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
Marylebone 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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Of these notices, 641 related to ordinary nuisances (dirt, dampness, &c.) 159 to
verminous rooms, 35 to drains, 8 to insufficient w.c. accommodation, and 13 to
water supply in tenement houses.
The 159 notices respecting verminous rooms were served under powers granted by
the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, and referred to 329 rooms.
In 2,361 cases the nuisances were abated by the persons responsible for their
removal after receipt of a preliminary (intimation) notice advising them of the
existence of the defect. In 15 instances there was failure to carry out works after
receipt of statutory notice and legal proceedings were instituted.
Details of these cases will be found under the heading"Legal Proceedings in
connection with Nuisances."
The total inspections made by each inspector, and the number of nuisances o various kinds detected and remedied, are set forth in the following table:—
| Districts. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | Borough | |
| Total Inspections | 3,637 | 3,457 | 3,895 | 3,612 | 3,382 | 3,233 | 21,216 |
| Houses damp, dirty or dilapidated remedied | 312 | 271 | 184 | 162 | 192 | 112 | 1,233 |
| Doors, windows, floors, cei 1 ings, sash cords, etc., repaired | 398 | 377 | 82 | 77 | 55 | 26 | 1,015 |
| Overcrowding abated | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
| Illegal occupation of underground rooms dealt with | - | 2 | _ | 8 | 1 | 11 | |
| Water closet defects remedied | 256 | 261 | 107 | 97 | 163 | 123 | 1,007 |
| Water closets erected | 6 | — | — | 2 | 9 | 10 | 27 |
| Urinal defects remedied | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 5 |
| Soilpipe and ventilating shaft repaired or renewed | 11 | - | 31 | 8 | 8 | 58 | |
| Yard defects remedied | 199 | 270 | 75 | 93 | 77 | 28 | 742 |
| Waste pipe defects remedied | 32 | 33 | 38 | 18 | 28 | 17 | 166 |
| Water cistern defects remedied | 58 | 10 | 15 | 31 | 16 | 16 | 146 |
| Rubbish, manure, etc., accumulations removed | 10 | 13 | 42 | 20 | 36 | 50 | 171 |
| Dung or dust receptacles repaired or renewed | 190 | 253 | 196 | 201 | 169 | 118 | 1,127 |
| Drains relaid or amended | 28 | 25 | 31 | 10 | 35 | 7 | 136 |
| Drains cleared | 27 | 25 | 9 | 17 | 24 | 9 | 111 |
| Rainwater pipes repaired or renewed | 24 | 53 | 33 | 31 | 14 | 13 | 168 |
| Water supply to houses reinstated | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | |
| Roofs and gutters repaired | 118 | 180 | 80 | 48 | 18 | 28 | 472 |
| Area defects remedied | 15 | 2 | 45 | 72 | 76 | 32 | 242 |
| Wash-house defects remedied | 222 | 223 | 69 | 86 | 68 | 20 | 688 |
| Animal nuisances abated | 6 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 34 |
| Basement defects remedied | 2 | — | 8 | 36 | 51 | 1 | 98 |
| Stables cleansed or repaired | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | 8 | |
| Water supply laid on to upper storeys of house | 12 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 32 | ||
| Miscellaneous nuisances abated | 197 | 211 | 109 | 90 | 89 | 49 | 745 |
| Verminous rooms cleansed | 166 | 455 | 60 | 51 | 99 | 44 | 872 |
| Workshops, dirty,overcrowded, unventilated or defective, remedied | 2 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 31 | 49 | 119 |