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 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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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 sanitary inspectors:—
| Chief Insp. | Insp. Lear. | Insps. Quelch and Clements. | Insp. Firth. | Insp Jordan. | Insp. Lang-stone. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New drains constructed | 1 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 56 |
| Drains re-constructed or repaired | 82 | 31 | 62 | 72 | 31 | 39 | 317 |
| Sink waste pipes trapped and disconnected | — | 31 | 28 | 70 | 29 | 11 | 169 |
| Stack pipes re-instated | 48 | 85 | 81 | 51 | 18 | 30 | 313 |
| Eaves gutters re-instated | 46 | 89 | 85 | 63 | 5 | 28 | 316 |
| Stack pipes disconnected from drains | 25 | 15 | 24 | 22 | 39 | 7 | 132 |
| Accumulations of sewage dealt with | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 31 | 57 |
| Cesspools abolished | 1 | - | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| New water closets constructed | 44 | 61 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 5 | 174 |
| Old water closets re-constructed or repaired | 41 | 55 | 44 | 75 | 52 | 75 | 342 |
| Water closets cleansed and white-washed | 6 | 326 | 155 | 57 | 163 | 62 | 769 |
| Water restored or newly laid on to water closets | 12 | 49 | 26 | 52 | 16 | 11 | 166 |
| Obstructions in water closets removed | 11 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 111 |
| Overcrowding in houses abated | 13 | 16 | 4 | 19 | 6 | 27 | 85 |
| Damp courses in houses provided | 15 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 31 |
| Walls pointed | 27 | 14 | 13 | 49 | — | 2 | 105 |
| Roofs repaired | 41 | 101 | 83 | 85 | 29 | 89 | 428 |
| Stairs repaired | 47 | 19 | 50 | 73 | 8 | 14 | 211 |
| Floors repaired | 52 | 41 | 45 | 70 | 5 | 26 | 239 |
| Ventilation under floors provided | 4 | 4 | 30 | 40 | 3 | 16 | 97 |
| Doors repaired | 46 | 10 | 57 | 73 | 8 | 14 | 211 |
| Door cills provided | 61 | 55 | 27 | 57 | 1 | 21 | 222 |
| Sashes repaired | 48 | 70 | 50 | 21 | 1 | 29 | 219 |
| Houses cleansed throughout | 79 | 25 | 53 | 27 | 22 | 14 | 220 |
| Houses cleansed in part | 48 | 194 | 118 | 284 | 143 | 127 | 914 |
| Total number of rooms cleansed.. | 567 | 647 | 485 | 826 | 409 | 413 | 3347 |
| Yards or areas lime-washed | 31 | 334 | 67 | 34 | 120 | 12 | 598 |
| Yards paved | 60 | 64 | 44 | 85 | 20 | 51 | 324 |
| Areas or forecourts paved | 7 | 24 | 28 | 29 | — | 8 | 96 |
| New areas constructed | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 12 |
| Sculleries paved | 11 | 7 | 16 | 21 | — | 7 | 62 |
| Dust receptacles provided | 35 | 68 | 45 | 91 | 26 | 52 | 317 |
| Dung receptacles provided | - | - | 1 | 4 | — | — | 5 |
| Insanitary cisterns removed | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 |
In connection with the sanitary work carried out, 12 defective brick drains were
removed, and in 63 instances nuisances and annoyance caused by the presence of rats
on premises were dealt with, in most of which cases the drains were found to be defective
and were constructed or repaired, the number so dealt with being included in
the figures given above. On 99 premises leaking water pipes required attention.
Urinals were constructed on five premises, and on 31 they were repaired or cleansed
Foul accumulations of various descriptions to the number of 152 were removed in
accordance with requisition from the sanitary officers. On 15 premises animals were
found not properly stabled, and the necessary steps were taken to secure this, and in