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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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service of a statutory notice to secure abatement of nuisances. Legal proceedings were instituted
in 21 cases under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, in respect of failure to comply with statutory
notices. In 13 instances penalties amounting to £34 10s. Od. were imposed, and in 7 of these costs
were awarded to the Council. Costs without the imposition of a fine were allowed in a further 5
instances. In the remaining three cases abatement orders were made or the summonses were
withdrawn, the necessary work having in the meantime been completed.
TABLE 5.—Nuisances Detected and Remedied.
| Nature of Nuisance | Districts | The Borough | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | ||
| Houses damp, dirty or dilapidated remedied | 104 | 228 | 473 | 156 | 140 | 130 | 1,231 |
| Doors, windows, floors, ceilings, sash cords, grates and flues, etc., repaired | 72 | 134 | 290 | 131 | 46 | 43 | 716 |
| Verminous dwellings disinfested | 63 | 68 | 116 | 105 | 116 | 67 | 535 |
| Verminous furniture and bedding disinfested | 41 | 78 | 86 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 248 |
| Overcrowding abated | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Water closet defects remedied | 26 | 39 | 86 | 49 | 55 | 41 | 296 |
| Insufficient and unsuitable water closet accommodation remedied | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 6 | 10 |
| Urinal defects remedied | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | |
| Drain and water closet stoppages cleared | 6 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 53 |
| Drains relaid or amended | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 21 |
| Soilpipes and ventilating shafts repaired or renewed | 4 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 27 |
| Waste pipe defects remedied | 4 | 13 | 23 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 68 |
| Yard defects remedied | 4 | — | 24 | 17 | — | 1 | 46 |
| Wash-house defects remedied | 15 | - | 18 | 40 | 1 | — | 74 |
| Area defects remedied | _ | _ | 18 | 5 | _ | — | 23 |
| Roofs and gutters repaired | 55 | 79 | 132 | 87 | 38 | 28 | 419 |
| Water supply to houses reinstated | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 10 |
| Water supply laid on to upper storeys | 1 | 4 | 14 | — | — | 1 | 20 |
| Water cistern defects remedied | 3 | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| Dung or dust receptacles repaired or renewed | 20 | 30 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 96 |
| Rubbish, manure, etc., accumulations removed | 15 | 1 | 45 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 104 |
| Animal nuisances abated | 3 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Rat and mouse infestations dealt with | 39 | 47 | 84 | 139 | 169 | 227 | 705 |
| Bakehouses cleansed | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Smoke nuisances abated | — | — | 6 | 3 | 4 | — | 13 |
| Shops—sanitary defects remedied | 1 | — | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 19 |
| Miscellaneous | 17 | 46 | 65 | 21 | 22 | 4 | 175 |
Sanitary Provisions by Railway Authorities.—As metropolitan sanitary authorities have no jurisdiction
over sanitary arrangements at railway stations and their officers have no power to enter railway
premises (other than dwelling-houses) for the purpose of detecting nuisances, etc., the Council
requested the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to consider taking the necessary
steps to secure to sanitary authorities in London, either by amendment of the existing legislation or
by provision in a General Powers Bill, the same powers in regard to sanitary arrangements at railway
premises as they have in connection with commercial and other premises, in order to ensure that
adequate sanitary accommodation is provided at railway stations and is properly maintained.
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 or quantity was received during
the year. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the Board
notified five instances where water had been cut off in occupied premises for non-payment of rates
or for waste, and in all cases the supply was reinstated, in some instances after service of a notice.
Further examinations of the private well waters from the ten borings still in use were made by the
Public Analyst and the Council's Bacteriologist and these indicated that chemically there was no
appreciable change since a report was submitted in 1947. No pathogenic contamination was found,
but water from one source fell slightly short of the desired bacteriological standard and this well is
being kept under special observation.
In the event of geological and other conditions proving to be suitable, the Metropolitan Water Board
expressed their intention of seeking parliamentary powers for the construction of a large storage
reservoir in the Enborne Valley on the borders of Hampshire and Berkshire, which, when completed,