London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hammersmith 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
Certificates granted with regard to water supply under Section 48 (Sub-sec. 2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
| Year. | L.C.C. Estate. | H.B.C. Estate. | Private Enterprise. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 188 | 18 | Nil |
| 1921 | 169 | 166 | Nil |
| 1922 | 384 | 354 | Nil |
| 1923 | Nil | 5 | 22 |
| 1924 | Nil | 42 | 40 |
| 1925 | Nil | Nil | 50 |
| 1926 | Nil | Nil | 202 |
| 1927 | 284 | Nil | 239 |
| 1928 | 500 | Nil | 187 |
| 1929 | 1 | 60 | 297 |
| 1930 | Nil | 56 | 90 |
| 1931 | Nil | 21 | 36 |
| Totals | 1,726 | 722 | 1,163 |
The premises have provided accommodation for
approximately 18,055 persons, but despite this fact overcrowding
is still in evidence.
At the moment of writing I am informed that there
are upwards of 2,000 applications for houses still to be
dealt with.
As I have already said in previous reports, overcrowding
is probably the greatest factor in the propagation of
all infectious diseases.
If the Housing conditions were ideal it is probable that
all our infectious diseases would be very materially
lessened and chronic infections such as Tuberculosis disappear.
Better housing is the first step towards a healthier
nation and a reduction of the expenditure of such vast
sums of money in the prevention and treatment of
disease.