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 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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In the subjoined Table is contained a summary giving an idea of the nature of the work done for the abatement of nuisances and for the improvement of the dwellings of the inhabitants of Shoreditch which has been compiled from the abstracts of their work prepared by the Sanitary Inspectors:—
| Chief Insp. | Insp. Lear. | Insp. Firth. | Insp. Jordan. | Insp. Lang-stone. | Insps. Clements. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New drains constructed | 6 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 44 | 31 | 104 |
| Drains re-constructed or repaired | 21 | 36 | 73 | 31 | 4 | 46 | 211 |
| Sink waste pipes trapped and disconnected | — | 46 | 63 | 82 | 8 | 46 | 245 |
| Stack pipes re-instated | 8 | 74 | 73 | 16 | 29 | 77 | 277 |
| Eaves gutters re-instated | 4 | 73 | 63 | 19 | 18 | 112 | 289 |
| Stack pipes disconnected from drains | 4 | 17 | 51 | 22 | 7 | 41 | 142 |
| Accumulations of sewage dealt with | 2 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 25 | 2 | 59 |
| Cesspools abolished | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| New water closets constructed | 40 | 21 | 3 | 104 | 4 | 14 | 186 |
| Old water closets re-constructed or repaired | 9 | 64 | 75 | 64 | 65 | 81 | 358 |
| Water closets cleansed and white-washed | 47 | 279 | 85 | 257 | 67 | 229 | 964 |
| Water restored or newly laid on to water closets | 4 | 73 | 55 | 14 | 11 | 80 | 237 |
| Obstructions in water closets removed | 4 | 35 | 61 | 27 | 14 | 68 | 209 |
| Overcrowding in houses abated | — | 16 | 18 | 10 | 37 | 32 | 113 |
| Damp courses in houses provided | 17 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 11 | 35 |
| Walls pointed | 79 | 7 | 2d | — | 7 | 46 | 167 |
| Roofs repaired | 41 | 74 | 81 | 20 | 06 | 105 | 377 |
| Stairs repaired | 64 | 15 | 64 | 6 | 21 | 55 | 225 |
| Floors repaired | 64 | 42 | 49 | 9 | 30 | 89 | 283 |
| Ventilation under floors provided | 1 | 12 | 29 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 74 |
| Doors repaired | 52 | 15 | 29 | 6 | 18 | 32 | 152 |
| Door cills provided | 89 | 46 | 39 | 9 | 25 | 41 | 249 |
| Sashes repaired | 52 | 81 | 23 | — | 31 | 43 | 230 |
| Houses cleansed throughout | 89 | 26 | 38 | 51 | 42 | 58 | 304 |
| Houses cleansed in port | 123 | 152 | 277 | 24 | 112 | 223 | 911 |
| Total number of rooms cleansed | 559 | 685 | 856 | 599 | 561 | 766 | 4026 |
| Yards or areas lime-washed | 45 | 311 | 8 | 137 | 54 | 119 | 674 |
| Yards paved | 19 | 89 | 111 | 29 | 55 | 79 | 382 |
| Areas or forecourts paved | 13 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 85 |
| New areas constructed | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 10 |
| Sculleries paved | 10 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 110 |
| Dust receptacles provided | 38 | 88 | 66 | 37 | 66 | 49 | 344 |
| Dung receptacles provided | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | 7 |
| Insanitary cisterns removed | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 4 |
It may also be mentioned that 4 old defective brick drains were removed and in 65
instances nuisances and annoyance caused by the presence of rats on premises were
dealt with. In most of the cases where rats were found infesting premises the drains
were defective and had to be reconstructed or repaired. The number SO' dealt with are
included in the figures given above. In 137 instances water was restored to premises
where the supply had been cut off for various reasons, and on 174 premises leaking
water-pipes were repaired. Urinals were constructed on eight premises, and on 25 they
were repaired or cleaned. Foul accumulations of various descriptions were removed
in 14 instances on requisition from the sanitary officers. On 11 premises animals were
found not to be kept under proper conditions. They were mainly horses improperly
stabled. In 22 instances stables were properly paved under the supervision of the
sanitary officers.