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
City of Westminster 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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140 were plans of new buildings or re.constructions, the drainage of
which is under the supervision of the City Engineer, with the exception
of such matters as come under the Public Health Act and by.laws
made thereunder in respect of water closets, water supply, ventilation,
&c.
Failure to send in plans occurred in 30 instances.
Infringement of the by.laws in connection with the erection of
buildings occurred in 37 instances.
Proceedings against one person offending were taken with the following result:—
| Premises. | Offence. | Eesult. |
|---|---|---|
| W. E. Sharpe, 44, How. land Street, W. | Carrying out certain drainage works in an improper manner at No. 7, Archer Street | Fined 10.9. and 23s. costs. |
Twenty.one persons were cautioned by the Public Health Committee.
Drain.testing.—In the list given above is shown the number of
drains and soilpipes which have been tested under the superintendence
of the sanitary inspectors. The chemical test is applied by them, but
the other forms of test require assistance, this is frequently given by
the builders employed in the work, but in 301 instances the services of
the two drain.testers attached to the Department were requisitioned.
Public Conveniences for Women—Free Water.Closets.—The Public
Health Committee, on consideration of a letter from the Women's
National Health Association of Great Britain, on the subject of the
provision of free public lavatory accommodation for women, represented
to the Works Committee that it is desirable that some free accommodation
should be provided in connection with each of the women's
conveniences belonging to the Council. The Works Committee objected
to this on the ground that when such free accommodation was provided
by the Yestries and the Council in the past it was misused and abused
to such an extent as to render its continuance impossible; but the
Public Health Committee suggested that this difficulty was due to the
use of a special form of urinette and might be surmounted by using
an ordinary water.closet with a wooden rim, and with proper supervision.
Eventually it was agreed to give the scheme a trial for three
months at each of the women's conveniences at Broad Street and
Parliament Street for free use; that notices be exhibited outside the
conveniences that free w.c. accommodation is available on application
to the Attendant.