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
Penge 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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20
Your Inspectors obtained 56 informal samples of milk, the Analyst reporting
all samples to be genuine.
Legal proceedings under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, were taken
as follows: —
Case No. 1: Bread containing foreign body—Fined £10, and ordered
to pay £2 2s. Od. costs.
Case No. 2: Bread containing foreign body—Fined £5.
RENT ACT, 1957
The work under the provisions of the Act was considerably lesss than
that carried out during the previous year.
Most of the applications for Certificates of Disrepair were received from
the tenants of " middle-class " properties. Little use of the provisions of the
Act appears to be made by the tenants of the older tenement houses.
The following is a summary of applications received under the provisions of the Act and subsequent action arising therefrom:—
| Certificates of Disrepair applications under the 1957 Act | 81 |
| Notices of proposal to issue certificates served | 81 |
| Number of Certificates of Disrepair issued | 29 |
| Number of copies of undertakings to carry out repairs received | 49 |
| Number of Certificates cancelled | 17 |
FACTORIES ACTS, 1937 and 1938
Visits paid to factories totalled 329 and in addition to verbal intimations
regarding small defects, 6 written notices were served and complied with.
These dealt mainly with insufficient and defective sanitary conveniences and
want of cleanliness.
Notices were received in respect of 20 Penge residents who were employed
in certain trades in their own homes but working for occupiers of factories
in other districts. In no case was it found that work was being done in
unwholesome premises.
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
It was not found possible during the year to take any action regarding
carrying out surveys relative to Smokeless Zones.
No contraventions of the Act from industrial premises was observed.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
Complaints numbering 269 regarding rats and mice were received from
all parts of the district and investigated.
In several cases it was found that defective drains and sewers were
associated with rat infestations and the keeping of animals contributed to
the number of rat infestations. When considered necessary the drainage
systems of the premises were tested with smoke and colour and any defects
found made good.