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9
disease has since, in this district, gradually extended to doubtful
cases of all kinds of infectious disease, and every year I have had
the honour of being asked to see a considerable number of uncertain
cases in consultation with the doctor under whose care the
patient was. Needless to say the'invitation has always come from
the doctor. Any benefit that may have resulted from this system
is due in part to the wise regulation you have that your Medical
Officer of Health should not at the same time engage in private
practice, but in far greater measure to the great help and kindness
I have invariably received from my medical brethren in the district
in the carrying out of my official duties.
So far I have referred to matters only that may be considered
satisfactory; there are others of a less pleasing kind that must
be considered. In the second Annual Report I submitted to you,
I referred to the unsanitary condition of certain areas such as
Stafford Place, Castle Place and Gordon House Square. In this,
my last Report, I have to say that the state of these places remains
much the same as it was then. It has not been found
possible to clear them away or get them closed. Constant inspection
and repeated serving of notices have done something to
prevent them becoming worse, but nothing towards permanent
improvement. Notices regarding repairs have been complied with
by the owners or their agents in the cheapest possible manner,
and the habits of the tenants have in many cases soon undone
the work. It is difficult to deal with conditions arising partly
from dirty habits of occupiers by notices served on owners, and
it will be a great benefit to this district if the new powers that
appear likely in the near future to be given to local authorities,
prove sufficient to remove one or two of the insanitary areas in
Isleworth. Fortunately the number is small.
One very important part of the work of the Health Department
has, I regret to say, been much neglected and very imperfectly
done. This is what is known as House-to-House Inspection,
which means the systematic inspection throughout the year of
ordinary dwelling houses with the object of discovering insanitary
conditions. The work is quite apart from the inspections that are