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 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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SUMMARY OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TAKEN IN 1933.
| Offence. | No. of summonses. | Magistrate's decision. |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to carry out sanitary repairs | 12 | In five cases the summonses were withdrawn, the work having been carried out. Order made for work to be carried out in 28 days in one case; in 21 days in one case; in 14 days in two cases; in 7 days in three cases. |
| Failure to comply with by-laws for houses let in lodgings. | 5 | Fined £2 in two cases; fined £2 and order for work to be carried out in 14 days in one case; order for work to be carried out in 7 days in one case; summons withdrawn, the by-law having been complied with in one case. |
| Failure to abate overcrowding | 1 | Fined 10s. |
| Failure to comply with the L.C.C. by-laws in connection with drainage work. | 5 | Fined £1 in two cases; £2 in one case; £3 in one case; £4 in one case. |
| Allowing a dog to deposit its excrement on the public footway. | 13 | Fined 10s. in ten cases; £1 in three cases. |
| Total | 36 |
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
The borough contains but few factories or other work-places where there is a considerable
fuel consumption, and thus the problem of smoke abatement is not a very large one. Nevertheless,
in a borough which is essentially residential in character, it is very desirable that the nuisance from
smoke should be reduced to a minimum ; and during the year the council's sanitary inspectors
made 194 special observations with a view to ascertaining whether there were any breaches of the
smoke provisions of the Public Health Acts. Six nuisances were discovered. As the primary action
taken by the sanitary inspectors resulted in the abatement of the nuisance, written intimation
notices were not served.
MORTUARY AND CHAPEL OF REST.
During the year under review complaints were received regarding the public mortuary during
the hot weather and, in order to remedy this, the council installed a refrigerating plant for the
reception of four bodies. The introduction of this plant has proved entirely satisfactory, and it
is hoped that no complaints will be received in the future.
In addition, the council have provided in the chapel an altar, flower vases, etc., curtains and
suitable electric light fittings, thereby greatly increasing the amenities of the mortuary. The
council have also arranged for a new flooring to be laid in the chapel, which will improve its
appearance.
During the year 141 bodies were deposited in the public mortuary in the following circumstances:—
| At the request of relations or friends of the deceased | 14 | |
| At the request of undertakers | 39 | |
| At the request of coroner | 83 | |
| By the police | 5 | |
| 141 | ||
In 83 cases, post-mortem examinations were made under the coroner's warrant.
Thirty-four bodies were deposited in the Chapel of Rest, Avondale Park. This building is of
considerable convenience to those poor persons in Notting Dale who live in perhaps one or two
rooms and have no satisfactory accommodation for the bodies of dead relations pending the day of
the funeral.