London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
This page requires JavaScript
Education Department, a course on boiler house practice was arranged at Spring Grove
Polytechnic, but the attendance was disappointing. Complaints about the quality of
fuel are still too frequent, while defects in plant and inadequate training of stokers
receive too little attention.
The detailed monthly analysis are forwarded for record and study to the Central Department, but the main features are recorded below;-
| Health Department | Heath House | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall (inches) | Deposit (tons per sq, mile) | Sulphur (Mgms. So per day per 100 sq.cm.) | Rainfall (inches) | Deposit (tons per sq. mile) | Sulphur (Mgms. So per day per 100 sq. cm.) | |
| January | 2.21 | 13.21 | 1.39 | 2.09 | 10.88 | 1.22 |
| February | 1.26 | 11.74 | 1.21 | 1.18 | 13.55 | 1.19 |
| March | 0.87 | 9.13 | 1.16 | 1.00 | 10.13 | 1.22 |
| April | 0,32 | 7.01 | 0.66 | 0.39 | 10.47 | 0.74 |
| May | 3.31 | 8.66 | 0.99 | 3.23 | 7.08 | 1.02 |
| June | 2.21 | 10.43 | 0.84 | 2.14 | 7.03 | 0.85 |
| July | 0.20 | 6.20 | 0.42 | 0.24 | 4.46 | 0.33 |
| August | 0.67 | 4.62 | 0.40 | 0.67 | 4.53 | 0.53 |
| September | 1.81 | 5.75 | 0.49 | 1.85 | 7.13 | 0.50 |
| October | 3.43 | 9.41 | 1.16 | 3.35 | 9.83 | 1.17 |
| November | 1.10 | 6.88 | 0.72 | 0.95 | 7.33 | 1.06 |
| December | 1.89 | 10.03 | 1.16 | 1.69 | 9.05 | 1.13 |
| Average | 1.61 | 8.59 | 0.88 | 1.56 | 8.46 | 0.92 |
| Average 1952 - 1954 | 1.97 | 9.22 | 0.96 | 2.00 | 9.46 | 1.02 |
In general, atmospheric pollution in the Borough was less in 1955 than in the
previous three years. The continuing rise in coal prices may do more than the years
of propaganda to encourage fuel economy and so reduce smoke.
TENTS, VANS AND CARAVANS - There are five sites in the Borough which have been
used as caravan sites for many years. Some are occupied wholly or in part by persons
who use caravans for business in connection with a travelling circus, fair or stall.
During the year, the inspectors made 716 visits of inspection because of the occupation
of land by caravans, Tresspass by caravans on unfenced land continues.
Two new applications under the provisions of the Middlesex County Council Acts
for permission to place caravans on sites within the Borough were considered. Both
were refused.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES There is no common lodging house in the Borough.
CANAL BOATS The Sanitary Inspectors continue their duties as canal boat inspectors,
and made 53 inspections during the year.
FACTORIES, WORKPLACES, etc. - The Factories Act placed on the Council certain
duties in regard to (a) outworkers: (b) employment of persons in unwholesome premises;
(c) basement bakehouses; (d) provision of sanitary conveniences in all factories,
and (e) cleanliness, over-crowding, ventilation and drainage of floors in the case of
factories in which mechanical power is not used. A summary of the work done is given
below and in Table IX
Inspection of (a) Factories - mechanical power 654
(b) Factories - non-mechanical power 43
(c) Other premises 10
(d) Workplaces 12
(e) Outworkers' premises 204
Defects remedied 15
At the end of the year the number of outworkers registered with the Department
was 197.
-19-