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within the City limits, intimating the Corporation's readiness to conduct investigations
into suspected cases of food poisoning, and inviting early information of all such as
came to their knowledge.
"Guildhall,
"London, E.C.
"11th November, 1911.
"Dear Sir,
"I am directed by the Corporation of London to forward for your information the
"accompanying copy of a Memorandum issued by the Local Government Board with
"reference to cases of illness attributable to food poisoning.
"The object of the Board is to obtain more combined and co-operative action by the
"various Sanitary Authorities throughout the country in connection with the investigation
"of outbreaks of illness suspected to be due to this cause, and more particularly to obtain
"as complete information as possible regarding isolated incidences of food poisoning, as it
"is quite possible that other samples of the same food may be involved in similar cases
"of illness elsewhere.
"The Corporation, as you are no doubt aware, has always been prepared to investigate
"any case that occurs within the City, and hopes that it may receive your assistance and
"co-operation by the early intimation to the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. William
"Collingridge) at Guildhall, E.C., of any suspected cases of food poisoning that may come
"to your knowledge.
" I am, Dear Sir,
"Yours faithfully,
"JAMES BELL."
SMOKE NUISANCES.
Thirteen cases of smoke nuisances were reported during 1911. The number
of observations recorded amounted to 334, as against 360 noted in 1910.
The service of notices upon offenders resulted in the abatement of the nuisances
in all cases, and there has been no occasion to take further action in the matter.
The necessity for amendment in the law with a view of strengthening your
powers and those of the Metropolitan Borough Councils for more completely abating
smoke nuisances has been frequently referred to in my former reports, in which
attention is directed to the fact that in existing circumstances no prosecution of
offenders is possible unless proof can be furnished that the smoke emitted be "black,"
in addition to proving that the premises complained of are not used as a private
dwelling house, in which case the smoke that may be emitted may be, and
frequently is, unlimited.
The action taken in former years has undoubtedly resulted in a great reduction
of the smoke nuisance in the City, and a frequent source of complaint is now from
occupiers of offices annoyed by smoke from neighbouring chimneys at an inconveniently
low level, an annoyance which often, when brought to the notice of the offenders, is
promptly abated.