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
Holborn 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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During the year 510 complaints were received in respect of the following nuisances:—
| Artificial lighting, absence of, on common staircase | - |
| Aged and infirm persons | 1 |
| Animals improperly kept | 7 |
| Dampness | 17 |
| Dilapidations and disrepair | 23 |
| Drains, choked or defective | 18 |
| Dust | — |
| Dustbin accommodation inadequate or unsuitable | 2 |
| Food premises, unsatisfactory conditions in | 10 |
| Floors defective | — |
| Noise | 24 |
| Overcrowding | 7 |
| Obnoxious smells | 42 |
| Refuse, accumulations of | 22 |
| Rodent infestation | 141 |
| Roofs, defective | 14 |
| Smoke | 38 |
| Unsound food | 25 |
| Vermin | 38 |
| Ventilation inadequate | 1 |
| W.C. accommodation inadequate, dirty or defective | 35 |
| Miscellaneous | 18 |
| Water supply, burst pipes | 8 |
| Water supply, inadequate | 17 |
| Water supply, impure | 2 |
29
Complaints
Water
1. Water for drinking and commercial purposes in this area is supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board and has been satisfactory both in quantity and quality.
2. There is a piped supply, and bacteriological examinations of the raw water are
made by the Metropolitan Water Board, who also perform chemical analysis.
3. The water is not known to have any plumbo-solvent action.
4. No action has been necessary in respect of contamination.
5. All dwelling houses have a piped supply, and standpipes are normally used only in
cases of emergency, such as repair of mains.
Two complaints of impure water were received. In one case the Metropolitan
Water Board collected a sample, which on analysis proved to be satisfactory. In the
second case it was found that the condition of the water was due to stagnation in long
lengths of piping in the building together with warming of the water by local conditions,
and infrequent draw-off. Samples of water drawn after flushing the tap were found to be
satisfactory.
Drainage
During the year 3,618 inspections were made by the Public Health Inspectors in
connection with drainage work; 121 applications for approval of proposed drainage work
were submitted together with the necessary plans, and 109 Combined Drainage Orders were
made.
L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1953—Part II
Discharge of trade effluent into sewers.
Empowers the London County Council and Borough Councils to control the volume
and content of new or modified effluents proposed to be discharged from trade premises
into sewers.