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

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Camberwell 1949

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.

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The following table indicates the extent of the Inspectors' work during the past four years.

1949194819471946
No. of complaints received8,0248,8238,6727,489
No. of visits by Inspectors45,34439,68735,61225,618
Intimation Notices served5,3266,2745,0445,088
No. of Statutory Notices served2,5852,6871,8071,811
No. of Police Court Procedings2481778574

Nuisances arising from Bomb Damaged Buildings, Vacant
Sites and Static Water Tanks.
Many complaints continued to be received, particularly
during the warm weather, concerning rubbish deposited on
bombed sites, stagnant water in static water tanks, etc. At
the request of the Public Health Department, the Borough Engineer
and Surveyor arranged for the removal of any putrescible
matter which might attract flies and rats or otherwise give rise
to a public health nuisance, and the London Fire Brigade
pumped the water from the tanks. Extensive rat baiting of
bombed sites was also carried out by the Bodent Control Staff.
Although prompt action is taken on the receipt of every
complaint, sooner or later these sites will have to be dealt with
from the prevention point of view. Most of them are eyesores
and are detrimental to the amenities of the district, even
where no public health nuisance exists.
Kitchen Waste Bins.
Nuisances from flies and foul smells arising from pig bins
formed the subject of a number of complaints during the warm
weather It is the practice during the summer months for these
bins to be hosed out after emptying and treated with "Ozonal."
Swimming Bath Water.
During 1949, 27 samples of water were taken from the
Dulwich and Camberwell Baths for bacteriological examination
and 22 for chemical analysis. All reports were satisfactory with
one exception, and the bath concerned was accordingly drained,
cleansed and refilled.