Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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74
Defective walls, floors, ceilings, etc. 9
Defective and insufficient lighting 8
Want of seating accommodation 5
Notices to be exhibited or amended 155
DRAINAGE
2,571 visits of inspection were made to underground
drains in course of repair. Of 359 Statutory Orders served, 6!
had to be done in default of the owners.
OFFENSIVE TRADES
There are but few registered, and during the year there has
been no cause for complaint.
POLLUTION OF RIVERS AND STREAMS
During the year 409 inspections were made to ascertain if
any evidence of pollution or obstruction was apparent in the
watercourses within the Borough and in addition samples of thf
waters were taken for analysis. Appropriate action was taken
where pollution was observed.
It should be remembered that all surface water drainage in
the Borough is discharged into streams, and it is an offence to
permit a polluting material to enter surface water drainage
systems.
SMOKE ABATEMENT
The District Sanitary Inspectors observe the various factor;
chimneys in their respective areas with a view to detecting the
discharge of smoke or grit such as to be a nuisance. Bye-law
are in force regarding the emission of "black" smoke, whereby
it is an offence if such smoke is discharged for more than two
minutes, in total, over a period of half an hour's observation.
84 such observations were carried out and in 9 instances
black smoke was emitted for more than the statutory limit.The
Managements were immediately interviewed and informed of the
offence and advised. In one case it became necessary to serves
Statutory notice to abate a smoke nuisance.
By the time the next annual report is in print a new Clean
Air Act will be in force and it is hoped that this will give
more authority to deal with pollution problems.