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
Harrow 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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34
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF OTHER PREMISES.
Many complaints, which entail visits to homes, arise not from a
defect in the structure of the house. The following is a summary of the
complaints received, including those relating to housing conditions :—
| During the year, 1,828 complaints were received. These were :— | |
| Accumulations of refuse | 106 |
| Animals causing a nuisance | 24 |
| Damp condition of premises | 62 |
| Decorations | 22 |
| Drains and sewers : Blocked | 472 |
| Defective | 92 |
| Dustbins defective | 185 |
| Houses with defect | 424 |
| Defective waterclosets | 78 |
| Dirty premises | 37 |
| Factories—insufficient watercloset accommodation | 5 |
| Food unfit or in dirty condition | 23 |
| Gardens—flooding | 11 |
| Insect infestations | 48 |
| Overcrowding alleged | 113 |
| Plumbing defects | 87 |
| ' Shelters unsatisfactory | 16 |
| Smoke nuisances | 6 |
| Vermin | 49 |
| Watercourses | 1 |
| Other complaints (pig bins, wasps nests, mis-use of footpaths, defective fences, etc.) | 92 |
| Total | 1,828 |
During the year 1,329 informal notices were served; and 131
statutory notices, of which 91 were complied with.
Special Premises.
Apart from these visits though, there are those paid to special
premises which are kept under observation. In this category are those
places such as stables, farms, pig sties, allotments and yards, at which
a nuisance might arise from accumulations of manure or of rubbish or
from general dirty conditions. Of these 144 visits were paid last year.
Apart from the routine visits, others are necessary where a nuisance has
been discovered, these being repeated until the nuisance has been abated.
Hairdressers' premises are visited periodically to see that the Council's
bye-laws as to the cleanliness of the premises and the cleanliness and
sterilisation of the utensils are complied with.