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
Hampstead 1905
Report for the year 1905 of the Acting Medical Officer of Health
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141
A register of all such complaints is kept by the Borough Engineer.
This register shews the date of complaint, locality, and any other details,
with the Sewer Inspector's report as to the nearest ventilator and the
condition of the sewer, and any action which has been taken.
The following is a summary of the number of complaints received during each month in one complete year:—
| 1904. | |
|---|---|
| October | 12 |
| November | 10 |
| December | 9 |
| 1905. | |
| January | 0 |
| February | 5 |
| March | 4 |
| April | 3 |
| May | 12 |
| June | 19 |
| July | 14 |
| August | 6 |
| September | 31 |
| 125 |
It would thus appear that by far the largest number of complaints
occur during September, the next largest in June, and the fewest during
the months from January to April.
It appeared to be desirable to enquire whether any relation could
be traced between the incidence of infectious disease, and the complaints
of nuisance from the sewers.
The Hillfield Road area was selected for this purpose, not because
the Committee considered it the worst, but because it was here possible
to mark out and deal with a definite area of convenient size. The late
Medical Officer of Health was requested to prepare a report on this
subject, and subjoined is that received from the Acting Medical Officer
of Health.