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
City of Westminster 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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95
Smoke.—The prevention of smoke has engaged the earnest
attention of your Committee, and the sections of the Public Health
London Act, dealing with this question, have been rigidly enforced.
No less than 1,370 observations have been kept on chimneys of factories, restaurants, and other business premises, resulting in 202 nuisances being reported, of these 118 were ordered to be kept under further observation, and 84 preliminary and 22 statutory notices have been served; of the 22 statutory notices, eight resulted in prosecutions being taken, with results as follows:—
| Ward. | Name. | Premises. | Police Court. | Result of Hearing. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strand | Slater's Limited | 399, Strand | Bow Street | £5; 2a. costs. |
| St. Anne | Grumell, Limited | 12, Nassau Street | Great Marlborough Street. | £2; £1 3s. costs. |
| St. Margaret | Queen Anne Mansions, Limited. | Queen Anne's Gate | Westminster | £6; £5 5s. costs. |
| St. Margaret | Army and Navy Auxiliary Supply Stores. | Francis Street | Do. | £10; £2 2s. costs. |
| St. John | Westminster Electric Supply Corporation. | Millbank Street | Do. | £10; 2s. costs. |
| St. John | John Mowlem and Co. | Grosvenor Wharf | Do. | £10; 2s. costs. |
| Strand | Francis Kissel | Tivoli Restaurant, Strand | Bow Street | £10; 2s. costs. |
| St. Margaret | W. H. Hill | 60, Buckingham Gate | Westminster | £10; 2s. costs. |
This important work was for many years entrusted to the police,
but it was not until the passing of the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, and the duties transferred to the Sanitary Authorities, that the
work was taken seriously in hand.
The chief cause of the pollution of the atmosphere of London is
smoke, and in this respect the principal offenders are the chimneys of
private dwelling-houses, which are exempt under the Act, and until
something is done towards better heating of our homes, improved
stoves and careful stoking, the nuisance will continue. In my opinion
the latter will reduce the smoke to a minimum, besides being the
more economical.
Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875-1899.—The Acts relating to
the sale of food and drugs have been strictly enforced throughout
the City by your Committee: 1,230 samples have been purchased
and submitted to your analysts, who have submitted reports thereon.
Of those found to be adulterated, 62 were ordered to be prosecuted.
Since my appointment the prosecutions under this Act have
been conducted by me, and I am glad to report that not one case has
been lost through want of form. Your Inspectors have been most
careful, and the prosecutions in every case except three successful;
the three unsuccessful cases were the butters containing an excessive
quantity of water. One summons was dismissed by the Magistrate,
because the standard of water in butter had not been officially
fixed; the other two were withdrawn (see note on p. 99).