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
Deptford 1927
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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74
is good. All now have an adequate number of covered bins for the
reception of bones, scraps, etc., and efforts are being made to procure a
more frequent collection of the bones, etc., during the summer months.
The street stalls and those in the Market are inspected daily, and are
kept in conformity with the law. Apart from visits paid by the Food
Inspector, Sanitary Inspectors, working in rota, visit the butchers'
shops, stalls, etc., every Friday or Saturday evening to see that the
Regulations are complied with.
Slaughterhouses. The two local places are under constant
observation. On only six occasions during the year have organs been
rejected; these were affected with common parasitic diseases. Vehicles
carrying meat into the Borough from Smithfield have been inspected
on 98 occasions and in all cases the meat has been found covered with
satisfactory material or the Regulations have been otherwise fulfilled.
The animals slaughtered in the Borough during 1927 were:—
| Bullocks 292 | Calves 100 |
| Sheep 1100 | Pigs 160 |
Joint visits were paid by the Food Inspector and myself to certain places where food is prepared:—
| Number | Inspections & Calls | |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 54 | 124 |
| Fried fish premises | 48 | 105 |
| Oyster bars | 2 | 6 |
| Offal boilers | 3 | 65 |
| Other food premises (butchers' shops where sausages are made) | 28 | 914 |
| Confectionery works, etc. | 4 | 52 |
| 139 | 1,266 |
Bakehouses.
The standard of cleanliness is being well maintained, the bi-annual
cleansing being carried out regularly and without trouble.
The accumulation of refuse, in some cases, still presents a difficulty.
It would be far better if a more frequent collection could be arranged.
The washing facilities for the employees are provided in all bakehouses.
Soap and towels are also provided.