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(4) Apart from the deafness which noise inflicts upon workers in trades such as boilermaking,
cotton weaving, etc., definite ear damage has been demonstrated which has led to
dizziness, headache, etc.
(5) In normal persons it requires 19 per cent. more energy to perform duties in noisy
places than it does to perform similar duties in quiet surroundings. This is undoubtedly
a cause of early fatigue, now regarded as an important factor responsible for industrial accidents.
Thus not only is the worker's efficiency seriously hampered but his output is diminished.
These experiments suffice to prove the injurious effects of noise on the health and efficiency
of normal subjects. The results are obviously more dangerous in those suffering from physical or
mental illness.
The question arises—What laws already exist and what additional laws are necessary to deal
with noise? In Willesden, there are several bye-laws made by the Middlesex County Council in
respect of street noises; for instance, Bye-laws 5 and 13 state that:—
"No person shall sing or shout or play any musical or noisy instrument within 50 yards
of any dwelling-house, public hall, hospital, etc., after being required by any constable or
by the person so annoyed or disturbed to cease such playing, singing or shouting."
But there are no bye-laws to deal with traffic noise which is the main source of complaint.
In December, 1928, a deputation on behalf of the People's League of Health and comprising leading
medical authorities and neurologists put forward the following suggestion for the consideration of
the then Minister of Health, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, namely—
"That the Public Health Act, 1875, Sections 91-112 should be amended so as to include
the nuisance of noise in order that local authorities might be empowered to take the necessary
preventive control."
In order to remedy this deficiency, there is a clause (Section 61) relating to noise in the Middlesex
County Council Bill which is being promoted in the next session of Parliament and which is modelled
after the Clause contained in the Provisional Order of Edinburgh. It reads as follows:—
"—(1) A noise nuisance shall be liable to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions
relating to nuisances of the Public Health Act 1875 and the local authority shall have
all the powers and duties with reference to a noise nuisance which they have with reference
to a nuisance under the said Act.
(2) For the purpose of this section a noise nuisance shall be deemed to exist where any
person makes or continues or causes to be made or continued any excessive or unreasonable
or unnecessary noise and where such noise
(a) is injurious or dangerous to health; and
(b) is capable of being prevented or mitigated having due regard to all the
stances of the case:
Provided that if the noise is occasioned in the course of any trade business or occupation
it shall be a good defence that the best practicable means of preventing or mitigating it having
regard to the cost have been adopted:
Provided also that the provisions of this section shall not extend or apply to the carrying
on of an undertaking authorised by Act of Parliament or by an Order confirmed by or having
the force of an Act of Parliament."
The Noise Abatement Commission of New York have suggested the imposition of fines on
those who create unnecessary noise, e.g., excessive horn-blowing. Sound-proof buildings and zones
of silence round hospitals and similar institutions have also been advocated to shut out the deafening
sounds of city traffic. But the real prevention of noise consists in removing the cause. This entails
an elaborate programme and one which to be effective should include the better construction of
internal combustion engines and the provision of adequate silencers, the scrapping of worn out
machines, the abolition of all strident horns, gongs and bells, the use of pneumatic tyres, the substitution
of electric welding for rivetting, etc. In this way at least 75 per cent. of the noise could
be removed. Laws require the moral support of public opinion and much could be done by the
growth of a popular movement in favour of the abolition of noise.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The supervision of the Council's Mortuary was placed under the Medical Officer of Health
during 1929. Considerable repairs have been effected and a well qualified Mortuary Keeper
has been appointed.
Medical men now using the mortuary have expressed their gratification at the new conditions.
It may fairly be said that the mortuary both in respect of condition of premises and personnel
now ranks worthily with the other institutions under the Council's control.
MOTOR AMBULANCE SERVICE.
During the year the demands for this service have continued to increase. No less than 4,728
calls being made for the Council's ambulances in 1929, as compared with 3,956 in 1928. In addition
approximately 250 physically and mentally defective children were carried to and from school daily.
Altogether 111,338 miles were run in 1929, as compared with 103,587 in 1928.