, and since early in
August it has been practically continuously occupied by troops. In addition, the
barracks in Ordnance Road have, of course, been largely used, as have also the headquarters
of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (T.F.) in Henry Street, St. John's
Wood.
As time went on a number of the larger houses in the Borough, in the neighbourhood
of Regent's Park particularly, were transformed into hospitals for wounded
officers and soldiers, many of whom were also admitted to the numerous nursing
homes and hospitals in the district.
Largely owing to the efforts of the Mayor (Mr. Alderman Fettes), who took a
very great interest in the matter, several premises were transformed into homes for
Belgian refugees, and a number of private individuals, amongst them Lord Portman,
put houses at the disposal of these unfortunate people.
The presence of the military and of the refugees naturally threw a great deal of
extra work upon the department, both when preparations were being made and afterwards
when the necessity for supervision arose.