Page images
PDF
EPUB

think-mentioned Whitechapel as being a flagrant case. Well, Whitechapel is not much worse than others. I have had a return of Inspectors and their salaries, and in Whitechapel I find they have two inspectors to 71,000 people, and I am bound to say the inspection is well done as compared with London generally. But Bermondsey has only one inspector to 86,000 people, and St. Mary, Newington (which is in a very poor district indeed), has only two to 107,000; so that Whitechapel is by no means the worst case. No doubt, generally speaking, the staff throughout London is hardly sufficient to carry out the inspection which is required by law. But there, again, the Secretary of State will tell us that he sees his way to a reformation of those bodies, which would cause the law to be better acted upon."

These facts go far to show that in London there are only about two-thirds of the Sanitary Inspectors employed that are really required.

There are three important items in connection with Sanitary Inspectors before the public mind at the present time.

1st. Have we a sufficient number of Inspectors to carry out the Sanitary Laws?

2nd. Do the Inspectors that we already have, receive from the Local Government Board sufficient advice, supervision, and assistance to promote reasonable efficiency, as evinced by other public departments, viz.,

Post-office, Parcels, Telegraphs, Merchant Shipping, Police, and Excise?

3rd. Are the appointments on a basis calculated to permit of a free and independent discharge of the duties?

One of the aims of this work is to promote a higher state of efficiency. It has been prepared not only for the recently appointed Inspectors, but also for those of longer experience. It will also have some interest as a brief and condensed resumé of sanitary subjects for the Medical Officer of Health, as the superior officer in all sanitary departments.

To members of vestries, district boards, corporations, and local boards, it will be of assistance for handy reference, as these gentlemen are in the position of "Honorary Inspectors" under the Sanitary Act, 1866, s. 20, and might reasonably be expected to have some acquaintance with the duties.

By carefully omitting all extraneous matter, the Author has endeavoured to provide a small book at once applicable for the Inspector's office and the Police Court cases in which he may be engaged.

The main part of this work remains unaltered since the First Edition. Additional Chapters have been inserted on the "Metropolitan Inspectors' Digest of the Sanitary Acts," also "Country Inspectors' Digest of the Public Health Acts" and "Inspection of Lodging-houses."

Much of the Inspectors' time having to be devoted to the purchasing of samples under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, it has been thought important to insert the Sale of Food and Drugs Amendment Act, 1879. Should this work meet with the success accorded to the First Edition, and these pages be the means of promoting increased efficiency and sanitary activity, with its resultants-health, happiness, and prosperity to the numerous subjects of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen-it will reward,

Yours sincerely,

LONDON,

April, 1884.

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

IN presenting this small work to the numerous Sanitary Inspectors and those persons interested in the welfare of Sanitary Officials, the Author desires to explain that this is not, nor does it pretend to be, a scientific work, but simply a practical guide to the daily labours of Sanitary Inspectors; and having ou many occasions been applied to for information, especially by Inspectors newly appointed, and also considering that since the passing of the Public Health Act, 1875, there has not been a work of this description published, the present time was considered opportune for its appearance; and although it will be of most service to Inspectors newly appointed, many of the hints contained may be found to be of especial value to Inspectors of larger experience.

BIRMINGHAM,

December, 1877.

Yours truly,

JOSEPH ROBINSON.

« EelmineJätka »