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29
NUISANCE CAUSED BY PLANT, MACHINERY, ETC.
The promotion of legislation to extend to nuisances occasioned by noise in the Administrative
County of London, the provisions relating to nuisances in the Public Health Code
for London, was under consideration by the Public Health Committee of the City Corporation
during the year.
From the medical aspect, there is no doubt that night noise, especially in proximity
to dormitories, can constitute a gross deprivation of a fundamental necessity for sound
health in those dwelling within range—namely, unbroken sleep. On the other hand, adaptability
of the body to noisy conditions is also a fact, and this doubtless accounts for the
acquiescence of people in the vicinity, because they have come to regard the avoidable as
unavoidable. I have felt that the noise of a factory could be eliminated without excessive
burden on industry, but appreciate that, without the law insisting upon it, there would be
no considerable advance in the direction of noise elimination.
I think, however, that the definition of the word "noise" would require careful thought
if any ultimate legislation was not to impose undue burden on industry, but this is a detail
not difficult to overcome.

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