London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Wimbledon 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

This page requires JavaScript

A meeting of the Joint Abatement Committee was called at
the Offices of the London County Council and confirmed this
compromise. There is every likelihood of the Ministry of Health
approving, as the Federation of British Industries and the
National Union of Manufacturers agreed not to offer any further
opposition to the making of a Bye-law in the above revised fonn.
As a number of Local Authorities outside London had already
made a Bye-law for two minutes which had received the approval
of the Ministry of Health the conference decided that the recommendation
should apply to the County of London only, the outside
authorities being left to make Bye-laws for two or three minutes'
duration, whichever the Ministry of Health would sanction.
Numerous complaints were received in the early part of the
year with respect to the black smoke from a certain laundry,
but extensive alterations have been carried out, since which
there have been no complaints received, and, although frequent
observations have been made, there has been no further cause
for complaint found.
Small Pox Contacts.—111 connection with the small-pox
cases occurring in the district and local contacts of cases occurring
outside the district, 425 visits of enquiry were made. As
the majority of these contacts are persons employed in London
it necessitated the visits being paid during the evenings and
week-ends, after they had returned from their business or occupation.
Mosquitoes.—Lakes, pools, ditches and other breeding
places of mosquitoes have been thoroughly sprayed on
several occasions during the early months of the year. From
various enquiries made, and in consequence of visits paid, I am
of opinion that this spraying has been beneficial. In a number
of instances, tenants of houses with cellars have complained of
mosquitoes and after adopting the advice given considerable
improvement has been noted.
Examination of Sludge.—Following a complaint from one
part of the district a considerable quantity of sludge was
found to have gathered in a tributary of the River Wandle. This
appeared to consist of tar and oil, and a sample was collected
and submitted for analysis. This was confirmed by the analyst's
report. My investigation clearly showed that this nuisance arose
from premises outside the district and I accordingly reported the
full facts to the Surrey County Council, who afterwards dealt
with the matter.
Offensive Trades.—During the year an inspection was made
of all the fish-frying premises in the Borough and copy of the
Bye-laws was left and signed for by each occupier. A number
28