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 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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to £38 12s. 0d. were awarded to the Council. One case was dismissed because of insufficient evidence
of ownership, and in the remaining two cases abatement orders were made or the summonses were
withdrawn, the necessary work having in the meantime been completed.
TABLE 5.—N uisances D etected and R emedied.
| Nature of Nuisance | Districts | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | The Borough | |
| Houses damp, dirty or dilapidated remedied | 74 | 139 | 522 | 236 | 100 | 341 | 1,412 |
| Doors, windows, floors, ceilings, sash cords, grates and flues, etc., repaired | 27 | 87 | 397 | 115 | 57 | 85 | 768 |
| Verminous dwellings disinfested | 8 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 62 |
| Verminous furniture and bedding disinfested | 47 | 5 | 28 | 25 | 4 | 13 | 122 |
| Overcrowding abated | - | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 4 |
| Underground rooms (illegal occupation) dealt with | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Water closet defects remedied | 19 | 29 | 95 | 113 | 32 | 136 | 424 |
| Insufficient and unsuitable water closet accommodation remedied | 2 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 51 |
| Urinal defects remedied | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 |
| Drain and water closet stoppages cleared | 4 | 11 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 66 |
| Drains relaid or amended | 1 | 8 | 36 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 59 |
| Soilpipes and ventilating shafts repaired or renewed | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 30 |
| Waste pipe defects remedied | 2 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 30 | 96 |
| Yard defects remedied | — | 3 | 17 | 16 | 2 | 15 | 53 |
| Wash-house defects remedied | 11 | — | 14 | 25 | — | 15 | 65 |
| Area defects remedied | — | 1 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 31 |
| Basement defects remedied | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Roofs and gutters repaired | 45 | 88 | 185 | 140 | 55 | 81 | 594 |
| Water supply to houses reinstate | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 49 |
| Water supply laid on to upper storeys | 1 | — | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| Water cistern defects remedied | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 26 | 46 |
| Dung or dust receptacles repaired or renewed | 9 | 8 | 22 | 15 | 21 | 27 | 102 |
| Rubbish, manure, etc., accumulations removed | — | 4 | 41 | 45 | 20 | 10 | 120 |
| Animal nuisances abated | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 5 |
| Rat and mouse infestations dealt with | 26 | 33 | 58 | 119 | 86 | 230 | 552 |
| Bakehouses cleansed | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
| Smoke nuisances abated | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| Shops—sanitary defects remedied | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 10 | 17 |
| Miscellaneous | 7 | 16 | 87 | 41 | 29 | 62 | 242 |
Water.—Apart from water obtained for domestic purposes from private wells at a small number of
blocks of flats and offices, a constant supply throughout the Borough is provided through the mains
of the Metropolitan Water Board, and no complaint as to quality was received during the year.
Early in June complaints of insufficiency of supply, due to temporary lack of pressure, were received
in respect of several large blocks of flats. The matter was reported to the Board and normal supplies
were quickly re-established. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act,
1036, the Board notified thirteen instances where water had been cut off in occupied premises for
non-payment of rate or for waste, and in all cases the supply was reinstated, in some instances after
service of a notice.
Private well waters continued to be examined periodically by the Public Analyst and the Council's
Bacteriologist. In 1939 there were 39 borings in the Borough, and at that time 14 were in use. In
view of the possibility of pollution from disused wells or borings of water obtained from the chalk under
London a further survey was carried out at the request of the Ministry of Health in order to ascertain
the present position. This investigation revealed that the number of private wells in use in 1947 was
ten. Samples of water taken from each were examined chemically and bacteriologically and found
to be satisfactory for drinking purposes, and the reports showed that the quality of these waters had
changed very little since 1939, with the possible exception of the well water at a large business premises
which is reserved for emergency fire use only. All other borings in the Borough have been abandoned
entirely and, so far as can be ascertained, have been sealed off.
Drainage.—The number of plans approved was 379, of which 367 related to old buildings and 12 to
new buildings (including blocks of flats on the Sheringham Estate of the London County Council in
the Cosway Street area and on the Cochrane Street Estate of the St. Marylebone Housing Association
Limited). The Drainage Inspectors made a total of 3,653 visits.
Combined Drainage.—Nine orders under seal for combined drainage were issued.