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 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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The total inspections made in 1933 by each inspector, and the number oi nuisances of various kinds detected and remedied, are set out in the following table:—
| Districts. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | Borough | |
| Houses damp, dirty or dilapidated remedied | 170 | 249 | 274 | 184 | 103 | 64 | 1044 |
| Doors, windows, floors, ceilings sash cords, etc., repaired | 172 | 56 | 81 | 43 | 55 | 20 | 427 |
| Overcrowding abated | — | 4 | 13 | 5 | 4 | — | 26 |
| Illegal occupation of underground rooms dealt with | - | 3 | 36 | 18 | 6 | - | 63 |
| Water closet defects remedied | 172 | 68 | 202 | 89 | 62 | 54 | 447 |
| Water closet erected | — | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 27 |
| Urinal defects remedied | — | — | 4 | 5 | 4 | — | 13 |
| Soilpipes and ventilating shafts repaired or renewed | 4 | 6 | - | - | 8 | 1 | 19 |
| Yard defects remedied | 66 | 19 | 90 | 78 | 32 | 4 | 289 |
| Waste pipe defects remedied | 35 | 7 | 30 | 25 | 17 | 21 | 135 |
| Water cistern defects remedied | 17 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 43 |
| Rubbish, manure, etc., accumulations removed | 11 | 22 | 50 | 58 | 21 | 9 | 171 |
| Dung or dust receptacles repaired or renewed | 15 | 20 | 52 | 19 | 22 | 13 | 141 |
| Drains relaid or amended | 43 | 8 | 38 | — | 12 | 1 | 102 |
| Drains cleared | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 33 |
| Rainwater pipes repaired or renewed | 10 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 45 |
| Water supply to houses reinstated | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Roofs and gutters repaired | 46 | 59 | 24 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 173 |
| Area defects remedied | 15 | — | 24 | 38 | 15 | — | 92 |
| Wash-house defects remedied | 79 | 30 | 90 | 47 | 37 | 2 | 285 |
| Animal nuisances abated | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 19 |
| Basement defects remedied | 36 | — | 8 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 61 |
| Stables cleansed or repaired | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
| Water supply laid on to upper storeys of house | 6 | 5 | 8 | - | 6 | - | 25 |
| Miscellaneous nuisances abated | 228 | 64 | 165 | 76 | 35 | 9 | 577 |
| Verminous rooms cleansed | 71 | 148 | 288 | 142 | 47 | 33 | 739 |
Legal Proceedings in Connection with Nuisances.
No summonses were issued during the year.
Smoke Nuisances.
During the year 1933, 420 observations were made and 19 complaints were
received and dealt with. In each case the attention of the offender was drawn to
the matter. In no case was it necessary to institute proceedings in court.
Complaints as to fumes from furnaces burning oil-fuel were fewer than in
1932. As a result of frequent observations and co-operation with the owners of
the property, the trouble in practically every case was greatly mitigated.
Rat Repression.
Though activity in this connection continues unabated, the number of complaints
received varies little year by year. In 1930 it reached 60, in 1931, 74, in
1932, 52, and in 1933, 49. The investigation of these complaints necessitated the
inspection of 119 premises, 42 of which were found to be rat infested. Included
in this latter number were 12 business premises (5 of these for the preparation or
storage of food), the remaining 30 being private or tenement houses. In 14 of the