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25
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.
The following is a list of establishments at present on the register :—
Alfred Kingston, 8 and 10, Ludgate Arcade.
Charles Lehman, 8 and 9, Aldermanbury Postern.
Thos. W. Monk, 5, Angel Court.
Ed. Hy. Prince, 69, Fore Street.
Harry C. Wicks, trading as Arthur & Co., 42a, Old Broad Street.
Einar P. Eilert, 75, Mark Lane.
Samuel & Harry Cohen, trading as Cohen & Co., 120, Newgate Street.
SMOKE AND ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
Eleven instances of smoke nuisance or annoyance from chimneys were dealt with
during the year. Some of these were of a temporary character and did not recur, others
were abated upon service of the usual form of notice upon the offenders and there has been
no occasion to take further action.
A critical examination of the air in the City was commenced in the year 1914, in conjunction
with the Committee for the Investigation of Atmospheric Pollution, appointed by the
International Exhibition and Conference in London, 1912. A large rain gauge is mounted
upon the roof of one of the Corporation's buildings in Golden Lane, and the rain-water from
a known area of surface is collected monthly. This rain-water, containing the soot, grit and
dust washed from the air, has been submitted for examination to the Public Analyst and the
results tabulated. For comparison the results obtained from similar observations made at
the Meteorological Office, South Kensington, on the west, and Victoria Park, on the east
of the rain gauge at Golden Lane, are shown in the attached table.
The table also shows the rainfall for the months of January to December of the year
1927 and the amounts found of insoluble matter, tar, soot, and dust, also the soluble matter,
together with the sulphates, ammonia and chlorine in the volume collected.
The results as given by the Public Analyst have been re-calculated into metric tons per
square kilometre during each month.
One metric ton per square kilometre is equivalent approximately to 9 lbs. per acre, or
2.56 tons per square mile. Although the presence of much impurity in the atmosphere has
been long known, the figures given represent a definite record of the facts.
In examining the table, it will be appreciated that in the month of August the amount
of deposit registered as falling in the City amounted to 30.52 tons per square kilometre,
which is equal (estimating the City as having an area of one square mile) to no less than
about 78 tons avoirdupois.
Of this mass of dirt, approximately 29 tons were soluble, and included the chemicals
mentioned, and 49 tons were insoluble and consisted of tar, carbon and grit.
In addition to the foregoing, a daily observation has been made at mid-day at the Guildhall
of the purity of the air by a modern dry method, by which the suspended matter can
be readily demonstrated.
From the 1st January until the 31st December the amount of the impurity at noon
has varied from half a milligramme to six milligrammes per cubic metre of air ; this latter
figure includes times when there has been a fog.