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in 80 it was dirty and buggy, and in 106 instances the bedding showed evidence
of lice, i.e., the lice themselves or the nits were found. Where lice were observed
the bedding was, in most cases, dirty, and also otherwise verminous. In 3
instances clothing worn by the children was noticed as showing evidence
of lice*. In 17 instances mothers attributed the alleged presence of lice to the fact
that the clothing of the children had been bought second-hand. In 351 instances
the homes were markedly infested with fleas. In 37 instances overcrowding was
observed, and in 83 instances the Sanitary Inspectors remarked on the evidences
of extreme poverty which were noticeable.
It is necessary again to refer to the numbers of erroneous addresses received :
in 74 instances the children named were not known at the addresses stated, in
40 instances they had left the addresses, in 24 there were no such addresses in the
Borough, and in 11 instances the addresses given were those of unoccupied houses.
In 30 instances there was difficulty in obtaining admission for the purpose of making
the necessary inspection, and in several instances multiple visits had to be made
to the same address before the inspectors were allowed to enter. In a few cases
intimations had to be given that application would be made to a Magistrate for an
order to enter the premises before an inspection was allowed. Without doubt, in
a number of cases, admission was denied until the homes had been cleansed, and
in some 76 instances there was evidence of recent cleansing, probably in most
instances in preparation for the inspectors' visits. It may be noted that evidence
of lice was found in the bedding at a little over 11 per cent. of the homes
visited. As the results of the visits made a large amount of cleansing was done
in the homes, and a number of insanitary conditions were dealt with. Altogether
some 350 notices were served.
HOUSES CLOSED.
The following houses were closed upon the service of sanitary notices, either
on account of being unfit for habitation or in order to allow the works necessary
to put them in a satisfactory sanitary condition to be carried out in a proper and
efficient manner which would have been difficult or impossible whilst the houses
were occupied:—
Bracklyn Street, No. 26.
Crondall Street, Nos. 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 34 & 36.
Dereham Place, No. 18.
Eagle Wharf Road, No. 7.
Gorsuch Street, Nos. 10 and 16.
Grange Street, No. 71.
Goldsmith Row, No. 96.
Hows Street, No. 39.
Kingsland Road, No. 192.
Mill Row, Nos. 60 and 67.
Reeves Place, No. 8.
Staff Street, No. 13.
Welch Street, No. 15.
Wimborne Street, No. 46.
*It should be noted that the parsons and clothing of the children are not examined by the
Sanitary Officers. This examination is carried out by the School Authorities.