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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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| Artificial lighting, absence of, on common staircase | 1 |
| Aged and infirm persons | — |
| Animals improperly kept | 6 |
| Dampness | 19 |
| Dilapidations and disrepair | 14 |
| Drains, choked or defective | 10 |
| Dust | 8 |
| Dustbin accommodation inadequate or unsuitable | 7 |
| Food premises, unsatisfactory conditions in | 24 |
| Floors defective | — |
| Noise | 39 |
| Overcrowding | 5 |
| Obnoxious smells | 45 |
| Refuse, accumulations of | 16 |
| Rodent infestation | 127 |
| Roofs, defective | 3 |
| Smoke | 26 |
| Unsound food | 29 |
| Vermin | 46 |
| Ventilation inadequate | 2 |
| W.C. accommodation inadequate, dirty or defective | 24 |
| Miscellaneous | 15 |
| Water supply, burst pipes | — |
| Water supply, inadequate | — |
| Water supply, impure | 2 |
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 the bodies of two pigeons were found in the storage tank, and after removing
them and cleaning the tank, the water was found to be satisfactory.
Drainage
During the year 3,165 inspections were made by the Public Health Inspectors in
connection with drainage work; 114 applications for approval of proposed drainage work
were submitted together with the necessary plans, and 115 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.