Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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of its erection, meanwhile the rents of the booths have been reduced to
8Z, several butchers may combine to rent a booth, and the charge for
each bullock is now l½d., for each sheep ¼d., and the entrails of the
various animals, with the offal, feet, &c., are cleaned by a staff of
women free of expense."
Such evidence appears to me irresistible, and I am unable to understand
why a system which has worked so well elsewhere, may not be
successfully applied in the Metropolis.
LICENSED COW SHEDS.
The licensed Cow Sheds are 36 in number, viz., 18 in the North, and 18
in the South Sanitary District. A list of them is given in the appendix
(Table H.) They have been carefully and systematically inspected.
The conditions imposed upon the licensees are as follows:—Proper
lighting and ventilation; proper paving and drainage of the Cow-house
and adjoining yard; good water supply ; properly constructed dung
pit; good repair, cleanliness, and efficient covering of the grain bins,
and other food receptacles. The cowhouse is to be cleansed, and the
solid manure to be swept up twice a day, and removed from the
premises at least three times a week before 8 a.m. The premises are
to be lime-whited at least twice a year: and the yard is to be cleansed
at least once a day. Upon the whole these conditions are fairly
complied with, though as it will be readily understood there is a wide
range in the suitability of the premises licensed for the keeping of cows.
BAKEHOUSES.
The Act for the regulation of bakehouses (which are visited at
least four times a year), provides for the painting, whitewashing,
cleansing, and ventilation of the bakehouse and its freedom from
effluvia arising from any drain, privy, or other nuisance. Regulations
are also prescribed with reference to sleeping accomodation on
the same floor as the bakehouse, and the age of the employes: all of
which are duly enforced.
SANITARY WANTS.
Among the principal sanitary "wants" of the parish, I regret to
have again to include a disinfecting chamber and a mortuary. The
process of disinfection is still carried on by a private firm under special
arrangement, and however carefully the work may be done the arrangement
cannot be considered satisfactory, nor should it be regarded as
other than temporary. There appears to be a general concurrence of
opinion on the necessity of obtaining a parish disinfecting place as early
as possible ; the difficulty which still blocks the way is the question of
the site, a difficulty which is experienced in other parishes besides
Kensington. Perhaps there is not the same unanimity with regard to
the mortuary, but from time to time cases arise which demonstrate its
absolute necessity upon sanitary grounds as well as upon grounds of
decency and humanity. I have good reason for believing that the cases
referred to are many times more numerous than those which come to
my knowledge, and I am persuaded that a well placed and properly