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

Kensington 1925

The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1925

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Table: The principal improvements secured in carrying out the work indicated in the above table are as follows:—

The principal improvements secured in carrying out the work indicated in the above table are as follows:—

192319241925Totals
Houses cleansed1005119817273930
House drains re-constructed554384182
Defective drains repaired126151158435
House drains cleansed3783723401090
Water closets re-constructed, repaired, &c.,5675966191782
„ „ supplied with water306343312961
„ „ new provided6978137284
Soil-pipes, ventilated, repaired, &c.,115136152403
,, new provided475173171
Cisterns cleaned, covered, &c.,223246324793
Yards, areas paved, drained, repaired3814324251238
Dustbins provided6957877482230
Ashpits abolished8910390282
Accumulations of filth, &c., removed2813954631139
Animals removed533740130
Overcrowding abated after service of Notice313165127
Underground rooms, illegal occupation discontinued196344126
Roofs repaired6578618762394
Houses provided with water above basement floor203368364935
Dampness in dwellings remedied3144705631337
Other important repairs1338201016394987

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In taking stock of the volume of housing work performed by the Sanitary Inspectors, it must
be borne in mind that these officers are responsible for other important branches of Public Health
work, such as the taking of samples under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, the inspection of food
supplies, the supervision of dairies, the inspection of factories and workshops, the prevention of
infectious disease, etc., and it is essential to the welfare of the Borough that the standard of
efficiency attained in these branches should not be lowered by unduly concentrating the efforts of
the staff of the Public Health Department on housing work.
An attempt to secure a higher standard of habitability in the houses of the working classes in
a large Borough must necessarily proceed slowly, but there is now distinct evidence that the
Council s efforts of the last three years are bearing fruit.
Owners of working class property have, on the whole, responded very satisfactorily to the
increased demands of the Council, and the task of the officers of the Public Health Department
has been considerably lightened by the ready co-operation of a large number of those who are
responsible for the control of houses in the poorer quarters of the Borough.
In considering the work which lies ahead, there is one important point to be remembered in
regard to tenement houses, particularly those occupied by many families, and in which almost
every room is used for living and sleeping purposes. As soon as repair and cleansing works have
been completed deterioration sets in again. When, therefore, the owners have spent considerable
sums of money in carrying out the requirements of the Council in these houses, it is desirable that
the Sanitary Inspectors should pay visits as frequently as possible in order to ensure, as far as is
in their power, that the efforts of the owners are not neutralised by the neglect and carelessness of
indifferent tenants.
With perseverance and the continued goodwill of all concerned, the encouraging progress
noted will be maintained, with the result that the inhabitants will enjoy better health and greater
happiness.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES FENTON,
Medical Officer of Health.