The hydropathist Richard Metcalfe served as a member of Paddington Vestry, originating schemes for widening the Edgware Road end of the Harrow Road, and for the laying out and planting of Paddington Green. He was especially responsible for urging the adoption of the Baths and Wash-houses Act in Paddington, and the installation of Turkish Baths for the working-class.

Much of the information which Metcalfe collected, together with an account of the arguments used in his attempt to win over the Paddington Vestry, was later incorporated in his book Sanitas sanitatum et omnia sanitas. Although originally intended as the first of a number of related volumes it was, in fact, the only one actually published. But even on its own, the book is a remarkable document which, in spite of some exaggeration and over-simplification, was written by a knowledgeable enthusiast who himself had nothing to gain financially if his proposals were accepted.

Turkish Baths were not provided by Paddington Council until 29 December 1929, although these baths, at what is now the Porchester Centre, are amongst the few which are still open today.