London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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large measure due to the climatic conditions—namely lack of sun and
lack of high maximum temperature. It is not possible, therefore, to say
to what extent the lack of complaints was due to the measures carried
out but it is felt that even if the climatic conditions had been highly
suitable for fly development, the work done would have had an appreciable
effect on the number of flies and mosquitoes in the area.
The anti-fly campaign is being repeated during the summer
months of 1949.
SECTION "C"—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
The following table shows a summary of the inspections, etc. carried out by the sanitary and food inspectors during the year:—
Table 13
| Cause of Inspection | Totals |
|---|---|
| On complaint | 6,514 |
| Infectious disease | 570 |
| Notice from builder | 886 |
| Smoke observation | 4 |
| Certificates for materials | 172 |
| Water certificates | 288 |
| Vermin | 189 |
| Rent Act certificates | 78 |
| Landlord and Tenant Act certificates | 21 |
| Building licences | 963 |
| Housing applications | 4,041 |
| Requisitioned properties, house-to-house | 447 |
| Houses let in lodgings | 11 |
| Underground rooms | 24 |
| Outworkers premises | 202 |
| Factories and workshops | 283 |
| Butchers | 648 |
| Icecream premises* | 505 |
| Registered food premises† | 203 |
| Bakehouses | 307 |
| Fishmongers | 388 |
| Provision merchants | 759 |
| Greengrocers | 138 |
| Food factories | 39 |
| Restaurants and eating houses | 540 |
| Dairies | 182 |
| Milk purveyors | 111 |
| Other food premises | 200 |
| Pharmacy and Poisons Act | 133 |
| Shops Act | 205 |
| Miscellaneous | 4,781 |
| Markets and stalls | 415 |
| Slaughterhouses | 13 |
| Legal proceedings | 16 |
| Reinspections | 5,387 |
| Intimation Notices served | 4,316 |
| Statutory Notices served | 955 |
| Number of factories on register at 31-12-48 | 568 |
| Number of outworkers on register at 31-12-48 | 172 |
*Food and Drugs Act, S. 14 (i) (a) †ditto S.14 (i)(b).