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

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Islington 1885

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St Mary]

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that they are able to carry out the duty contained in paragraph 3 of
the Regulations, viz., the systematic inspection of houses in the poorer
districts of the Parish, and this has, therefore, only been carried out
as there was time left from other more urgent work,
It is only fair to add that in seasons of extra pressure in other
directions, and more particularly in times of epidemic, these inspections
have been comparatively few, and in this matter there has been room
for considerably increased activity.
As regards the extent to which it may be advisable that house to
house inspection should be carried out, it does not appear at present
to be obligatory upon the Vestry to have every house inspected.
It is true that a Bill was not long since introduced into Parliament
with a view to making local authorities responsible for the annual
inspection of every house in their districts, but the Bill was subsequently
dropped. Had this duty been imposed upon the Vestry its
efficient performance in Islington would have proved most costly.
By the 20th section of the Sanitary Act, 1866, however, it is
declared (so as to clear up any doubt upon the subject which might
have previously existed) that "it shall be the duty of the Nuisance
Authority to make from time to time, either by itself or its officers,
inspection of the district, with a view to ascertain what nuisances exist,
calling for abatement under the powers of the Nuisances Removal Acts,
and to enforce the provisions of the said Acts in order to cause the
abatement thereof."
A discretion as to the extent to which these duties shall be carried
out is no doubt left with the Nuisance Authority, and, as a matter of
opinion, we believe that it would be in accordance with a fair
construction of this statutory obligation, and the necessities of the
Parish, if the Vestry now provided for the systematic inspection,
annually of about 12,000 houses, irrespective of those visited upon
complaint, or in consequence of infectious disease. Of course many out
of this number would, owing to Registration, and from other causes,
require more frequent visitation. This should not be lost sight of in
calculating the work which would have to be done.