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41
Report on Special Investigation into Overcrowding in
the District.
I beg to report the result of the special enquiry into the
over-crowding of the district. I was fortunate in obtaining the
services for the purpose, of Miss Westmacott, who, in addition to
a wide experience as a Health Visitor in London, is duly qualified
Sanitary Inspector.
The enquiry I directed more towards the question of moral
over-crowding than to the actual cubic content of the premises.
Owing to the amount of money being set aside for the purpose
being limited, the enquiry was confined to certain roads
which were expected to show over-crowding. The figures shown
will probably be rather less than the true state of affairs, as it
was found that in certain cases where no over-crowding was discovered,
it was not until statements made by the neighbours
pointed definitely to over-crowding, and a re-visit and special
interrogation with regard to the individuals about whom information
had been obtained was carried out, that the true state
of affairs came to light. It is therefore reasonable to suppose
that there are yet amongst the houses visited, some in which unsuspected
over-crowding may have been concealed, so that the
report is, as I said before, if not strictly accurate an under estimate
rather than an exaggeration. I append herewith:—
Table 1. A list of the roads visited, showing the number
of houses, and the number of cases of over-crowding.
Table 2. Samples of the worst cases which show very well
the conditions of moral over-crowding and also
the difficulties in two cases of over-crowding in
cases of Tuberculosis, where there should be ample
air space rather than the condition obtaining.