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

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City of Westminster 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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67
Metropolitan Milk Societies or Organisations be drawn to the
present need of more sanitary means of transit and storage of milk.
"4. That the Local Government Board be written to, suggesting
that all milk shops and milk stores be required, under penalty, to be
licensed annually, as is the case, at present, with all cowsheds; and
that no person or persons be allowed to sell milk unless the premises
at which such milk is sold and stored have been previously certified
as 'suitable' by the Sanitary Authority for the District."
Concrete examples of infringements were sent with the letter from
the City Council.
Offensive Trades.—There are no offensive trades now carried on in
the City, but in four instances effluvium nuisances arose from businesses
carried on in the City.
(1) The London Count}' Council in preparing the ground on the
line of the new street had to empty some old tan pits, and allowed
the offensive liquid which they pumped out to flow down the street.
On their attention being called to the matter they at once took steps
to abate the nuisance by deodorising the contents of the pits, as
required.
(2) Effluvia given off in the preparation of acetylene gas from
calcium carbide. Remedied by better attention to regulations.
(3) Effluvia from motor tyre works in which benzine and
ammonium-sulphide were used. Remedied by better ventilation.
(4) Effluvia from the National Skating Palace, Argyll Street.
Complaints of offensive smells had been received from residents and
others in the neighbourhood from the first opening of this establishment
in October, 1902. The effluvium was thought at first to be
due to two causes, viz., the burning of refuse fat, and the paint
which had been placed on a new iron flue shaft; but on the removal
of these two sources of smell, an objectionable effluvium was
experienced from time to time. It ceased when the skating season
terminated, and began to be felt again when the hall was re-opened
for this purpose. It was extremely difficult to ascertain the direct
cause of the effluvium, which had the odour of sulphuretted
hydrogen, but sometimes it was alleged to be of an irritating
description, and resembled the smell given off by burning brimstone.
In 1903 it was believed to be due to leakage from the boilers, which
were overhauled, but in the following winter the nuisance again
recurred, and eventually proceedings were taken at Bow Street,
before Mr. Marsham, and on the 15th March he gave his reserved
decision, and the defendants (The Acme Investment Company,
Limited) were fined £10 with £15 15s. costs. The decision was