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
Fulham 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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31
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
The chronic shortage of public health inspectors showed signs of becoming acute.
The year started with three vacancies, whilst during the year three other officers
resigned to take up appointments outside London. These three had received their
training in Fulham. In November one of the Council's students qualified and became the
only appointment during the year, advertisements for qualified staff proving completely
abortive. At the end of the year there were four students in the department, three of
whom will be taking the qualifying examination during 1962
Every attempt was made to deploy the staff to the maximum advantage, but inevitably
many important routine inspections could not be undertaken
Water Sampling
The regular monthly sampling for bacteriological examination of domestic supplies in
different parts of the borough, inaugurated last year, continued. During the year 89
samples were taken, all being found satisfactory and free from Presumptive B. Coli.
The following information has been kindly supplied by Dr. E. Windle Taylor. M.A., M.D., D.P.H., M.r.C.S., L.r.C.P., Director of Water Examination to the Metropolitan Water Board:-
| Source of Supply | Number of SampIes | After treatment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agar plate count per ml. | Coliform count | E.Coli count | |||
| 20-24 hours 37° C | 3 days at 22° c | Per cent. samples negative in 100 ml. | Percent. sampIes negative in 100 ml. | ||
| Surbiton | 514 | 7.5 | - | 99.61 | 99.61 |
The results of the chemical examination of the samples taken was also satisfactory.
Results of Swimming Bath Water Samples
During the year 21 samples of swimming bath water were taken from public and private
baths, every sample being reported free from B. Coli. Bacterial counts were all
satisfactory except in two cases where more than 300 per m. 1. were found. Visits were
paid and follow up samples taken which proved satisfactory
PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS
(INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY COURTESY OP MR. R. C. GERRED,
M. N. A. B. S., M.I. Mar. E., BATHS MANAGER)
The Fulham Public Baths establishment comprises 3 swimming baths, 90 personal
washing baths and 2 Public Laundries.
The swimming baths are respectively 75' x 25' - 100' x 30' - 125' x 35'. They
are filled from the Metropolitan Water Board mains, and from then on are purified by
continuous pressure filtration, with a 4 hour turnover. Chlorine is used as a
sterilising agent, and bacteriological tests are made regularly. These show a high
standard of purity commensurate with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health
Once a year all baths are emptied for thorough cleaning.
During the winter season, one of the swimming baths is closed and floored over,
being used for indoor bowls, table tennis, meetings, dances, etc. Two swimming pools
remain open all the year
The facilities in both the private warm baths, which includes showers, foam baths
etc., and the Public Laundries, one of which is now fully automatic, prove very popular
and are used to capacity particularly at the week ends.