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15
chronic heart or lung conditions whose end was hastened by it. The December fog aroused widespread
concern and the problem is still under consideration by the Ministry of Health and by various national
scientific bodies and conferences.
The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research were again consulted about the general
problem of atmospheric pollution in and about the St. John's Wood Road area and in particular with
regard to complaints received towards the end of the year from the management of a large block of
flats in the vicinity. It was ascertained that the nuisance experienced at these premises was
attributable more to the presence of sulphur gases than to grit or smoke, and whilst it was thought
to be desirable to obtain more accurate evidence by transferring the deposit gauge from Lord's Cricket
Ground to a site at or near North Gate, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research strongly
recommended the setting up at the same point of an apparatus for detecting and recording sulphur
gases, together with a similar apparatus at a site down-wind from the generating stations and a third
apparatus for control purposes at the Town Hall. It was understood that, in view of the greater
attention being given to the factors contributing to the production of fog and to the question of
atmospheric pollution generally, similar sulphur detection apparatus was being set up in several
other parts of London upon the advice and with the co-operation of the Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research.
The long-standing nuisance from the milk depot, which affected the Lisson Grove area, was caused
by the deposit of large quantities of grit from the chimney shaft of a coal-fired boiler at the premises.
There was some improvement in conditions until mechanical stokers were installed in May, 1952,
when the grit deposits increased. The matter was again taken up with the firm concerned, and
eventually they undertook to install modern grit-arresting plant.
The Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee were advised that it was competent for
constituent Councils, as sanitary authorities responsible for dealing with smoke nuisances, to consider
how far information about evening classes arranged by the London County Council, as education
authority, could be brought to the notice of local firms and organisations so that their boiler and
furnace men might be made aware of the best means of using fuel efficiently, thus avoiding smoke
nuisance. Continuing the practice of the previous year, letters were sent by the Medical Officer of
Health to the managements of 47 establishments operating sizeable boiler installations in St.
Marylebone, reiterating the Council's desire to do everything possible to prevent nuisance caused
by the emission of smoke and grit from chimney shafts in the Borough ; giving detailed information
regarding forthcoming classes in boiler-house practice at six technical colleges in various parts of
London ; and expressing the hope that arrangements would be made for the attendance of members
of their boiler-house staffs at one or other of the courses mentioned.
Poisons.—The names of 77 traders were on the Council's list of persons entitled to sell poisons included
in Part II of the Poisons List (Pharmacy and Poisons Acts, 1852 to 1941), the premises concerned
numbering 89.
Factories.—As required by section 128 of the Factories Act, 1937, a report on the administration by
the Borough Council of the matters under Parts I and VIII of the Act is given in Tables 8 and 9.

* Electrical stations, institutions, sites of building operations and works of engineering construction.