London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1872

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]

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16
besides myself, are of opinion that in this matter
females are very much neglected. If this kind of
public accommodation at all the cab ranks, were made
a part of the police regulations the duty of attending
to them could be well entrusted to the officers there,
who at present have scarcely anything to do.
The Workshops Regulation Act.
It will be remembered that this Act, after being in
the hands of the local authorities of the Metropolis for
nearly three years, was taken out of their jurisdiction
to be included in the work of the Sub-Inspectors of
Factories in the Metropolis. Numerous complaints
have come under my notice of overcrowding and of
sanitary defects, which are either overlooked or not
included in the routine of Factory Inspection.
These complaints reach me chiefly from medical men
in attendance upon cases of illness in females, arising
from the vitiated air of over-crowded rooms, and from
long hours of work. As, however, we still possess
powers under the Sanitary Act of 1866, and under the
Nuisances Removal Act, to inspect the sanitary condition
of premises used as workshops, to inquire into
the cubic space necessary to prevent overcrowding, the
kind of w.c. accommodation, &c. ; the several cases
that have become known have been visited by myself
with Inspector Clifford and dealt with accordingly.
In my Annual Report of 1870-71, the last year
that the Workshop Regulation Act was entrusted to
me, I prepared a return for H. M. S. Inspector of
Factories, in which I reported that at least 700 females