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
Chislehurst 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chislehurst]
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39
HEATING APPLIANCES (FIREGUARDS) ACT, 1952.
This Act lays down standards and safety precautions which
have to be applied by manufacturers of gas, electricity and oil
heaters. During the year, regulations were issued under the Consumer
Protection Act, 1961, with respect to the "drip feed" and
other types of paraffin stove. These largely followed the voluntary
code adopted by manufacturers following a number of fires involving
this type of heater. In practice, it is found that all new goods
supplied to retailers do comply with requirements, and only four
visits of inspection were necessary in 1962.
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951.
Licences to sell pet animals were issued to proprietors of seven
premises, a decrease of two compared with the previous year. Visits
totalling eight were paid to all these shops, and it was found that
the sale of pets was on a small scale. No contraventions were
detected. Allegations of cruelty are sometimes made against
licensed premises, but these are not dealt with under the Act, and
are referred to the R.S.P.C.A.
PETROLEUM (REGULATION) ACTS, 1928 AND 1936.
Mr. J. C. Kermode, Chief Public Health Inspector, is the
Inspector appointed under the above Acts.
Petroleum spirit and/or petroleum mixtures are stored at 66 premises, under licence. The total capacity is as follows:—
| Petroleum spirit in tanks | 206,390 gallons. |
| Petroleum Mixture in tanks | 6,000 gallons. |
| Petroleum spirit in canned and approved stores | 120 gallons. |
| Petroleum mixture in canned and approved stores | 7,315 gallons. |
| 219,825 gallons. | |
| Carbide of calcium | 100 lbs. |
A small quantity of petroleum spirit is also kept without a
licence, at three premises, under the terms of the Petroleum Spirit
(Motor Vehicles, etc.) Regulations, 1929.
To meet the ever increasing demand for petroleum spirit, new
installations are licensed and additional capacity is provided at
existing filling stations. This has led to an increase of six in the
number of licences issued for 1962, and the volume kept has risen
by some 30%. Visits have been paid to ensure that the stringent
safety precautions are observed and to test new apparatus as it is
installed.