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
Southall-Norwood 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall-Norwood]
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sedimentation and chlorination and subsequent aeration. The amount of
chlorine added varies with the number of persons using the bath, and an
attempt is made to keep the water with a content a little over 0.2 part per
million of free chlorine near the outflow. At the inflow, of course, the free
chlorine content has to be a little higher. During the season four samples of
the water were taken with the following results :—
| Date | Organisms found | Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelatin 20 degrees for 3 days | Agar 37 degrees for 2 days | B. Coli | Streptococci | B. Welchii | ||
| 1 25.6.35 | 1,250 | 12,200 | 0 in 100 c.c. | + in 10 | 0 in 100 c.c. | Reasonably safe for swimming |
| 2 13.7.35 | 4,600 | 3,450 | + in 20 | + in 10 | 0 in 100 c.c. | Border-line |
| 3 12.8.35 | 4,700 | 9 | 0 in 100 c.c. | + in 15 | Satisfactory for bathing purposes | |
| 4 16.9.35 | 8 | 4 | 0 in 100 c.c. | 0 in 30 c.c. | 0 in 100 c.c. | Excellent bacteriological quality |
The bacteriological count varies not only with the amount of chlorine
added but with the total number of bathers for the past few days. Although
the free chlorine content remained practically the same at each of the times the
water was tested the amount of chlorine added per 24 hours was a little more
at the times when the bacteriological results were fair or border-line than it was
when bacteriological results were excellent. However, the average number of
bathers during the three days before the last count was only 41, while the
average number during the three days before the border-line count was nearly
900. The free chlorine is increased during peak periods, but if it gets beyond
the usual maximum, complaints are made with regard to the chemical effects
produced on the eyes, nose, ears, etc., of bathers. The bacteriological count
found in the September sample showed the water to have as great or greater
bacteriological purity than the drinking water from taps, and it was in fact
almost sterile.
There are no privately owned swimming baths or pools used by the
public.
Mortuary.
The Mortuary is situated in the Cemetery Ground, Havelock Road. It
is antiquated and out of date.
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