Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Saviour's]
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"1. That, in the opinion of the Committee, the Housing of
the Working Classes Act, 1890, contemplates a distinction
between those defects which make a house temporarily, and
those which make it permanently, unlit for human habitation.
"2. That a house may be considered so 'dangerous or
injurious to health ' as to be permanently unfit for human
habitation, which-
(1) 13y reason of age or decay, has become so dilapidated
or worn out as to be practically incapable of
repair,
(2) Being constructed of bad or improper materials, is
offensive and unwholesome.
(3) Is in a situation not admitting of effectual drainage,
(4) Has been erected upon such an improper foundation
that it is impregnated with foul air,
(5) Is incurably damp, or
(6) Is incapable of being provided with light and
tion.
"3. That a house may be considered to be temporarily
unlit for human habitation which is in 'such a state as to be
a nuisance or injurious to health,' from
(1) Dilapidations which are capable of repair,
(2) Want of light and ventilation which could be
vided,
(3) Dampness of a temporary character,
(4) Defective or unventilated drainage,
(5) Water-closet defective or ill-placed, badly lighted, or
insufficiently ventilated into the open air,
(6) Water supply of an unwholesome character; cisterns
ill-placed, foul, or uncovered,
(7) Want of a separate or disconnected water-supply for
the water-closets,
(8) Dust-bin so situated or constructed as to cause a
nuisance, or
(9) From filth.
In conclusion, however, the Committee expressed an opinion
that each case must be dealt with on its own merits, and that
questions of degree would always have to be taken into consideration,
as well as the co-existence of two or more defects.
The Executive Committee also reported that, in their opinion,
it would be futile for the Conference to attempt to lay down
any fixed lines as to how the Act was to be carried out in the
several districts.
Public Health (London) law Amendment Bill 1891.
Early in March last, the attention of the Board was called
by the Vestry of Chelsea, and other local authorities, to the
stringency of several of the provisions of this Bill, which had
been introduced by Mr. Ritchie to the House of Commons and
set down for second reading at very short notice, copies of the