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

View report page

Richmond upon Thames 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]

This page requires JavaScript

25
Exchange of toys and other articles for rags and old clothes.
Section 154—Public Health Act, 1936
Legal proceedings authorised by the Council resulted in the
conviction of a person who whilst engaged in collecting old clothes,
delivered a goldfish in exchange for rags to a child under the age of
fourteen years in contravention of the Public Health Act, 1936.
The case was heard at the Richmond Petty Sessions Court on
the 19th of October, 1938, and a fine of 10/- was imposed.
The Council issued a notice in the local newspapers urging
parents and other persons, in order to prevent the spread of vermin
and contagious diseases, not to permit children to deliver rags, etc.,
to collectors of such articles in exchange for toys, goldfish and other
articles.
Camping Sites.
There are no camping sites within the Borough.
Smoke Abatement.
Richmond, being a residential district, contains no large works
or factories. There are a few small factories but these give little
trouble of smoke nuisance.
Five complaints of nuisance by smoke were received during the
year, all of which were abated without recourse to legal proceedings.
Eradication of Bed Bugs.
This problem which has assumed considerable importance
has again received much attention during the year.
The only rational attitude that a Sanitary Authority can adopt
towards the problem of the bed bug is that of prevention, and it is
on these lines that the department has continued to carry out routine
measures for cleansing and eradication purposes since 1911.
The number of houses reported to be in a verminous condition
and action taken during the year was as follows:—
Council houses 36
Other houses 31