London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Stepney 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]

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74
61,941 visits were made to supervise the abatement of the nuisances
complained of.
Police Court proceedings were taken in 44 instances where statutory notices
were not complied with. This number does not include proceedings under the
Food and Drugs Acts.
5,736 drains were tested with smoke or water, and 488 were re-tested. 1,923
drains were either constructed or re-constructed, cleansed or repaired, and 652 were
trapped.
230 new soil pipes were fixed and ventilated ; 1,121 new closet pans and traps
were fixed; 2,447 closets were either cleansed and repaired or provided with
additional light and ventilation; 1,710 water-closets were provided with proper
flushing apparatus.
2,164 yards, forecourts and areas were paved or repaired.
Notices were served to provide 1,162 sanitary dust receptacles, 15 manure
receptacles were provided; 772 offensive accumulations were removed from the rear
of dwelling houses.
149 houses were ventilated underneath the lower floor.
39 underground rooms, which were illegally occupied, were discontinued from
being used as such.
79 notices were served for the abatement of smoke nuisances.
361 visits to bakehouses were made, and every bakehouse was cleansed twice
during the year.
4,494 notices were served to have houses cleansed, and water supply was
reinstated to 74 houses.
304 sink, bath or rain-water pipes, which were communicating directly with
the drain, were disconnected.
5,362 miscellaneous repairs to roofs, floors, gutters, etc., were made as the
result of notices served.
491 damp walls were remedied and 92 rooms were provided with additional
light and ventilation.
The nuisance due to the keeping of too many animals in back yards was abated
on 128 premises.
Overcrowding.
19,010 inspections were specially made for the purpose of detecting overcrowding
; 463 living rooms were found to be overcrowded, and 427 intimation
notices were served for its abatement, as well as 114 statutory notices. Policecourt
proceedings were necessary in one instance only.