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
London County Council 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Twelve acting sanitary inspectors, and an inspector who is partly engaged in clerical duties— Half repayable by County Council.
| 1. R. E. | £170 | |
| 2. R. B. | 170 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 3. F. E. B. | 160 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 4. S. S. | 160 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 5. J. M. J. | 160 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 6. J. B. | 160 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 7. G. G. | 160 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 8. W. G. F. B. | 125 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 9. T. H. H. | 125 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 10. T. H. J. | 125 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 11. W. W. | 125 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 12. W. J. P. | 120 | ,, ,, ,, |
| 13. W. W. H. | 120 | ,, ,, ,, |
The borough council has decided to appoint one female sanitary inspector.
Assistants.—Ten assistants in connection with disinfection.
Two mortuary keepers, one at each building, and a deputy to relieve the one at
the northern mortuary.
A temporary caretaker (female) is engaged when the rooms provided for use as
a temporary shelter are in use.
Seven men in charge of underground lavatories and urinals and five women.
Clerical staff.—There are three clerks entirely engaged in duties arising out of the work of the
public health department. The inspectors have no clerical duties beyond keeping a diary.
Duties.—Twelve of the inspectors have each been allotted a district in which they are concerned
with all duties arising under the Public Health and the Factory and Workshop Acts. One of these
inspectors whose district is small also acts as inspector for smoke nuisances, and as inspector under the
Food and Drugs Act for the entire district, being assisted in obtaining samples by deputy. The
remaining inspector is reserved as an emergency officer to attend to any urgent complaints made at
the office after the others have left, and he also assists in clerical work.
The inspectors supervise the execution of drainage works in both new and old houses.
They are under the entire supervision and direction of the medical officer of health.
The disinfecting assistants are engaged as follows—
Two act as engineers, one at each apparatus, two fetch infected articles, and two return them
after disinfection, the other four men act as drivers of the vans.
Scavenging of dustbins and streets.—For the scavenging of dustbins and of streets there are
district inspectors under the control of the surveyor.
Battersea—Population 1901, 168,896.
A medical officer of health (whole time appointment). £600 per annum. Half repayable by
County Council.
Nine sanitary inspectors—
| 1. I. Y., chief inspector. | £280 per annum | Half repayable by County Council. |
| 2. H. M. | £165 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
| 3. A. E. P. | £165 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
| 4. A. O. | £165 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
| 5. J. H. | £165 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
| 6. J. L. | £160 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
| 7. A. C. | £140 „ | ,, ,, ,, |
| 8. H. H. M. | £160 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
| 9. J. T. B. | £140 ,, | ,, ,, ,, |
Assistants.—Eight assistants for disinfection of rooms and testing of drains
Clerical staff.—There are four clerks solely engaged in duties arising out of the work of the
public health department.
Duties.—The chief inspector supervises generally the work of the inspectors, inspects in all
cases of importance or difficulty, and where statutory proceedings are about to be taken.
The district inspectors have a district in which each is concerned with all duties arising under
the Public Health, the Food and Drugs, and the Factory and Workshop Acts.
The inspectors are under the supervision and direction of the medical officer of health.
Scavenging of streets and dustbins.—The scavenging of dustbins and of roads is done by men
employed by the sanitary authority, and there are officers under the surveyor who are concerned with
the execution of this work.
Wandsworth—Population 1901, 232,030.
A medical officer of health (whole time appointment). £800-1,000 per annum. Half repayable
by County Council.