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

View report page

Kensington 1896

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Parish]

This page requires JavaScript

150
none, probably, that cannot bo repaired and made good at
more or less expense." Effect was subsequently given to this
suggestion, sixteen houses on the north side of William-street
having been closed by the magistrate, upon my certificate, and
put into thorough order by their owners under the supervision
of your Vestry's Surveyor. The Committee, extending their
observations to the adjacent "Potteries" district, observed that
"some of the streets have been asphalte-paved with manifest
advantage in respect of cleanliness, and (they) would gladly see
this system of paving extended both in the Potteries, and in
the so-called 'Avernus' district." Nothing came of this
suggestion at the time, but it is now bearing fruit, the Special
Committee of 1896 having endorsed the recommendation to
which effect is being given at the present time (March,
1897). Referring to the particular sanitary defects observed,
the Committee said "it is almost needless, perhaps, to point out
that such sanitary defects . . . are of constant recurrence
in houses occupied by the lowest classes, and are largely
brought about by the dirty and careless or mischevious habits
of the people themselves." The report concludes with a
pregnant expression of opinion, viz., that "what appears to be
most needed in these districts is frequent house-to-house inspection;
and with a view to secure this," the Committee
recommended the appointment of a temporary Sanitary
Inspector. Your Vestry adopted the Committee's report, and
an additional Inspector was appointed, for one year, to take
charge of what was, until February, 1896, described as
Division B of the North-west district. Subsequently, your
Vestry decided to make the appointment a permanent one,
thus raising the Inspecting Staff to seven; but in February,
1896, about a fortnight before the appointment of the
Special Committee, it was resolved to dispense with the
seventh Inspector. Moreover, the district assigned to the
Inspector for the North-west district (Division B), which
includes the "Notting Dale" special area, was enlarged; but in
October the district was reduced to its original dimensions, as