London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Islington 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]

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Sewer Treatments
Five sewer treatments were carried out during the year, the treatment in March
being preceded by test baiting. Where the bait was not taken, no poisoning of the
manhole was carried out.
Every endeavour was made to lay poison in all the known sewer manholes each time
treatment was undertaken, but for a variety of reasons, e.g. stationary vehicles,
road repairs, inaccessibility, some manholes had to be missed. The number of manholes
varied continually due to alterations to the sewers, but the number existing at the
end of the year was believed to be 1,542. In all the treatments sodium fluoracetate
(1080) was used.
Details are as follows: -
Month of Treatment No. of Manholes Baited
January 1,440
*March (Pre-bait) 1,419
March 687
June 1,408
September 1,420
December 1,368
* There were 732 no takes and 687 takes
The co-operation of the Borough Engineer and his staff was appreciated.
Water Supply
A. The Metropolitan Water Board was the responsible Authority for the supply of
water in Islington. The supply was satisfactory both in quality and quantity.
During the year one sample of water supplied by the Board was taken, as part of
an investigation into an outbreak of dysentery. The sample was satisfactory.
There were 54,985 dwellings in the Borough supplied directly from water mains
serving the entire population of the Borough (255,150).
B. Well Water
There were 52 bore holes and wells known to exist in the Borough, of these 45
were unused. Six samples were taken for bacteriological examination and ten for
chemical analysis!. The results were considered satisfactory having regard to the
purposes for which the water was used.
C. Swimming bath water
40 samples were taken for bacteriological examination. Seven samples were unsatisfactory;
further samples from the same source were satisfactory.
Two samples were taken for chemical analysis and satisfactory report was received
in each case.
Common Lodging Houses
The one common lodging house in the Borough at 88 Old Street comprised dormitories
on five floors, with toilet facilities. The premises were registered for 275 men and
were inspected regularly. The register was kept up to date and the common lodging
house maintained satisfactorily.
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