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
Shoreditch 1899
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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| Chief Insp. | Insp. Lepr. | Insp. Quelch | Insp. Firth. | Insp. Jordan. _ | Insp. Lindon | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New drains constructed | 3 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 39 |
| Drains re-constructed or repaired | 143 | 61 | 76 | 173 | 43 | 134 | 630 |
| Sink waste pipes trapped and disconnected | 15 | 58 | 109 | 139 | 66 | 112 | 499 |
| Stack pipes re-instated | 29 | 97 | 98 | 146 | 8 | 150 | 528 |
| Eaves gutters re-instated | 33 | 97 | 99 | 160 | 19 | 125 | 533 |
| Stack pipes disconnected from drains | — | 61 | 79 | 62 | 55 | 48 | 305 |
| Accumulation of sewage dealt with | 16 | 10 | 32 | 18 | 32 | 23 | 131 |
| Cesspools abolished | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | — | — | 21 |
| New water closets constructed | 147 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 32 | 20 | 240 |
| Old water closets re-constructed or repaired | 125 | 108 | 68 | 68 | 50 | 190 | 609 |
| Water closets cleansed and white-washed | — | 275 | 176 | 31 | 171 | 258 | 911 |
| Water restored or newly laid on to water closets | 3 | 28 | 3 | 71 | 23 | 18 | 146 |
| Obstructions in water closets removed | 9 | 34 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 98 |
| Overcrowding in houses abated | 6 | 11 | 11 | 26 | 3 | 13 | 70 |
| Damp courses in houses provided.. | 9 | 5 | 19 | 16 | - | - | 49 |
| Walls pointed | 47 | 17 | 41 | 127 | 2 | 78 | 312 |
| Roofs repaired | 44 | 59 | 136 | 129 | 40 | 85 | 493 |
| Stairs repaired | 21 | 8 | 94 | 82 | 5 | 161 | 371 |
| Floors repaired | 41 | 21 | 112 | 158 | 11 | 165 | 508 |
| Ventilation under floors provided | 19 | 39 | 128 | 75 | 10 | 95 | 366 |
| Doors repaired | 18 | 6 | 97 | 32 | 6 | 151 | 310 |
| Door cills provided | 86 | 79 | 189 | 178 | 64 | 171 | 767 |
| Sashes repaired | 18 | 12 | 90 | 13 | 3 | 166 | 302 |
| Houses cleansed throughout | 75 | 44 | 44 | 104 | 34 | 97 | 398 |
| Houses cleansed in part | 4 | 210 | 3 | 176 | 9 | 162 | 564 |
| Total number of rooms cleansed.. | 333 | 680 | 664 | 964 | 377 | 954 | 3972 |
| Yards or areas lime-washed | 31 | 313 | 205 | 13 | 133 | 250 | 945 |
| Yards paved | 61 | 115 | 134 | 199 | 48 | 181 | 738 |
| Areas or forecourts paved | 5 | 42 | 57 | 46 | 13 | 52 | 215 |
| New areas constructed | — | 11 | 12 | 6 | — | 3 | 32 |
| Sculleries paved | 7 | 36 | 73 | 115 | 19 | 72 | 322 |
| Dust receptacles provided | 6 | 76 | 87 | 97 | 44 | 134 | 444 |
| Dung receptacles provided | 1 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 5 | — | 40 |
| Insanitary cisterns removed | — | 7 | 4 | - | 1 | 8 | 20 |
In addition to the above, on 29 premises old brick drains were abolished, and 60
foul accumulations were removed, 74 leaking water pipes were repaired, and 21 window
sills were provided. On 220 premises rats were complained of and the necessary steps
were taken to get rid of them. On 22 premises horses and donkeys were improperly
stabled, and in these cases the necessary steps were also taken.
By order of the Public Health Committee, statutory notices were served, 145
under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and 20 under the Metropolis Local
Management Act, upon persons who were responsible for carrying out works for the
abatement of nuisances.