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

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London County Council 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Death-rates of persons resident in the County Council's dwellings.

Cause of death.Death rate per 1000 living.
Council's dwellings.London.
All ages14.016.1
Age 0—545.854.2
„ 5—202.42.6
„ 20 and upwards10.615.7
Diarrhœa1.531.02
Principal Epidemic Diseases (excluding Diarrhœa)1.811.12
Phthisis1.151.62
Tubercular diseases other than Phthisis0.640.54
Bronchitis1.151.37
Pneumonia1.021.43

Houses let in Lodgings.
In view of decisions in the courts referred to in the last annual report, in which by-laws
requiring the annual cleansing of houses and of provision of a water closet for every twelve persons were
held to be ultra vires for the reason that these by-laws did not require notice to be given to the landlord,
the by-laws of the County Council and of a number of the sanitary authorities were amended
to meet this objection. Opportunity was taken to amend the by-laws in other matters at the same
time. Many of the annual reports of medical officers of health show the steps taken for this purpose
during the year. Thus—
Paddington.—Draft by.laws submitted to the Local Government Board.
Kensington.—Proposals of borough council before the Local Government Board.
Fulham.—The Local Government Board have expressed their willingness to confirm the by-laws
submitted.
Hampstead.—" The matter is still the subject of negotiation with the Local Government Board."
Islington.—A new set of by-laws has been framed and is awaiting the confirmation of the Local
Government Board.
Stoke Newington.—Amended by-laws awaiting confirmation by the Local Government Board.
Finsbury.—Amended by-laws were confirmed in July.
City of London.—Amended by.laws were confirmed in January, 1905.
Shoreditch.—Amended by-laws were submitted to the Local Government Board.
Stepney.—Amended by-laws were confirmed by the Local Government Board. i'
Poplar.—Amended by-laws were confirmed by the Local Government Board.
Bermondsey.—The borough council agreed to amendment of the by-laws.
Lambeth.—The borough council agreed to amendment of the by-laws.
Battersea.—Amended by-laws were under the consideration of the Local Government Board.
Wandsworth.—Amended by-laws were submitted to the Local Government Board.
Deptford.—Amended by-laws have been confirmed by the Local Government Board.
Greenwich.—Amended by-laws have been confirmed by the Local Government Board.
Woolwich.—Amended by-laws were submitted to the Local Government Board.
Owing to the decisions in the Courts referred to, the administration of the by-laws was in some
degree in abeyance in London. Referring to the by-laws in Stepney which were confirmed in 1904,
Dr. Thomas, the medical officer of health, writes : " Since the new by-laws have been in operation, a
vast improvement has occurred in the houses, which is due to the action of the owners as well as of the
tenants themselves. A higher standard of cleanliness has been established and overcrowding has been
lessened. Notices under the by.laws were served and overcrowding was abated in 614 registered houses.
In only a few instances was it found necessary to take police court proceedings." Again, Dr. Collier,
medical officer of health of Hammersmith, states : " The registered premises were visited as often as
time would allow by the special inspector appointed for that purpose. There can be no doubt that the
official influence obtained by registration has a very good effect in improving the sanitary condition
of the premises."
Insufficiency of staff for the purpose of administration of the by.laws is mentioned in one report,
that of the medical officer of health of Greenwich. Dr. Annis thus writes : "No special work has been
carried out under these by.laws during the year, and although we are now fully aware of a large number
of properties which come within the scope of these by.laws, in many of which cases the occupiers would
be considerably benefitted by the imposition of the requirements specified under the by.laws, yet with
the present staff, I do not see how any of this very necessary work can be attempted, much less
carried out satisfactorily."
The following tables based upon information contained in the reports of medical officers of health,
gives particulars as to proceedings in the several districts under by.laws for houses let in lodgings.