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8
Previously to these appointments, I designed a system of work for
the Sanitary department, together with a complete set of books
and report sheets. The whole of the notice forms were revised
and re-arranged, and the entire scheme was laid before the Sanitary
Committee and approved.
As soon as the new officers entered on their duties, I commenced
to attend at the Vestry Hall each morning for the purpose of
supervising the work of the department. Mr. Lapworth resented
this, and brought the matter before the next meeting of the
Sanitary Committee. He said he had not been accustomed to
work in leading strings, and preferred to be responsible solely to
the Yestry. The consideration of the matter was postponed, and
at the next meeting, after the ordinary business was concluded, the
adjourned discussion on the duties of the Sanitary Staff was resumed.
The Medical Officer stated that he desired no additional power to
be conferred upon him, and simply asked that the Inspectors be
directed to report to him daily, and for the purpose of receiving
these reports and advising upon them, he would attend at the
Vestry Hall each morning at nine o'clock. After some discussion,
a Member of the Committee suggested that the system of bookkeeping,
proposed by Dr. Bate and adopted by the Committee, was
so complete that the Medical Officer's daily attendance would not
be required. He therefore proposed that the further consideration
of the matter be adjourned for six months in order to give the
system a trial. This having been seconded, another Member
proposed, as an amendment, that the Inspectors be ordered to report
daily to Dr. Bate, and to act generally under his supervision. The
amendment, however, was lost, and the original proposition, to
postpone consideration of the matter, was then carried.
Now in order to be in a position to advise the Yestry in its
deliberations, I have made certain enquiries as to the method of
procedure in other parts of the Metropolis, and for this purpose I
sent out to every Metropolitan Medical Officer of Health a circular
asking for replies to certain questions.
I have digested the answers
received in the accompanying Table.