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
Walthamstow 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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During the year, hundreds of tons of sludge have been removed
from the sewer beds and sold to farmers and allotment holders
as a fertiliser. From reports received, excellent crops have
been produced v.h'ere this material has been used.
After nearly completing a very strenuous year's v:ork, the
Department was further hampered by the fact that two high explosive
bombs were dropped during December, thus disorganising the normal
routine working of the Department. Despite this, no services
operating in the Borough suffered in any way - refuse collections,
salvage and waste food collections, street cleansing, were still
carried on in the usual way - thanks to the loyal co-operation of
all employees and every member of my staff.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA,
Mr.M.E.Duncan, Chief Sanitary Inspector, reports as follows: -
| No. of inspections made. | No. of nuisances detected. | No. of complaints received. | No. of Informal | No. of Notices | No. of Statutory | No. of Notices | Total' Visits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Served | Complied with | Served | Complied with | ||||
| 12,265 | 5,496 | 2,613 | 1,809 | 1,625 | 93 | 75 | 19,993 |
The number of complaints received was 2,613 an increase
compared with last year, partly due to difficulty of getting repairs
carried out and to extensive work of Rat Repression.
No House to House Inspections were carried out.
The nature and variety of the work done during 1943 is shown
in the following tables:-
Drains tested, 766; Drains reconstructed or repaired, 442;
Drains obstructions removed, 261; Drains means of access
provided, 47; Drains, ventilation provided or improved, 55;
Drains, ventilation repaired, 76; Soil pipes repaired, 40;
Soil pipes new, provided, 21; Rain water pipes renewed, 116;
Rain water pipes disconnected from drains, 6; Roofs repaired
or renewed, 659; Gutterings repaired or renewed, 237; W.C.psns
or traps provided, 224; Gully traps provided, 71; W.C.flush
cisterns provided, 50; W.C.flush cisterns repaired, 262;
W.C.floors concreted, 36; W.C's. repaired and cleansed, 183;
W.C's. light and ventilation improved, 3; Waste pipes renewed
or trapped, 82; Waste pipes repaired, 83; Mew sinks provided,
36; Water supply reinstated, 8; Water supply taken off main, 5;
Cisterns cleansed and covered, 16; conveniences cleansed or
repaired, 11; Sculleries paved, 30; Yards and forecourts paved
and repaired, 99; Dirty houses cleansed, 9; Dirty rooms cleansed
574; Floors repaired, 180; Ventilations under floors provided,
81; New damp-proof courses provided, 46; Sites concreted, 6;
Offensive accumulations removed, 34; Animals improperly kept,
removed, 6; Manure receptacles provided, Nil; Stables cleansed,
paved and drained, 35; Manholes repaired or re-sealed, 122;
Other cases of dampness remedied, 281; Miscellaneous
repairs, 1,433.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Visits to premises, 998; Re-visits to premises, 140; Premises
disinfected, 552; Articles disinfected at Low Hail, 5,232;
Articles destroyed at Low Hall, 44; Articles Dried, 126.
DAMPNESS IN HOUSES.
Sites concreted, 6; Damp-proof courses provided, 46;Yards
and forecourts paved and drained, 99; Roofs made water hight 652
Rain-water pipes made good, 116; Guttering repaired or renewed,
237; Other cases of dampness remedied, 281; Ventilation under
floors provided. 81.
12.