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Introduction to and brief Abstract of the
REPORT OF THE
Medical Officer of Health
FOR THE YEAR 1920.
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
197, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Holborn.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In accordance with the Memorandum of the Ministry of Health, this Annual
Report for 1920, as the preceding one for 1919, gives fuller details than had been
required during the War, and the various subjects are dealt with on the lines indicated,
and the order specified therein. It is also again suggested that there should be much
increased distribution of the same in order to engender a popular interest in the
subject, and an enlightened public opinion which shall support the Local Authority
in realising its high responsibilities for the health of its area.
As this is my last Annual Report I have much satisfaction in referring to the
great improvement in the sanitary and health conditions of the Borough since my
appointment about 26 years ago.
I was at first required to deal with the scandal of the Holborn "Outside" Meat
Market (now in Finsbury), at which diseased meat could be sold with impunity.
On my advice, a special Meat Inspector was appointed and for more than a year much
of my time was taken up with inspections of diseased meat, and the very many legal
proceedings connected therewith. The insanitary houses also required much attention
and during my first year several areas were represented, in the largest the " Union
Buildings Area " (between Gray's Inn Road and Leather Lane), the death rate was
about 50 per thousand, the Phthisis death rate more than 12 per thousand. It was
not till 1900, however, that the Official Inquiry was held and the area afterwards
dealt with by the London County Council. This lead finally to the Houses for the
Working Classes, called the Bourne Estate, and Coram, Dickens and Thackeray
Buildings in Herbrand Street, Reid's Brewery Site and that in Herbrand Street being
purchased to rehouse those displaced by the Scheme.
The Italian Colony was first represented in 1901, and again in 1905, and after
the "Inquiry" in the following year all the houses in all the Courts were demolished