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 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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15
Legal Notices in Connection with Nuisances.
The number of summonses issued during the year was three.
Particulars with regard to each of the cases ate given below and it should be noted that in each instance, though there were contraventions of provisions contained in other acts and by-laws, the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, is the only enactment mentioned in the list.
| Premises. | Offence. Proceedings taken under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, &c. | Result. |
|---|---|---|
| 61, Lisson Street | Failure to comply with a statutory notice to execute certain sanitary requirements. | Closing Order granted with £5 5s. 0d. costs. |
| 22, Abercorn Place | Do. | Order made to abate nuisance within three weeks. £1 1s. 0d. costs. |
| 9, Belgrave Road | Do. Fined £5 and £6 costs. The work was subsequently completed. | Order to abate nuisance in two weeks. Further summons issued when defendant failed to appear. He was arrested and committed to one month's imprisonment for default. |
Black Smoke Nuisances.— The system of inspection of chimneys in the
Borough with a view to discovering and as far as possible dealing with such as
were found to be a source of nuisance which was established several years ago
was continued ; a special report being submitted to the Public Health Committee
at each meeting setting out the number of observations made and nuisances
discovered.
During the year two complaints were received and dealt with. The number
of nuisances reported to the Committee was two and in each case the attention
of the offender was drawn to the matter. In no case was it necessary to institute
proceedings in court.
Rat Repression.
This is a matter to which during recent years considerable attention has been
given and every effort has been made to bring about a reduction in the number
of rats and mice, and to operate the provisions of the Rats and Mice (Destruction)
Act, 1919. With a view to assisting owners and occupiers of premises one of the
inspectors (Draper) was appointed Rat Officer to deal with this in addition to his
ordinary work as a district inspector, and has betrayed the greatest keenness
and rendered very great assistance is this connection. Special leaflets and posters
are widely circulated throughout the Borough, all complaints and all cases of
infestation are fully investigated and advice offered as to the procedure most
suitable for adoption.
The number of complaints received during the year, viz., 67, was lower by
18 than the 1924 figure. The investigation of these complaints necessitated the
inspection of 79 premises, 15 of which were used for business purposes (5 of
these for the preparation or storage of food), the remaining 52 being private or
tenement houses. In 22 of the cases investigated the infestation was directly
attributable to defects in the drainage system and disappeared immediately these
were remedied. In every instance all advice and assistance was given to the
owner or occupier by Inspector Draper, who continued to act as Rat Officer, and
to obtain excellent results from the methods advocated.