London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hammersmith 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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32
The premises have provided accommodation for approximately
10,815 persons, but despite this fact overcrowding is
still in evidence.
At the moment of writing I am informed that there are
upwards of 2,000 applications for houses still to be dealt with.
As I have already said in previous reports, overcrowding
is probably the greatest factor in the propagation of all
infectious diseases.
If the Housing conditions were ideal it is probable that all
our infectious diseases would be very materially lessened and
chronic infections such as Tuberculosis disappear.
Better housing is the first step towards a healthier nation
and a reduction of the expenditure of such vast sums of
money in the prevention and treatment of disease.
Statistics.—Year ended 31st December, 1927.
1.—General.
| (1) Estimated population | 132,800 |
| (2) General death-rate | 13.0 |
| (3) Death-rate from tuberculosis | 1.4 |
| (4) Infantile mortality | 61 |
| (5) Number of dwelling-houses of all classes (estimated) | 19,000 |
| (6) Number of working-class dwelling-houses (estimated) | 12,250 |
| (7) Number of new working-class houses erected | 523 |
2.—Unfit Dwelling-houses.
II.—Inspection.
| (1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for Housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) | 5,871 |
| (2) Number of dwelling-houses which were inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 | 237 |
| (3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation | 7 |
| (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 | 3,232 |