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
Sutton and Cheam 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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The following is a summary of the results obtained during the year:-
| MONTH | Gauge No. 2 | Gauge No. 6 | Gauge No. 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall in inches | Total Solids (Tons per sq.mile) | Rainfall in inches | Total Solids (Tons per sq.mile) | Rainfall in inches | Total Solids (Tons per sq.mile) | |
| January | 1.96 | 11.10 | 2.31 | 9.05 | 1.83 | 9.29 |
| February | 0.05 | 7.13 | 0.07 | 4. 94 | 0.06 | 4.83 |
| March | 2.16 | 10.97 | 2.53 | 8.89 | 2.17 | 7.72 |
| April | 1.97 | 11.14 | 2.42 | 9.36 | 2.00 | 6.83 |
| May | 1.09 | 10.04 | 1.01 | 8.75 | 0.77 | 8.22 |
| June | 0.75 | 10.51 | 1.33 | 11.46 | 0.42 | 9.58 |
| July | 1.61 | 10.83 | 1.63 | 9.46 | 1.01 | 6.73 |
| August | 0.93 | 6.93 | 1.34 | 8.33 | 1.28 | 6.57 |
| September | 0.05 | 8.26 | 0.13 | 8.27 | 0.04 | 6.23 |
| October | 2.03 | 8.12 | 2.15 | 13.11 | 2.07 | 5.73 |
| November | 3.51 | 11.60 | 3.89 | 21.83 | 3.15 | 10.07 |
| December | 3.57 | 9.24 | 4.54 | 9.22 | 3.19 | 7.79 |
| Yearly Totals | 19.68 | 115.87 | 23.35 | 122.67 | 17.99 | 89.59 |
| Monthly Average | 1.64 | 9.66 | 1.95 | 10.22 | 1.50 | 7.47 |
The Borough is adequately covered by the three grit deposit
gauges which are sited roughly 1½ miles apart.
DAILY MEAN CONCENTRATION OF SMOKE AND SULPHUR DIOXIDE
A smoke filter and volumetric sulphur dioxide apparatus was
installed in Manor Park House after consulting the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research as to the suitability of the
site.
A dally record has been kept, since the 1st November, 1958,
of the amount of smoke or suspended matter and sulphur dioxide
in the air.
It has long been recognised that a distinction must be
drawn between relatively coarse particles of solid matter which
are quickly deposited by their own weight, and which comprise
most of the particulate matter collected in the deposit gauge,
and the very fine particles which settle slowly, if at all.
These fine particles, commonly referred to as 'smoke', are less
than about 20 microns (0.002 cm) In size and consist largely of
carbonaceous matter, including tar, produced by the incomplete
combustion of coal; some fine ash is also included. It is
important to realise that little of this fine material is
collected in the deposit gauge which in consequence gives no
information about pollution by smoke. To obtain such information
a smoke filter is necessary.
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