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84 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1938.
Water Supply—Cutting-off Notices.
During the year, 64 notices with respect to 66 premises
were received from the Metropolitan Water Board, stating that
the supply had been withdrawn.
In 26 premises the water supply was cut off for non-payment
of rates, 24 because of defects in the service, and in 16 the premises
became vacant.
Removal and Collection of House Refuse.
The method of removal and collection of refuse in the
Borough is a combined system of mechanical and horse traction,
carried out by contract. The collecting wagons are hauled
from house to house by horses, and when full are drawn up
mechanically on to a motor carrier which takes the refuse to
the wharves. An empty wagon is left to replace the full one.
All house refuse is taken down the River Thames by barge
from two riverside wharves in the Borough and disposed of below
Barking.
Inspection of Sanitary Conveniences.
The number of Sanitary Conveniences is 172; 49 in Clapham,
27 in Putney, 13 in Balham, 17 in Streatham, 13 in Tooting and
53 in Wandsworth. 429 inspections were made during the year,
and four notices, for cleansing, were served and complied with.
Flies and Mosquitoes.
During the summer months certain ponds, streams and
areas of stagnant water were treated by spraying with paraffin
with the object of destroying the larvae of mosquitoes. Owners
of stables were advised to use chloride of lime for sprinkling horse
manure in order to destroy the larvae and pupae of flies.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Owing to the increase in the number of complaints from
residents in the Borough of nuisances from rats, the Council