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
East Barnet 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Barnet]
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| No. of Houses | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 1947 | |
| Scullery sinks renewed | 2 | |
| Waste pipes repaired or renewed | 22 | 12 |
| Defective window sills repaired | 27 | 21 |
| Dilapidated dustbins renewed | 125 | 22 |
| Defective sub-floor ventilation remedied | 16 | 8 |
| Skirting boards repaired or replaced | 3 | 5 |
| Verminous premises fumigated, etc. | 27 | 24 |
| Choked drains cleared | 36 | 45 |
| Defective vent pipes repaired | 8 | 7 |
| Broken inspection chamber covers replaced | 12 | 8 |
| Drains repaired or relaid | 37 | 32 |
| W.C.'s, fittings repaired or renewed | 64 | 78 |
| Storage cisterns cleansed | 4 | 3 |
| Cisterns repaired or renewed | 8 | 22 |
| Water supply re-instated after being cut off | 4 | 14 |
| Water pipes repaired | 14 | 30 |
| Accumulation of refuse removed | 4 | 5 |
| Nuisances arising from the keeping of animals, poultry, etc., remedied | 3 | 9 |
| Smoke nuisances remedied | 1 | — |
| Exterior paving repaired or relaid | 14 | 10 |
| Hot water systems repaired | 9 | 12 |
| Chimney pots and flues repaired | 4 | 26 |
| Insufficient water supply remedied | 3 | 6 |
| Defective covers to water tanks replaced | 4 | 6 |
| Lavatory basins renewed | 3 | 7 |
| Hearths repaired or renewed | — | 4 |
| Soil pipes repaired or renewed | — | 4 |
| Parapet walls repaired | — | 4 |
| Electric switches repaired or renewed | — | 4 |
| Defective skylights repaired | — | 3 |
| Fresh-air inlets to drains repaired | — | 2 |
| Cement rendering renewed | — | 3 |
As in the two previous years many defects found in dwelling
houses were a direct consequence of the war, due either to war
damage or to the deterioration of property arising from the scarcity
of building materials or shortage of man power during and after
the war years. Difficulties and delays have also been experienced
caused by the necessity of applying for licences under the Defence
Regulations relating to the control of civil building, and in such
cases it was necessary to allow extra periods of time for the commencement
and execution of the required repairs.
There were no legal proceedings against property owners in
1947, but in three cases where statutory notices had not been
complied with it was necessary to carry out the work in the owner's
default. Two of these were for defective drains, which were taken