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
St Giles (Camden) 1868
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Giles District]
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12
The Sanitaey Work of the Year.
The subjoined report which has been prepared for me by the Inspectors,
shows that there has been no lack of diligence on their part during the year.
The number of houses that have been improved, considerably exceeds the*
number reported upon in the last annual summary. The nature of the evils
to be removed in this District, demands incessant inspection; for it is not
enough to order an improvement to be effected; when it is done, unremitting
vigilance is required to see that it is maintained. Filth of every kind will
accumulate if the eye of the Inspector be not perpetually on the watch to
detect any infringement or neglect of the Board's Regulations. This is
necessarily a wearisome duty ; but it is the only method of maintaining the
cleanliness of those parts of the District where disease chiefly abounds. The
two Inspectors have made 12,570 visits during the year.
TABLE X.
House Improvements in St. Giles District effected under the Superintendence of the Sanitary Inspectors between Lady-day, 1868, and Lady-day, 1869.
| Inspector Webb. | Inspector Dixon. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of houses improved | 748 | 946 | |
| Improvements in Drainage. | Drains constructed or repaired | 249 | 263 |
| Traps fixed | 153 | 369 | |
| Cesspools abolished | 14 | 19 | |
| Stables drained and horse-pools abolished | 18 | 15 | |
| In Water Closets. | Pan, trap, and water provided | 59 | 69 |
| Water and apparatus only provided | 176 | 296 | |
| Cleansed or repaired | 258 | 416 | |
| Newly constructed or re-built | 13 | 58 | |
| In Dust Bins. | Newly constructed | 7 | 11 |
| Repaired or covered | 59 | 82 | |
| Paving. | Re-laid or repaired | 96 | 162 |
| In General Water Supply. | Receptacles provided | 13 | 22 |
| Receptacles repaired | 86 | 107 | |
| In Cleanliness and Repair. | Cleansed and lime-whited | 776 | 891 |
| Various accumulations removed from cellars, &c. | 17 | 45 | |
| In Ventilation, &c. | Ventilation improved | 70 | 38 |
| Overcrowding reduced | 37 | 42 | |
| Kitchens disused, or made legally habitable | 26 | 25 | |
| Proceedings taken. | First notices | 177 | 254 |
| Second notices, letters, &c. | 53 | 135 | |
| Summoned and Fined | ... | 4 | |
| Reported to Police or District Surveyor | 3 | 4 | |
| Total number of Improvements | 2127 | 2928 | |
| Total number of Visits during the year | 5506 | 7064 | |
Cowsheds and Slaughter-houses.—These have been frequently visited,
and have been found to be in a wholesome state. The cows have been remarkably
healthy; not a single cow having been sent away unwell. The
slaughter-houses are also reported to have been kept in good order.
Bakehouses.—More than usual watchfulness has been required this year,
to secure compliance with the Act for the regulation of bakehouses. Some