Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea]
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Inspection
of new
House
Drains.
50
In respect to new house Drains, which only a
short time ago were allowed to be laid down without
any inspection at all, are now thoroughly examined
by the Inspector of Nuisances before being covered up, who sees
that they are properly laid, pipes jointed, &c. This will do
away with a serious evil which has existed for years past, and
so save the tenant who looks about for a house, and finds one
neatly done up and in every way pleasing to the eye, falling into
one of those death traps from which previously he had no protection
; nothing too detrimental can be said of imperfect drains
running through a house, allowing escape of sewer gas with it,
it is a very frequent cause of the general malaise, and often
times more serious disease, such as diphtheria, typhoid fever,
with which one is constantly brought in contact. In proof of
the effects of bad drainage the case of one of the recent School
Board Buildings may be mentioned.
TABLE VII.
Summary of Sanitary Operations in West Battersea during the years 1888 and 1889:—
1888. | 1889. | |
---|---|---|
Number of Houses and Premises Inspected | 12,342 | 12,998 |
First Notices Served | 995 | 1,700 |
Second Notices Served | 170 | 162 |
Number of Houses Disinfected and Cleansed after Infectious Diseases | 185 | 132 |
Overcrowding Abated . | 5 | 22 |
Premises Cleansed and Repaired | 101 | 82 |
Defective Drains Cleansed and Repaired | 482 | 427 |
Sink and Waste Pipes altered to Discharge Outside, over Gullies or Syphon Traps Fixed | 449 | 1,389 |
Water Closets Cleansed or Repaired | 44 | 110 |
Water Closets, Supply of Water laid on | 415 | 1,113 |
Urinals Cleansed | 7 | 4 |
Accumulation of Manure Removed | 14 | 26 |
Cesspools Abolished | 1 | 3 |
Dustbins Provided | 149 | 393 |
Mews and Stables Drained and Paved | 13 | 3 |
Yards Drained and Paved | . | 184 |
Leaky House.roofs and Gutters Repaired | 40 | 74 |
Houses Supplied with Water | 17 | 5 |
Cisterns Covered and Repaired | 160 | 200 |
Houses Supplied with Disinfectants | 1,238 | 524 |
Proceedings Ordered by Vestry | 63 | 232 |
Summonses Issued | 18 | 16 |
Magisterial Order Obtained and Enforced | — | 16 |