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health and safety; much more, however, is still required to be done to improve
the health of the people—drainage must be extended and the present
system improved, very many of the crowded dwellings of the poor must be
demolished, and better ventilated dwellings erected in their stead, and better
means must be adopted for insuring a more satisfactory performance of
vaccination."
Overcrowding iit a School Koom.
The Inspector, Mr. Wrack, on visiting the houses in Miller's-court,
Dorset-street, Spitalfields, on the 11th September, found that the groundfloor
room of No. 6, was used as a school-room during the day and as a
sleeping-room at night. At the time of his visit there were 19 persons in
the room, namely, 17 children, all under 7 years of age, and the schoolmaster
and his wife.
The dimensions of this room were 12 x 12 X 8, giving only about 60
cubic feet for each person.
The court contains six houses, and is about 50 feet long, 5 feet 6 inches
wide at the north end, and 7 feet 10 inches wide at the south end, and is
approached by a covered entrance 26 feet 4 inches long and 2 feet 10 inches
wide. At the north end of the court there are three public privies, and at
the south end there is a public dust-bin, both of which are within a few feet
of the school-room in question.
On the following day, accompanied by the Inspector, I visited the
school, and informed the schoolmaster of the unfitness of the place for a
school, and I intimated to him that the room could not be allowed to be so
occupied; and I advised him to get a larger room in a healthier locality.
The schoolmaster acted upon my advice and removed from the court two
days afterwards.
I have had to bring under the notice of the Board, from time to time,
several cases of school-rooms similarly overcrowded, and in no instance
have I been obliged to take legal proceedings against the occupier, the
nuisance being either abated by reducing the number of children attending
the school, or by the occupier finding a larger and more commodious room..
-New Acts relating to Public Health which were passed
in the late session of parliament.
Two Acts of importance to the public health have recently been added
to the list of Statutes, viz., the Metropolis Management and Building Acts
Amendment Act, and an Act to Consolidate and amend the Law relating to
Factories and Workshops. As regards the first-named Act, it must be
admitted that, so far as its provisions extend, it is a valuable addition to the
existing Building Act; but its scope is exceedingly limited. The sanitary
provisions of this Act are very few, and are contained in the second part of
the Act. These provisions relate to the foundations of houses, buildings,