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Poliomyelitis
There were no confirmed cases of poliomyelitis in Willesden during the year 1951.
Smallpox
There were no cases of smallpox occurring in the Borough during the year 1951. In May, 1951,
notification was received that a passenger on the S.S. Ranchi had developed smallpox and that 11 contacts
of the case were going to live in Willesden. They were all kept under observation and health visitors visited
them daily; none of the contacts developed smallpox.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
Water
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company supply Willesden with water of
excellent quality.
Sewage and Drainage
Most of the sewage of the borough is discharged into the London County Council main sewers, but a
small amount from the Park Royal Area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
Refuse Disposal
The Borough Engineer's Department deals with matters relating to the provision of dust-bins.
House refuse is collected weekly, and trade refuse as often as necessary; the trader pays an agreed
charge.
The refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at Twyford.
HOUSEHOLD ARRANGEMENTS
The Registrar General has published an analysis of a 1% sample of the Census 1951.
Shared Dwellings and Overcrowding
Willesden figures reveal a much higher proportion of households in shared dwellings (6 out of 10)
as compared with the average in England and Wales (about 2 out of 10) and Greater London (about 4 out
of 10). It is even higher than that in the County of London (5 out of 10).
The number of persons per room (085) is higher than that in England and Wales and London; the
percentage of persons living more than two per room (5 76) is almost three times the average in England
and Wales and London. Also, the improvement in Willesden of 1951 as compared with 1931 is much less.
Bathrooms
The proportion of households without a fixed bath (6 out of 10) is higher than that in England and
Wales, Greater London and the County uf Middlesex (all about 4 out of 10), but it is slightly less than that
in the County of London. This is doubtless due to the greater age of the property in the County of London
and Willesden.
Water-Closets
The number of households without a water closet (about 2 out of 10) is only slightly higher than that
in England and Wales and the County of Middlesex, and slightly lower than that in Greater London and the
County of London; in Willesden the proportion rises almost to three-quarters (68 per cent.) in dwellings
occupied by three or more families.