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 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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28
SANITAEY "WORK.
In the subjoined table is contained a summary indicating the nature of the various works carried out for the abatement of nuisances and for the improvement of the dwellings of the people, which has been compiled from the abstracts of their work prepared by the inpectors:—
| Chief Insp. | Insp. Lear. | Insp. Quelch. | Insp. Firth. | Insp. Jordan | Insps. Lindon & Lang-stone. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New drains constructed | 6 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 28 | 71 |
| Drains re-constructed or repaired | 75 | 58 | 27 | 103 | 33 | 57 | 353 |
| Sink waste pipes trapped and disconnected | 18 | 63 | 31 | 124 | 51 | 69 | 356 |
| Stack pipes re-instated | 37 | 88 | 38 | 93 | 13 | 53 | 322 |
| Eaves gutters re-instated | 40 | 71 | 55 | 106 | 8 | 41 | 321 |
| Stack pipes disconnected from drains | 2 | 44 | 24 | 48 | 20 | 24 | 162 |
| Accumulations of sewage dealt with | 12 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 44 | 22 | 103 |
| Cesspools abolished | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 11 |
| New water closets constructed | 132 | 35 | 5 | 16 | 28 | 14 | 230 |
| Old water closets re-constructed or repaired | 60 | 83 | 53 | 141 | 83 | 117 | 537 |
| Water closets cleansed and white-washed | 2 | 383 | 101 | 61 | 213 | 87 | 847 |
| Water restored or newly laid on to water closets | 32 | 30 | 42 | 53 | 14 | 43 | 214 |
| Obstructions in water closets removed | 1 | 29 | 10 | 15 | — | 6 | 61 |
| Overcrowding in houses abated | 18 | 12 | 7 | 29 | 9 | 27 | 102 |
| Damp courses in houses provided | 12 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 33 |
| Walls pointed | 23 | 22 | 14 | 72 | 1 | 15 | 147 |
| Roofs repaired | 53 | 68 | 73 | 26 | 24 | 75 | 319 |
| Stairs repaired | 61 | 13 | 40 | 73 | 4 | 50 | 241 |
| Floors repaired | 61 | 32 | 54 | 86 | 12 | 66 | 311 |
| Ventilation under floors provided | 16 | 27 | 50 | 101 | 2 | 49 | 245 |
| Doors repaired | 42 | 16 | 41 | 48 | 9 | 52 | 208 |
| Door Cills provided | 164 | 84 | 61 | 140 | 33 | 47 | 529 |
| Sashes repaired | 34 | 49 | 40 | 39 | 2 | 85 | 249 |
| Houses cleansed throughout | 119 | 37 | 20 | 70 | 33 | 81 | 359 |
| Houses cleansed in part | 20 | 180 | 16 | 221 | 16 | 186 | 639 |
| Total number of rooms cleansed.. | 559 | 666 | 452 | 788 | 458 | 784 | 3707 |
| Yards or areas lime-washed | 1 | 297 | 94 | 7 | 136 | 66 | 601 |
| Yards paved | 60 | 88 | 69 | 140 | 35 | 88 | 480 |
| Areas or forecourts paved | 22 | 25 | 42 | 41 | 1 | 29 | 160 |
| New areas constructed | — | 3 | 9 | 7 | — | — | 19 |
| Sculleries paved | 22 | 20 | 30 | 41 | 8 | 35 | 156 |
| Dust receptacles provided | 34 | 88 | 40 | 62 | 39 | 74 | 337 |
| Dung receptacles provided | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | 1 | 14 | |
| Insanitary cisterns removed | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 9 |
In addition to the above, on 19 premises, old brick drains were removed. Rats
were a source of nuisance and annoyance on 124 premises ; the necessary steps were