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111
A considerable amount of work has been carried out by the sanitary
authority under the powers conferred on them by the Public Health
(London) Act, and under the Housing of the Working Classes Act as
regards houses unfit for human habitation. I find from the reports of
the Medical Officer of Health for the years 1893 and 1894 that under the
last-Mentioned Act, thirty-nine and ninety houses respectively were
certified by him as being unfit for human habitation. Of these houses
eleven were demolished, and the remainder were either closed by the
owners or by a magistrate's order. During my inspection 1 had opportunities
of seeing premises in which drainage improvements were being
effected owing to action by the sanitary authority ; in all such cases the
requirements of the Vestry appeared to be comprehensive, including
ventilation and disconnection, and the provision of inspection chambers
in the course of the system of drains. All drains, whether in newlybuilt
houses or after re-construction, are now subjected to a water test
before being passed as satisfactory.
The work thus carried on is as a rule limited to the case of premises
which have been brought to the notice of the sanitary authority by a
complaint, or by the occurrence of infectious disease. Some parts of
the district, however, known to require periodical visits are thus treated,
but it has not been possible to undertake a systematic house-to-house
inspection of the whole district.
The results of this inquiry into the sanitary condition of Fulham may
be summed up as follows:—
(1) The general death-rates for the last four years have been
less than in London generally, but the infantile death-rates and the
zymotic death-rates have been greater in Fulham. The birthrate,
which in 1891 showed a marked excess over London, has
decreased.
(2) Much work has been carried out by the health department
for the remedying of insanitary conditions, but in more than twothirds
of the houses visited by me defective conditions were found
to exist.
(3) Systematic house-to-house inspection has not been undertaken,
owing to the time of the existing staff being fully occupied.
(4) No sufficient steps have been taken to carry out the
provision of the Factory and Workshops Act.
(5) No shelter for the provision of families during the disinfection
of their rooms has been provided.
(6) The enforcement by the Vestry of the by-laws relating to
houses let in lodgings will cause a considerable increase in the duties
of the Sanitary Inspectors and Clerk.
(7) Vestry have not provided themselves with proper
apparatus for disinfection beyond arranging with a contractor.