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 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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18
REFUSE REMOVAL FROM MEWS.
The common dustbins installed by the council in 1921, in 18 mewsways in North Kensington
at the expense of the owners, have continued to prove a satisfactory arrangement for storing
house refuse in these particular mews, in which there are a number of dwellings, stables and
costermongers' stores. In two mewsways the owners have adopted the container system.
The problem of securing hygienic conditions in mewsways has been tackled with considerable
success during past years as a result of close co.operation between the officers in the public health
department and the borough engineer's department.
SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE.
Every house in the borough is connected with the water carriage system for the disposal of
sewage and, generally speaking, house drainage in Kensington is very satisfactory.

Table: The following table deals with(a) drainage work undertaken voluntarily by owners and supervised by the officers of the public health department, and (b) all drainage work required by notices served under the Public Health (London) Act, and carried out under the supervision of the sanitary inspectors:—

The following table deals with(a) drainage work undertaken voluntarily by owners and supervised by the officers of the public health department, and (b) all drainage work required by notices served under the Public Health (London) Act, and carried out under the supervision of the sanitary inspectors:—

Voluntary work.Work under notice.
Plans submitted23276
Plans approved by the council23276
Total reconstruction of drains of premises4050
Partial reconstruction of drains of premises6023
Repairs to drains by " Economic Method "510
Other sanitary works, such as new soil pipes, baths, sinks and lavatory basins2,7531,212

Table: SANITARY INSPECTION. The following table shows a summary of the inspections, etc., carried out by the male sanitary inspectors during the year:—

SANITARY INSPECTION. The following table shows a summary of the inspections, etc., carried out by the male sanitary inspectors during the year:—

DESCRIPTION OF INSPECTIONS. &c.NUMBER OF DISTRICTHousing Inspector.Grand Total
12345678910
Total complaints received .396251143283225203193215286139-2,334
Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
Complaints received30310484150124199183213278124-1,762
Houses inspected on complaint303112901571282112002292901351,855
„ after infectious disease2222641351411338879671008-1,240
Re-inspections5464621,2371,6231,3451,4191,7315452,183758-11,849
By-Laws re houses let in lodgings
Complaints received93147591331014102815-572.
Houses inspected on complaint.93149591361104112815-587
First annual inspections (furnished houses)-258-11--112-39
Re-inspections „ „---7-11---23-41
First annual inspections (unfurnished houses)197467264933128561335110-1,573
Re-inspections „ „311,6751,7946911,060325272163341191276,444
Housing Acts, 1925 & 1930—
Initial inspections (including preparation or revision of house-to-house card)69242173144150316910585391291,236
Re-inspections2598238123-114711,3901,744
Underground living rooms
Primary inspections427734712587444351413422-733,425
Re-inspections-1853163622701208645-78958
Drainage.
House drains tested and in spected4310312778887349544273621871,573
Voluntary drainage work
Applications made50717554363114122114111-696
Plans submitted94718162539354138-232
Inspections of workshops435411039824795184-375
„ factories1125321437215141310-182
„ bakehouses2919972431413199-146
„ ice cream premises201221117--81--71
„ other food premises35510023610245422757987353-1,755
„ mews1222021826310695299231106175-1,681
Smoke observations302881—867——-124
Other inspections5253215375704963844931,121560172155,194
Canal boats inspections------------
„ ,, re-inspections----------3939