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

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City of Westminster 1936

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

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Table LXXV.—Smoke Abatement—Results of Observations and Action Taken.

-1932.1933.1934.1935.1936.
Complaints received3563584778
Observations taken629749876830728
Notices issued—
Preliminary111052219
Statutory21__2
Legal Proceedings2

There were no prosecutions in respect of smoke nuisances during 1936.
National Smoke Abatement Society.—The City Council takes an active
interest in the work of this Society. Councillor Mrs. Alderson Horne,
as a member of the Public Health Committee, Councillor E. H.
Keeling, and the Medical Officer of Health attended the annual
Conference, held in London, as delegates of the City Council.
Investigation of Atmospheric Pollution.—Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research, Standing Conference of Co-operating Bodies—This
body consists of representatives of local authorities, industrial undertakings,
scientific societies, etc., actively interested in such investigations.
The Council appointed the Medical Officer of Health and Mr. T.
McLachlan, one of the City's public analysts, as its representatives.
They attended the meetings held in May and November when matters
relating to administration of smoke legislation and research into causes
of atmospheric pollution were discussed.
Atmospheric Pollution.
Investigations of the state of the atmosphere in the City were carried
out during the year and the results obtained are given below.
(1) The soluble and insoluble impurities deposited from the air, or
washed out of the air by rain are collected in "deposit gauges." These
gauges consist of large glass vessels to which are attached collecting
funnels of known area. The deposited impurities together with the
varying quantity of rain water collected in the vessels are examined by
Mr. McLachlan, one of the public analysts, at the end of each month.
The following table shows the results of the monthly analyses of the
impurities collected in the deposit gauges at Farm Street Depot,