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
Holborn 1922
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1922
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The following Table shows the nuisances for which the 101 Statutory Notices were issued under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
| Section 2 (a) Dirty and dilapidated premises, etc. | 67 |
| ,, (b) and Section 37, Ashbins | 12 |
| ,, (b) Drains and W.C.'s | 36 |
| ,, (c) Animals improperly kept | 1 |
| ,, (d) Accumulation of rubbish | 7 |
| ,, (e) Overcrowding | 3 |
| ,, (f) and 48. Water supply | 5 |
| 2 | |
| ,, 24 Smoke | 5 |
| ,, 96 Underground rooms | 1 |
| ,, 38 W.C.'s communicating with workrooms | 5 |
| , W.C.'s, separate accommodation for sexes | 2 |
By-Laws as to Houses let in Lodgings.
At the end of the year 591 houses were registered under these By-laws. Of
these, 295 are in St. Giles and Bloomsbury and 296 in the Holborn District; 11
3uch houses were removed from the Register and 1 was added.
There were 932 inspections of these premises, excluding a very large number
of periodical inspections and re-inspections. One notice was served for an
overcrowded room, and 270 notices for other breaches of the By-laws, exclusive
of 601 notices that were served for annual cleansing as required by the By-laws.
The draft By-laws as to Tenement Houses proposed to be made by the
London County Council under the Housing, Town Planning Act, 1909, were
again considered. These By-laws require increased air space for sleeping
apartments, the separation of sexes, accommodation for washing clothes and for
the storage, preparation and cooking of food, and proper light on common
staircases. The By-Jaws are awaiting the approval of the Ministry of Health.
Special enquiries were made in 102 typical tenements in the Borough to ascertain
the effect the new By-laws would be likely to have on tenements. The
information obtained is summarised in the Table opposite.
The Table discloses the following:—
Overcrowding
Under the existing By-laws in 20 instances technical overcrowding exists: in
the absence of alternative accommodation no action has been taken. Under the
proposed By-laws 31 instances would occur.
Washing of Clothes.
No accommodation is provided in 41 instances. In 9 the accommodation is
unsatisfactory, e.g., the water supply is a considerable distance from the copper.