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
Greenwich 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough.
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In connection with this matter the Borough Engineer has kindly supplied the following information:—
| Premises discharging trade effluent to local sewers | 291 |
| Premises discharging trade effluent to L.C.C. sewers | 65 |
| Number of sewer connections inspected | 2 |
| Number of samples taken | 2 |
| Number of samples found satisfactory | 1 |
| Applications for new or modified discharges | nil |
The unsatisfactory sample was found to be caused by errors
in operating manufacturing plant and lack of maintenance of
drainage systems. Remedial measures were taken by the firms
concerned.
It is understood that negotiations are still proceeding between
the L.C.C. and the South Eastern Gas Board concerning discharges
to the Tunnel Avenue sewers.
Water Supply.—The whole of the Borough is supplied with
water by the Metropolitan Water Board which is a Statutory undertaking,
and the responsibility for its purity rests with that Authority.
There are 24,788 dwellings with direct connections to the Board's
mains.
During the year 127 water supply certificates were granted
under Section 95 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Water
fittings have been amended, repaired or renewed in 283 cases.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies.—In recent years dental decay
has increased especially among the younger age groups and it
has been found that a minute quantity of fluorine assists the
formation of healthy teeth and reduces the incidence of decay. As
a measure to prevent dental decay, fluoridation of water supplies
has the backing of the Expert Committee of the World Health
Organisation, the British Medical Research Council, the New
Zealand Commission on Water Fluoridation, the Royal Swedish
Medical Board and many other eminent medical and dental
organisations.
Authoritatively, it is suggested that fluoridation of public water
supplies to the level of one p.p.m. of fluorine although not altering
the colour, taste or smell of the water, would be sufficient to reduce
the incidence of dental decay. This suggestion has raised a storm
of controversy, especially on the grounds of "mass medication" but
when one considers that water supplies in towns like Colchester,
Slough and South Shields already contain fluorine in excess of
this amount and that fluorine in chemical combination as fluoride
is found as a trace element in many foods such as vegetables, meat,
cereals, fruit, fish and tea etc., this objection cannot really be