Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Annual report, year 1898, on the sanitary condition with vital statistics of the parishes of Poplar and Bromley within the Poplar District
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genuine unaltered milk is sold, should be specially distinguished by
means of shape, colouring, or otherwise.
MILLWALL MUDFIELD AND ISLE OF DOGS DITCHES.
After the conclusions in Dr. Houston's report, I again inspected
the mudfield, together with Mr. Duckham the Engineer to the
Dock Company and Dr. Talbot Medical Officer of Health for Bow.
It was suggested that trees and a hedge be planted along the bank
of the mudfield at the rear of the houses in Stebondale Street, and
the mud in future be deposited as far away as possible from these
dwellings, and that vegetation of some kind be cultivated. Later on
steps were taken by the Dock Company to afford means of drainage
and two sumps were sunk.
During the drought it was found that the water in certain portions
of the ditches on the Island had dried up, the penstock in the
Deptford Ferry Road having been closed for a considerable period.
The ditches (which are practically sewers) required cleansing, more
especially the London County Council's portion. The Committee
directed me to take such steps as I considered necessary to abate the
nuisance.
Mr. Bussey, the Chairman of the Board, at my request kindly in.
spected the ditches with me whilst they were being cleansed by the
men employed by the London County Council. It was seen that
the cause of the water which drained from the allotments and the
mudfield remaining stagnant in the ditches at the rear of the houses
in Stebondale Street was due to the fact that the ditch has no proper
fall to the sewer in Stebondale Street, so that under these circumstances
with the object of keeping the water running and constantly
flushing out the stagnant water; it was deemed most advisable to
re open the penstock in the Deptford Ferry Road. In order to abolish
these ditches and to obviate the necessity of the water from the River