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

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Hammersmith 1926

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health of the Borough of Hammersmith for the year 1926

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

30
As I have already said in previous reports, overcrowding
is probably the greatest factor in the propagation of all
infectious diseases.
If the Housing conditions were ideal it is probable that all
our infectious diseases would be very materially lessened and
chronic infections such as Tuberculosis disappear.
Better housing is the first step towards a healthier nation
and a reduction of the expenditure of such vast sums of
money in the prevention and treatment of disease.

Table: Statistics.—Year ended 31st, December, 1926.

Statistics.—Year ended 31st, December, 1926.

1.—General.
(1) Estimated population134,400
(2) General death-rate11.4
(3) Death-rate from tuberculosis1.1
(4) Infantile mortality66
(5) Number of dwelling-houses of all classes (estimated)18,815
(6) Number of working-class dwelling-houses (estimated)12,000
(7) Number of new working-class houses erected202
2.—Unfit Dwelling-houses
II.—Inspection.
(1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for Housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts)6.110
(2) Number of dwelling-houses which were inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925214
(3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitationNil
(4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub-heading) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation2,754
II.—Remedy of defects without service of formal notices.
Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Local Authority or their officersNil