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
Lambeth 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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not carrying out its statutory duties connected therewith. On the contrary, the following records show that such is not the case, numbers of verminous premises (rooms) and articles being set out in full :—
| Years | Verminous Premises (rooms) | Verminous Articles | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | Clothiing | |||
| 1926 | 197 | (361) | 936 | 284 |
| 1925 | 369 | (442) | 1,332 | 52 |
| 1924 | 326 | (390) | 2,178 | 105 |
| 1923 | 342 | (372) | 1,584 | 558 |
| 1922 | 278 | (352) | 1,764 | 1,123 |
| 1921 | 307 | (460) | 1,761 | 114 |
| 1920 | 154 | (262) | 620 | 234 |
| 1919 | 137 | (248) | 1,073 | 79 |
| 1918 | 307 | (539) | 1.947 | 608 |
| 1917 | 126 | (465) | 2,126 | 1,244 |
| 1916 | 212 | (897) | 7.340 | 4,983 |
| 1915 | 627 | 1080) | 4,165 | 431 |
| 1914 | 195 | (935) | 1,186 | 268 |
| 1913 | 649 | (927) | 1,245 | 141 |
| Average for 14 years (1913-1926) | 301 | (552) | 2,089 | 730 |
Destruction had to be officially resorted to in very few instances,
in which cases new bedding or clothing was provided as required.
Since the passing of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1926, on August 4th, 1926, the Sanitary Inspectors have made
special visits to the stalls in Lambeth and Vauxhall Walks, etc., personally
warning the owners of the provisions of the new Act in regard
to filthy or verminous articles exposed on stalls for sale or for preparation
for sale. The Medical Officer of Health does not anticipate
that legal proceedings will be necessary in the future any more than
they have been in the past, but is of opinion that the owners of the
stalls will voluntarily comply with his official requests made through the
Sanitary Inspectors.
The Town Clerk, as the Council's legal adviser, holds the opinion
that, so long as the report which is referred to in the London County
Council (General Powers) Acts, is in the name of the Medical Officer,
it is not necessary for such Medical Officer of Health personally to
inspect the subject matter of such report.