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
Coulsdon and Purley 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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Complaints Received.
| General disrepair and insanitary conditions | 78 |
| Dampness | 56 |
| Obstruction of light by trees | 2 |
| Overcrowding | 8 |
| Defective drainage systems | 27 |
| Blocked drainage systems | 138 |
| Defective drainage fittings | 9 |
| Defective sinks and lavatory basins | 2 |
| Defective W.C. pans and flushing apparatus | 19 |
| Defective service water pipes | 3 |
| Defective hot water systems | 4 |
| Defective chimney stacks | 6 |
| Absence of, or defective dustbins | 6 |
| Insanitary pig waste bins | 2 |
| Accumulation of refuse, etc. | 17 |
| Insanitary A.R.P. shelters | 1 451 |
| Rats and mice | |
| Keeping of animals | 10 |
| Insect pests, etc | 39 |
| Wasps' nests | 84 |
| Unsound food | 145 |
| Miscellaneous | 48 |
| Total | 1,155 |
| Summary of Visits Made. | |
| Number of houses visited | 337 |
| Number of reinspections and calls made | 1.127 |
| Verminous premises | 38 |
| Water supply | 10 |
| Tents, vans and sheds | 380 |
| Schools | 3 |
| Places of entertainment | 20 |
| Licensed premises | 15 |
| Storage of refuse | 36 |
| Accumulations | 103 |
| Piggeries, fowls and other animals | 110 |
| Stables | 11 |
| Rats and Mice Destruction | 5,757 |
| Drainage inspected | 1,893 |
| Drainage tested | 224 |
| Pail closets | 5 |
| Cesspools | 204 |
| Urinals | 3 |
| Smoke observations | 5 |
| Sewers and street gullies | 187 |
| Cowsheds, dairies and milkshops | 150 |
| Ice-cream premises | 150 |
| Meat shops | 101 |
| Food preparing premises | 254 |
| Other food shops | 399 |
| Bakehouses—Power | 55 |
| „ Other | 5 |
| Slaughterhouses | 25 |
| Food Inspection—Meat | 27 |
| „ „ Other Food | 219 |
| Factories—Power | 152 |
| Other | 42 |
| Workplaces | 4 |
| Outworkers | 25 |
| Shops Act | 576 |
| Infectious disease enquiries | 137 |
| Infectious disease contacts | 38 |