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191
ascertain in a general way what has been ordered, but it is impossible, except from
the memories of the officials to find out what works were actually carried out, and
whether satisfactorily or the reverse. Were the sanitary history of each house to
be kept not only would a vast amount of valuable information be at hand in any
enquiry, but owners of property could refer new officials to what had already been
done, and much trouble might thereby be saved. But to do this would certainly
require almost the whole time of another clerk; or, if each inspector undertook this
for his own district, then an additional inspector might be more economically
appointed, as half his salary would be recoverable from the County Council.
Had the four inspectors been re-elected under the Public Health Act as the
General Purposes Committee recommended, a saving of £169 per annum would
have been effected compared with what was being paid to the three inspectors
formerly. To have appointed another inspector as I suggested in my report,
would only have reduced this saving by half his salary.
As this will be my last annual report as medical officer of Shoreditch, I will
take the opportunity to express my thanks to the members of the Vestry, and
especially to those upon the General Purposes and Sanitary Committee, and the
Housing of the Working Classes Committee, for the courtesy with which they have
at all times treated me, to the staff of the Health Department for the hearty
manner with which they have at all times co-operated with me, and to the other
officers of the Vestry who have always been ready to give me their assistance
and advice.
SANITARY WORK
The following list summarises the work which has been done under the supervision
of the department during the year, and has been compiled as usual by the
Clerk of the Department, Mr. Barr, from the reports of Chief Inspector Alexander
and of Inspectors Lear, Stiles, and Quelch.
The figures for 1891 are added for comparison, but some particulars are now
noted which were not formerly, these are marked by an (*). It will be at once
evident that the work accomplished is largely in excess of the previous year, in
most cases almost double. An increase of work was expected under the new Act,
but that the staff have been able to carry it out is in my opinion in large measure
to be ascribed to the re-arrangement of duties of the Inspectors. A larger
amount of work has been accomplished by them than under the old plan, and
it has been of a more systematic character.
Glazed pipe drains provided in lieu of dilapidated 1892 1891
brick drains in 163 40 premises
Defectively constructed pipe drains repaired or
relaid in 882 589 „
Rats infesting, and sewer gas impregnating (cured) in 301 25 „