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
Willesden 1909
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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power nor equitable sanction—instructions were given for the exercise
of stricter observance of the distinction between "trade1" and "house"
refuse in the supervision of refuse removal.
This effected not only greater economies in the C03t and quantities
of refuse removal, but was associated with an improvement in the
hygienic condition of trade premises. For, whereas formerly trade
refuse was permitted to accumulate on trade premises until removed by
the contractor, it was now in large measure incinerated, so that only
the innocuous ashes remained for removal.
The tables show the large reductions which have been effected in
the quantities of refuse removed and in the number of vans, horses, and
men employed, with the consequent saving in cost which has been
possible as a result of this policy.
DATA RELATING TO REMOVAL OF HOUSE REFUSE.
| Year. | Maximum No. of carts employed. | Minimum No. of carts employed. | Average No. of carts employed. | Maximum No. of men employed. | Minimum No. of men employed. | Total No. of complaints. | Percentage of complaints to total No. of houses. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901-2 | 34 | 20 | 24 | 58 | 36 | 189 | 1.09 |
| 1902-3 | 38 | 21 | 24 | 69 | 38 | 167 | 0.91 |
| 1903-4 | 39 | 22 | 25 | 70 | 36 | 139 | 0.72 |
| 1904-5 | 37 | 24 | 27 | 70 | 43 | 104 | 0.51 |
| 1905-6 | 29 | 18 | 19 | 58 | 36 | 198 | 0.95 |
| 1906-7 | 27 | 18 | 20 | 54 | 36 | 220 | 1.04 |
| 1907-8 | 22 | 10 | 18 | 44 | 20 | 105 | 0.48 |
| 1908-9 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 45 | 36 | 334 | 1.52 |
| 1909-10 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 42 | 30 | 111 | 0.50 |