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

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Islington 1869

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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9
Two Stable residences in Edward's Mews.
Reported on by Surveyor. Orders issued, with consent of owner, for
closure of premises, which are now no longer occupied as dwellings.
Sixteen Houses in Rose and Crown Court.
Reported on by Surveyor. Owner heard by his Counsel in opposition
to the reports. Both reports referred to a Special Committee of the
Vestry for their opinion.
In carrying out the Workshops Act no cases have been taken up except on
complaint. In most instances these complaints have been anonymous; sometimes
when a visit has been paid it has been found that the complaint was based upon a
misconception of facts, and where it has been well founded we have obtained all we
desired by verbal communication with the master and supplying him with a
copy of the regulations. It appears to me that with the present statute, which,
while making the Vestry the local authority for its execution, limits its powers below
those of a factory inspector it is vain to attempt anything more. It is to be hoped,
when next the question comes before Parliament, that the Workshop and Factory
Acts will be consolidated, so that all may be placed under the same authority. In
one factory, namely, the emery works of Messrs. Acton and Borman, where the
workmen were dangerously exposed to the inhalation of the fine dust produced by
crushing and sifting glass and emery stone, I have required two blowers, or
fans, to be put up for the purpose of removing the dust. This has been done and
they work very effectually.
With respect to trade nuisances, the Vestry has dealt with two of the varnish
factories at Belle Isle under the 54th section of the Buildings Act of 1844, namely,
those of Messrs. Turner and Messrs. Jensen and Nicholson. The latter have
discontinued their works; the former have agreed to do so as soon as they can
remove their works from the neighbourhood. A nuisance having arisen from the
printing ink works of Messrs. Shackell and Edwards, in the Hornsey Road, due to the
irritating vapours escaping from their calcining house, I have directed some amendments
by which the escape shall be prevented, and the vapours be drawn off by
means of a fan.