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
Stepney 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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There were 19 notifications of infectious disease relating to Outworkers' premises.
| Number of firms in the Borough employing Outworkers | 94 |
| " " Outworkers residing in and employed by firms in the Borough | 291 |
| 11 " Outworkers residing outside the Borough employed by firms in the Borough | 619 |
| " " Outworkers residing in the Borough employed by firms outside the Borough | 440 |
The occupiers of two factories where wearing apparel is manufactured,
summoned for failing to send lists of Outworkers employed by them to the
Council, were each fined £5 and ordered to pay £3. 3s. costs.
Rag Dealers.
Legal proceedings were taken against a rag dealer for contravening
the provisions of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1952,
by exchanging toys for rags and clothing with children under the age of
15 years. He was fined £1 and ordered to pay £1. Is. costs.
Refuse Disposal.
The Public Cleansing Officer has kindly supplied the following
information on refuse and salvage disposed of during the year
House and Trade Refuse ... 35,442 Tons
Street and Market Refuse ... 8,094 Tons
A modern method of refuse collection, mainly for blocks of flats,
known as the "Paladin" system, has recently been introduced into the Borough.
A refuse container, of 1^—cubic yards capacity, is placed on a low concrete
kerb immediately below the refuse chute in the chamber. When refuse is
collected a hand-operated trolley is placed under the container, x^ich is
lifted from the kerb and wheeled to the collection vehicle. The container
is clamped in a girdle fitted at the rear of the vehicle, automatically
raised, emptied into the vehicle, and returned to the trolley and thence
to the dust chamber. Approximately 400 such containers have been
installed in the Borough.
Rodent Control.
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food, statistics on rodent control work carried out by the
department were submitted to the Ministry covering the period 1st April
1957 to 31st March 1958. During this period, 9,444 dwellings and
business premises were inspected, and 1,749 were found to be infested
either with mice or rats. Treatments were carried out by the department's
rodent control staff to 1,500 properties which were found to be infested,
the charges made for servicing business premises amounting to £742.
By the implementation of Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage by
Pests Act, 1949, it has been found possible to clear bombed sites of refuse
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