GENERAL NOTES. THE ATMOSPHERE OF COTTON SHEDS.-A representative meeting was recently held of employers and operatives interested in the Cotton Cloth Factories Act, under the auspices of the United Textile Workers' Association, to discuss whether the act required altering or not, the chief point dealt with being the effect on health of artificial humidity in cotton sheds. Mr. Geo. Whiteley, M.P., in the chair. Amongst those present were the following Members of Parliament:-Sir U. Kay-Shuttleworth, Sir J. Pease, Colonel Mellor, Mr. G. Kemp, Mr. P. Stanhope, Mr. F. Cawley, Mr. Platt-Higgins, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. C. P. Scott, Mr. W. H. Hornby, Mr. R. Ascroft, Mr. H. Whiteley, Mr. Schwann, Mr. Fielden, and Mr. J. H. Maden. Mr. Holmes stated the case for the Operative Spinners, contending that the Act was not being carried out in the spirit in which it was passed, and that steaming generally was injurious to health. employers were prepared to show that the Act was beneficial to health, that Mr. Garnett said that the since its enactment the health of the operatives had improved, and that the general ventilation of weaving sheds was much superior to that ever before experienced by operative weavers. Mr. Tattersall stated that there had been a steady improvement in the health of weavers since the Act had come into force. All authorities agreed that a proper amount of humidity in the atmosphere was beneficial to health. A long discussion ensued, in which nearly all the members of Parliament participated, after which the following resolution was unanimously adopted on the motion of Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Tattersall: "That this meeting, representing both employers and operatives engaged in the cotton industry, is strongly of opinion that it is desirable that there should be an inquiry made by a committee of experts, appointed by the Home Office, into the working of the Cotton Cloth Factory Act, 1889, and into the whole question of steaming and the introduction of artificial moisture into cotton weaving sheds."-Times, 20th Feb., 1896. SANITARY APPOINTMENTS BY DUTCH AUCTION.-The "British Medical Journal" calls attention to a matter of considerable importance in Public Health administration. It appears that a new Urban District Council has adopted a very undesirable course for filling up its appointments. Advertisements were issued, signed by the Chairman, asking for applications for the posts of Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary Inspector, with a statement of the salaries required by the respective applicants. filling these offices by tender, and although no pledge is given in such cases This is practically that the lowest tender will be accepted, everyone knows that under the pressure of the rates the demand for economy is almost irresistible. This method of filling appointments is illegal, as the Local Government Board has, by Order of March 23rd, 1891, declared that an appointment for either a Medical Officer of Health or an Inspector of Nuisances "shall not be made unless an advertisement specifying the district for which such appointment is to be made, together with the amount of salary proposed to be assigned, and the day fixed for such appointment, shall have appeared in some public newspaper or newspapers circulating in the district of the Sanitary Authority at least seven days before the day so fixed." The italics are not in the Order, but the unmistakable emphasis of the words needs reinforcement for two reasons: first, in order to warn Sanitary Authorities against an illegal and useless course of action; and, secondly, in order to point out to medical men that when they take part in a Dutch auction as regards the value of Sanitary services, they are conniving at an illegal act, to say nothing of the grave ethical offence they commit as members of an honourable calling. It is almost inconceivable that any man of good standing should demean himself and his profession by responding to an advertisement inviting tenders for the discharge of responsible medical duties. JOURNAL OF THE SANITARY INSTITUTE. FACTORY AND BY JOHN F. J. SYKES, D.Sc. (Public Health), M.D., Read at a Sessional Meeting, April 15th, 1896. THE most striking thing that impresses one in attempting to disentangle from the Factory and Workshops Acts, 1878 to 1895, the powers and duties of sanitary authorities, is that legislation by reference, if a convenient method of making laws, is an extremely inconvenient and complex method for the administration of laws. It dawns upon one, why the codifier of laws is often regarded as a greater benefactor than the maker of laws? Legislation in reference to workshops in its main points is practically the same whether its application be metropolitan or extra-metropolitan; but for convenience sake metropolitan legislation forms a suitable basis for consideration. In order to avoid tediousness and prolixity, sections of Acts of Parliament will not be quoted verbatim, or in extenso, in this running commentary, but the principal sections of the various statutes applicable to the Metropolis have been set out in an Appendix A, and to this a table, showing the corresponding sections of extra-metropolitan application, has been added in an Appendix B, which may also serve as a reference table. VOL. XVII. PART II. H In the first place, it is necessary to state some preliminary details, and to briefly enter into some definitions. The Factory and Workshop Acts are now administered partly by the Home Office, through H.M. Chief and District Inspectors of Factories, and partly by Sanitary Authorities, through Medical Officers of Health and Sanitary Inspectors. Factories fall entirely under the supervision of the former, and workshops, as to their sanitary condition, under the control of the latter. There are also a considerable number of sections in the Acts that are impersonal, and under which legal proceedings may be taken by persons aggrieved. For the practical purposes of Sanitary Authorities, and without entering into definitions of textile and non-textile factories, it is sufficient to know that the use of steam, water, or any other form of mechanical power for manufacture in any workshop or workplace converts it into a factory under the supervision of the Home Office. As to workshops, which may be wholesale, retail, or sub-contracting, these are of three kinds : (1) Those in which protected persons are employed, i.e., a child under fourteen