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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inspected them during the interregnum (1879-83) as before.
Although, therefore, there is still much to desire in regard to the
position and the arrangements, generally, of the premises—few of
them having heen built for use as bakehouses—sanitary conditions
have on the whole been fairly maintained, and under the powers
now possessed by your Vestry, I hope that, in course of time, considerable
improvements may be effected.
The subject of bakehouse regulation had more than once been
considered by the Society of Medical Officers of Health, and upon
the passing of the new Act the Society prepared "Suggestions for
Regulations with respect to Bakehouses," for the guidance of local
authorities. There is no express authority for making regulations,
but it was felt that much good would result should local authorities
see fit to adopt regulations, framed in accordance with the provisions
of the Acts, for the guidance alike of their officers and of the proprietors
of bakehouses. This course was followed by your Vestry,
and the Regulations, printed in large type, and mounted on cardboard,
have been supplied to each bakehouse proprietor in this parish.
The Regulations are as follows:—
1. Every bakehouse shall be kept in a cleanly state, and free from effluvia
arising from any drain, privy, water-closet, or other nuisance. The
floors shall be carefully swept at least once every 24 hours, and the
sweepings shall be immediately placed in an impermeable covered
receptacle, and removed from the bakehouse at not longer intervals
than every seven days.
2. All the inside walls of the rooms of the bakehouse, and all the ceilings
or tops of such rooms, and all the passages and staircases of the bakehouse,
shall either be painted with oil, or varnished, or lime-washed.
Where painted with oil or varnished, there shall be three coats of paint
or varnish, and the paint or varnish shall be renewed once at least in
every seven years, and shall be washed, with hot water and soap, once
at least in every six months. Where lime-washed, the lime-washing
shall be renewed once at least in every six months. The cleansing
should be done in the months of April and October.
3. The troughs and all the utensils used in the making of bread and pastry
shall be kept scrupulously clean.
4. A place on the same level with the bakehouse, and forming part of the
same building, shall not be used as a sleeping place—
(a) Unless it is effectually separated from the bakehouse by a
partition extending from the floor to the ceiling.