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
Ilford 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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The following is a summary:—
| Accumulation of manure and refuse | 22 |
| Animals improperly kept | 18 |
| Bad smells | 79 |
| Dampness of premises | 99 |
| Defective drains, w.c's and fittings | 314 |
| Defective roofs, gutters, downpipes, etc. | 198 |
| Defective water fittings | 42 |
| Dirty and verminous houses | 52 |
| Dirty condition of rearway | 13 |
| Flooding of premises | 14 |
| Overcrowding | 16 |
| Smoke nuisances | 11 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,092 |
| Total | 1,970 |
(iv) Swimming Baths and Pools.—Samples of water for examination
were taken from the open-air swimming bath from May to September (5);
and from January to November (14) in respect of the two indoor baths.
All the samples were satisfactory, but in two samples (one each from the 1st
and 2nd Class indoor Baths) the chlorine content was below the minimum.
(v) Eradication of Bed Bugs:—
Houses
Found to be infested 27
Disinfested 25
(vi) Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.—No licence to act as slaughterman
was granted during the year.
Section 25 of the Burial Act, 1857.—Supervision was carried out
on one occasion in connection with the removal and reinterment of human
remains at St. Mary's Cemetery, an exhumation licence having been
issued by H.M. Home Office.
SECTION D.—HOUSING.
(i) Overcrowding.—Informal notices were served in respect of 7
premises, 6 of which were complied with.
(ii) Unhealthy Areas.—No representations or complaints have been
made regarding unhealthy areas during the year.
(iii) HOUSING STATISTICS. 1. Inspection of Dwelling-houses during the Year:—
| (1) (a) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) | 1,096 |
| (6) Number of inspections made for the purpose | 4,884 |
| (2) (a) Number of dwelling-houses (included under subhead (1) above) which were inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 and 1932 | — |
| (6) Number of inspections made for the purpose | — |
| (3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation | — |
| (4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub-head) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation | 1,363 |