years, a young person over fourteen and under eighteen years, and a woman over eighteen years of age. (2) Those in which protected persons are not employed. (3) Domestic workshops, i.e., where members of one family are employed at home. It is to be observed that any premises in which the dressing or finishing of lace, the printing of paper by hand blocks, letterpress printing, and bookbinding are carried on, are inIcluded in the list of non-textile factories, Part I., 4th Sch. of the Act of 1878, and that non-ornamental brick and tile works are excluded from earthernware and china works, and the cutting of wood from lucifer match works. There are many bewildering minor modifications of a similar kind in the Acts; but it is inadvisable to spend time upon them at the expense of more important principles. In the next place, let us briefly consider how a sanitary authority is to become cognizant of the workshops within its district. The occupier of every factory and workshop, whether protected persons are employed are employed or not, or not, is required to give notice within one month of the commencement of occupation to the Factory Inspector of the district; and the occupier of every workshop already in occupation is required to give similar notice within the year 1896. These notices as to workshops are to be forthwith forwarded by the Inspector of Factories to the Sanitary authority of the district. The lists of outworkers and sub-contractors kept at factories and workshops also afford further information. In addition to these, the complaints received, and a systematic inspection of the district, will bring to light many workplaces. By means of these forms of information, registers may be compiled for permanent reference. It is to be presumed that some widely-circulated public announcement will issue from the Home Office, calling the attention of occupiers of workshops to the requirement to give notice before the termination of the year, and that sanitary authorities will, in due course, receive all the notices relating to workshops. When we reach nuisances we have an apt illustration of the involved nature of the legislation we are dealing with. The Factory and Workshop Act of 1878, section 3, relating to effluvia, overcrowding, ventilation, etc., and section 33, relating to lime-washing, washing, etc., applied to all factories and workshops. The same Act, section 61 (1), exempted domestic workshops from sections 3 and 33. The same Act, section 101, exempted from the nuisances section (91) of the Public Health Act of 1875, all factories and workshops within the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act, but relegated to the nuisances section above mentioned, every other factory, workshop, or workplace. The Factory and Workshop Act of 1891, by section 39 and schedule 2, withdrew workshops within the Factory and Workshop Acts from section 101 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1878. The same Act of 1891, by section 3 (1) withdrew workshops from sections 3 and 33 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1878. The net result of these cross references is that all extrametropolitan workshops and work places are relegated by the Factory and Workshop Act, 1891, to section 91 of the Public Health Act of 1875, and similarily section 2 of the Public Health London Act, 1891, has now within its pale all metropolitan workshops and workplaces. It is not necessary to set out the general nuisances of Section 2 of the last-named Act, which apply to any premises or places. But, confining our attention to those nuisances special to workplaces, it is the duty of a Sanitary Authority to see, with regard to every workshop within its district, 1. That it is kept in a cleanly state. 2. That it is kept free from effluvia arising from any drain, closet, urinal, &c. 3. That it is ventilated in such a manner as to render harm less any gases, vapours, dust, or other impurities generated in the course of the work carried on therein. 4. That it is free from overcrowding-that is, that at least two hundred and fifty cubic feet of space per head are provided during ordinary working hours, and four hundred cubic feet during overtime. 5. That the prescribed notice specifying the number of persons who may be employed in each room is duly affixed at the entrance to the workshop, or that the fact is otherwise made known. 6. That a reasonable temperature is maintained in each workroom. 7. That it is limewashed, cleansed, or purified, when necessary for health as certified by an officer of the Sanitary Authority-bakehouses being excepted and otherwise provided for. 8. That it is provided with sufficient and suitable sanitary conveniences for each sex. 9. That note is made of the employment of protected persons, in order that the Factory Inspector may be informed. 10. That the list of outworkers is inspected. One or two of these points require a little further explanation. It is scarcely necessary to say that full powers of entry are provided for the officers of Sanitary Authorities, in order to execute their duties under the Public Health Acts and under these Acts. It will be noted that by Section 33 of the Act of 1895 power is given to require mechanical meansof ventilation to be employed where necessary, and in such dusty occupations as dirty paper, and rag-sorting in closely confined quarters, this may be requisite in some cases; also where large quantities of gas are burnt during ordinary work or in overtime, although the extra provision of space150 cubic feet per head during overtime work—is probably intended to meet this. But, the exercise of this power, even in the case of workshops, is given to the Factory Inspector by Sec. 36 of the Act of 1878, and not to the Sanitary Authority. As to what is a reasonable temperature, the requirements of the particular process of work must be taken into consideration. The optimum air temperature for man is generally considered to be 62° F., 5 degrees more or less is an allowable variation, but anything exceeding 10 degrees above or below the standard of 62° F. may well be considered unreasonable; to sit long hours in a workroom at or below 52° F. cannot be beneficial either to the work or the worker. Sufficient sanitary conveniences is usually held to be satisfied by the provision of one w.c. for every twenty persons of each sex. It is the duty of Sanitary Authorities also to see that this provision is made in factories as well as in workshops, although it does not appear |