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

View report page

West Ham 1899

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1899

This page requires JavaScript

240
It will be noticed that the amount collected is practically the
same on both days, but that both in the Northern and Southern
Divisions every load on Wednesday takes over half an hour longer
to collect than it does on Saturday. The returns lead me to conclude
that the loss of time above referred to takes place both in the process
of collection and in going to and from the shoot, and I feel sure the
Council will recognise the fact that the circumstances detailed above
are such as no number of Inspectors nor organization can remedy.
Report by the Medical Officer of Health on the
Zymotic Death-rate and the Prevalence of Diphtheria
in the Borough.
December, 1899.
To the Town Council of the Borough of West Ham,
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
On several occasions during the present Summer and Autumn the
high zymotic death-rate, published by me from time to time, was
specially noted by the Council, and in close association with the
consideration of zymotic disease generally, the prevalence of foulsmelling
sewer grids in various roadways of the Borough led to
frequent discussion as to the probability of the foul emanations from
the sewers having a casual relationship with the zymotic diseases
generally, and with diphtheria in particular.
I was therefore instructed to report upon the zymotic death-rate.
Immediately after these instructions were given the following
letter (with enclosure) was received from the Local Government
Board:—
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.,
4th October, 1899.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to
forward to the Town Council of West Ham the enclosed
copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Board by