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
Wanstead and Woodford 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wanstead and Woodford]
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| 1958 | |||||
| November | 35 | 131 | 10.8 | 33.4 | |
| December | 39 | 99 | 12.9 | 38 | |
| Average yearly figures for Woodford from 1955 to 1958 are given below: | |||||
| Smoke | |||||
| 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | ||
| Average for year | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | |
| Average for winter months | 32 | 29 | 31 | 27.3 | |
| Average for summer months | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6.5 | |
| Highest daily recording | 153 | 112 | 205 | 108 | |
| Sulphur Dioxide | |||||
| Average for year | 5.5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | |
| Average for winter months | 8 | 9 | 9.3 | 8.6 | |
| Average for summer months | 3 | 3 | 2.1 | 4.7 | |
| Highest daily recording | 38 | 40 | 69 | 39.6 | |
Attention is again drawn to the marked difference between the
winter and summer figures of pollution, confirming that domestic
smoke is the main pollutant within the Borough.
No further action was authorised in connection with the proposed
smoke control area in the Snaresbrook Ward, the Committee taking
into account the apparent shortage of solid smokeless fuel other than
coke.
The possibility of the Borough being included in a black area may
come as a shock to those who regard the Borough as a residential
district of almost semi-rural character, although anyone who has
studied the recorded measurements will have been aware for some
considerable time that the 'country air' of Woodford is well and truly
polluted.
It is to be hoped that every effort will now be made to press forward
as rapidly as possible towards making the whole Borough a
smoke control area and thus ensure a substantial improvement in the
living conditions of all residents.
Rodent Control
Arrangements for the destruction of rats and mice continued as for
previous years with the employment of a full-time rodent operative.
The number of complaints received during 1958 was 286, as against
420 in 1957 and 430 in 1956.
19