London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
This page requires JavaScript
1. Unfit Dwelling Houses.
| Inspection—(1) Total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) | 754 |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses which were inspected and recorded under the Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910 | 367 |
| (3) Number of dwelling houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation | 44* |
| (4) Number of dwelling houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub.heading) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation | 82 |
| 2. Remedy of Defects without Service of formal Notices. | |
| Number of defective dwelling houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Local Authority or their Officers | 123 |
| 3. Action under Statutory Powers. | |
| A.—Proceedings under Section 28 of the Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, 1919. | |
| (1) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which notices were served requiring repairs | Nil. |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses which were rendered fit:— | |
| (a) by owners | Nil. |
| Nil. | |
| (3) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which Closing Orders became operative in pursuance of declarations by owners of intention to close | Nil. |
| B.—Proceedings under Public Health Acts. | |
| (1) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which notices were served requiring defects to be remedied | 163 |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses in which defects were remedied :— | |
| 147 | |
| Nil. | |
| C.—Proceedings under Sections 17 and 18 of the Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, 1909. | |
| (1) Number of representations made with a view to the makingof ClosingOrders | Nil. |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which Closing Orders were made | Nil. |
| (3) Number of dwelling houses.in respect of which Closing Orders were determined, the dwelling houses having been rendered fit | Nil. |
| (4) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made | Nil. |
| (5) Number of dwelling houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders | Nil. |
HYGIENE OF HAIRDRESSERS' AND BARBERS' SHOPS.
A system of voluntary registration of hairdressers' establishments with the
Department of the Medical Officer of Health was instituted in 1904. At one time
there were 32 establishments registered in the books of this Department. This
number has now, however, been reduced to five. This reduction has been gradual
and doubtless results from the facilities offered by the Corporation, through the
County Purposes Committee, for the proprietors of hairdressing establishments
to obtain the statutory registration provided for by the London County Council
(General Powers) Acts of 1915 and 1920. These Acts deal with the control and
registration of massage establishments and, as the business of hairdressing and
massage treatment are frequently associated, the statutory registration and
licensing have been regarded by the proprietors of those establishments where
both trades are conducted as in substitution for voluntary registration. I understand
that 123 of the hairdressers' establishments in the City have now been registered,
in addition to ten chiropodists who are not hairdressers, in accordance
with these Acts. As, however, the regulations for voluntary registration were
designed to ensure precautionary measures with regard to the prevention of contagious
diseases, and as they still serve a purpose in this direction in respect of
premises not otherwise registered, I am of opinion that it is desirable that the
voluntary system be continued.
The following is a list of establishments at present on the register :—
Alfred Kingston, 8 & 10, Ludgate Arcade.
Chas. Lehman, 8 & 9, Aldermanbury Postern.
Thos. W. Monk, 5, Angel Court.
Ed. Hy. Prince, 36, Coleman Street.
Harry C. Wicks, trading as Arthur & Co., 42a, Old Broad Street.
* Not including " Unfit Houses " on two insanitary areas which are already the subject of Improvement Schemes.