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160
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
1906. The greatest number of rooms cleansed was in the Balham
Ward, where 1,305 were done, and in Springfield Ward, where
1,073 were done, and the smallest number in Streatham and
Southfield Wards.
1,130 drains were cleansed or repaired and 101 rain-water
pipes disconnected from the drains.
167 notices of reconstruction of drains were sent to the
Surveyors from this Department: 25 in Clapham, compared with
33 in 1906; five in Putney, compared with 22; 70 in Streatham,
compared with 77; 12 in Tooting, compared with eight; and 55 in
Wandsworth, compared with 45.
The total number of houses where the drains were reconstructed
during the year was 378, 87 in Clapham, 20 in Putney,
138 in Streatham, 31 in Tooting, and 102 in Wandsworth.
266 accumulations of manure were removed after service of
notice, compared with 253 in 1906, 47 in Clapham, 35 in Putney,
120 in Streatham, 32 in Tooting, and 32 in Wandsworth. There
has been an increase in the number of cases dealt with in Clapham
and Streatham, and a decrease in Putney, Tooting and
Wandsworth.
33 notices were served for the periodical removal of the
manure every 48 hours, compared with 16 in 1906, and 20 in 1905.
Owing to the fact that horse manure is the chief breeding
material for the ordinary house fly, this removal should be carried
out regularly and thoroughly.
For this purpose frequent inspections have been made of all
stables in the Borough, and many accumulations, not of such a
serious nature as those in which notices were necessary, have
been removed on the request of the Sanitary Inspectors. More
frequent removal of this manure and more efficient cleansing of
stables and stable yards, will, in my opinion, effect a desirable
diminution in the number of house flies, and a consequent decrease
in the deaths of infants from diseases of the digestive system due
to pollution of milk and other foods.