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

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City of Westminster 1938

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

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76
For the purpose of investigating complaints in premises the City
Engineer's staff examined the sewer connections of some 101 premises;
22 were found to be defective and notices requiring repair or renewal
were served upon the persons responsible.
During "Eat Week," 10,480 baits were laid in the sewers and 1,375
at the Council's depots, etc. The number of dead rats discovered or
killed was 196. The laying of baits in the sewers is carried out at regular
intervals throughout the year as a matter of routine.
Noise Nuisances.—Complaints were made in respect of 23 noise
nuisances during the year, and these were adequately dealt with by informal
action. They related to the noise of machinery, wireless sets, electric
drills in streets, &c. One complaint was of noise from a pin-table saloon
and another from an all-night cafe.
Fire alarm bells on two large adjoining buildings caused considerable
annoyance to residents in the neighbourhood by ringing almost every
day at about 2 a.m. The cause of this baffled investigation at first,
until it transpired that the ringing of the bells coincided with the
flushing of the street by the Highways Department. The operation of
the hydrants had caused the bells to ring, the alarm systems being
connected with " sprinkler " extinguishing systems. Certain minor
adjustments in the sprinkler systems were all that was necessary to
abate the nuisance.
Nuisance from Pigeons.—During the year, 23 complaints of nuisance
from pigeons were received and investigated.
Complaints were more numerous than in previous years, and it
appeared that the pigeon population had considerably increased,
particularly in Trafalgar Square. In consequence, the Council's contractors
were instructed to intensify their activities and by the end of the
year some 1,400 pigeons had been caught, this being double the number
obtained last year.
Public Health (London) Act, 1936, Section 224.—Removal of Aged, Infirm
or Physically Incapacitated Persons to Suitable Institutions.
Twenty-three cases of elderly persons living alone and unable to devote
to themselves proper care and attention were dealt with during the year.
In one case it was necessary to obtain the authority of the Public Health
committee for application to be made to the court for an order for the
removal to hospital of an infirm elderly woman living alone in a single
room in a dirty and insanitary state.