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
Bethnal Green 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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33
Nuisances were abated at 1,906 premises, as compared
with 3,408 in 1946. The clerical staff prepared
3,704 Preliminary notices and 1,029 Nuisance notices.
The sanitary defects which gave rise to the foregoing action covered the following matters:
| Dirty rooms | 3,295 |
| Defective drains and choked w.c's | 624 |
| Defective and dirty w.c's | 1,711 |
| Defective water supply | 823 |
| Defective paving | 135 |
| Defective gutters and rain water pipes | 767 |
| Defective roofs | 1,714 |
| Dampness | 1,053 |
| Defective dustbins | 238 |
| Other defects | 5,709 |
| Total | 16,069 |
As will be seen from the appended list of legal
proceedings, it was necessary to take such measures
to enforce compliance with some notices.
Drainage.—Plans submitted and approved : 28.
Water Supply.—As the great bulk of the water
used in the borough comes from the mains of the
Metropolitan Water Board and is frequently tested
it does not call for special comment. It is, however,
interesting to report that there are 7 wells in the