London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Bermondsey 1883

Report on the sanitary condition of the Parish of Bermondsey for the year 1883

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for the execution of the sanitary works required, amounting
to no less than 2903, being 476 more than in the previous
year. The owners of property appear to have paid less
attention to these notices than in former years, as it was
necessary to take out 170 summonses at the Police Court, to
enforce compliance with the requirements of the Vestry.
This is 116 more than in 1882. One or two heavy fines
which have been recently inflicted will doubtless have a salutary
effect on dilatory owners, and tend to convince those who
perversely and obstinately refuse to do anything until they
are "compelled," that the payment of a fine of ten pounds
per house, makes the privilege of setting the law at defiance
for a few weeks, a rather expensive luxury.
The number of houses disinfected, cleansed and purified,
was 142. Most of these were on account of cases of scarlet
fever, and generally after fatal cases. Great activity has
been shewn in dealing with houses of the worst class, 50
having been closed as unfit for human habitation. Some of
these have been pulled down, and others have been more
effectually repaired than would have been the case under the
ordinary and milder course of proceeding. Another point in
which the inspector has displayed commendable diligence is
that of causing closets to be supplied with water, where that
was not the case. 603 closets or "privies" have thus been
converted into proper water closets, greatly to the convenience
and health of the inhabitants. 251 waste water pipes were
disconnected from a direct flow into the drains, and made to
discharge in the open air, over trapped gulleys. Defective
drains required much attention, 232 old brick drains were relaid
with stoneware glazed pipes; 122 drains were repaired,
466 were cleared; and 294 untrapped sinks were trapped.
72 houses were supplied with water, 403 water receptacles
were provided, and 195 were cleansed and repaired. 4 persons
suffering from infectious diseases, were removed to
Hospitals, and 7 dead bodies were removed to the mortuary,
from rooms occupied as dwelling rooms. The articles seized
and destroyed as being unfit for human food were:—139
rabbits, 4 hundred-weight of beef, and two boxes of fish.
The bake-houses, slaughter-houses, and cow-houses were
inspected, and the regular cleansing of 44 urinals duly superintended.
Public attention having been called to the state of