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
St Pancras 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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39
Refuse Collection and Disposal.
A.—A weekly collection is made in all parts of the Borough with the exception of
Wards 2 and 6, in which a collection is made twice weekly during the summer
months.
The use of Pagefield trucks, first introduced in 1925, has very much facilitated this
work.
B.—The methods of refuse disposal are:—
(a) By combustion in the Destructor.
(b) Removal to the country by rail or barge.
The following figures for the past year, kindly supplied by Mr. E. W. Swinstead,
m.i.m. & cy. e., the Borough Engineer, give some idea of the enormous amount of
refuse to be dealt with. For the purpose of comparison the figures for the previous
vear are also given:—
1927. 1926.
Tons. Cwts. Tons. Cwts.
Quantity of refuse collected 55780 4 53625 12
Quantity of refuse burnt at Destructor 35251 15 33349 0
Quantity put on rail 20436 15 20420 12
Quantity of clinker residual 14534 5 15866 18
It will be noted that during the past year a more efficient combustion has been
secured, the quantity of clinker residual being less by 1332 tons, although the amount
of refuse burnt was 1902 tons more than during the previous year.
The quantity of refuse to be disposed of has increased during recent years, and is still
increasing, owing to the more extended use of gas and electric cookers. When kitchen
ranges were more generally used it was possible to burn a considerable amount of refuse.
MORTUARY.
This is situated in Cambridge Street, N.W. 1. As a result of the improvements carried
out during 1925 this is now a satisfactory and well-equipped building.
The following table gives particulars concerning the number of inquests held, bodies received and post-mortem examinations made during the year.
| Male. | Female. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of inquests held | 152 | 95 | 247 |
| „ bodies received | 133 | 87 | 220 |
| ,, post-mortem examinations | 96 | 62 | 158 |
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA.
Inspections.—78,082 visits and inspections were made in 1927 by the Council's staff of
Inspectors and Health Visitors.
Of these inspections, 41,564 were made by the District Sanitary Inspectors, 9,683 by
the Inspectors of Food and Food places, 3,621 by the Inspector of Factories and Workshops,
and 23,214 by the Women Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors.
The inspections dealt with above are exclusive of the visits made by the Council's
staff at the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres (see page 25), and by the staff of the
Tuberculosis Dispensaries (see page 74); nor do they include the work of the disinfecting
staff, particulars of whose work is given on page 75.