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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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The number of nuisances of various kinds detected and remedied, are set out in the following table:—
Districts.
| Nature of Nuisance | No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | Borough |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houses damp, dirty or dilapidated remedied | 141 | 260 | 116 | 109 | 141 | 36 | 803 |
| Doors, windows, floors, ceilings sash cords, grates and flues etc., repaired | 110 | 212 | 92 | 41 | 83 | 3 | 541 |
| Verminous rooms | 38 | 143 | 264 | 37 | 42 | 74 | 598 |
| Dirty and verminous furniture and bedding cleansed | - | 39 | 230 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 318 |
| Overcrowding abated | — | 38 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 44 |
| Underground rooms (illegal occupation) dealt with | - | - | 1 | 6 | - | - | 7 |
| Water closet defects remedied | 49 | 66 | 61 | 56 | 23 | 45 | 300 |
| Insufficient and unsuitable water closet accommodation remedied | 6 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 12 | 27 | 89 |
| Urinal defects remedied | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 |
| Drains and water closet stoppages cleared | 4 | 11 | 23 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 66 |
| Drains relaid or amended | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 32 |
| Soilpipes and ventilating shafts repaired or renewed | 6 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 23 |
| Waste pipe defects remedied | 7 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 50 |
| Yard defects remedied | 26 | 5 | 30 | 34 | 21 | 1 | 117 |
| Wash-house defects remedied | 30 | 63 | 19 | 51 | 18 | 1 | 182 |
| Area defects remedied | 1 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 14 | 1 | 53 |
| Basement defects remedied | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 11 |
| Roof gutters, roofs repaired | 31 | 27 | 50 | 23 | 21 | 3 | 155 |
| Water supply to houses reinstated | - | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 4 |
| Water supply laid on to upper storeys | - | - | 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 15 |
| Water cistern defects remedied | — | 6 | 6 | 12 | — | 4 | 28 |
| Dung or dust receptacles repaired or renewed | 4 | 11 | 26 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 77 |
| Rubbish, manure, etc., accumulations removed | 16 | 17 | 56 | 25 | 28 | 14 | 156 |
| Workshops, dirty | — | — | — | 8 | 12 | 7 | 27 |
| „ overcrowded | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 |
| ,, insufficiently ventilated | - | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | 3 |
| Animal nuisances abated | — | 3 | — | 6 | 5 | 1 | 15 |
| Rats and mice infestation | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 23 |
| Bakehouses dirty | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 3 |
| Smoke nuisances | — | 2 | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| Shop insufficiently ventilated or heated | 2 | 11 | 17 | 9 | _ | 3 | 42 |
| Miscellaneous | 93 | 11 | 20 | 43 | 19 | 3 | 189 |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN CONNECTION WITH NUISANCES.
In only two cases was it found necessary to institute proceedings in Court in
this connection, these being for failure to comply with Statutory Notices to carry
out certain cleansing works. In one case the summons was withdrawn upon completion
of the work, and in the other an Order was made for the work to be
executed within 28 days. In the latter instance two guineas costs was awarded.