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

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West Ham 1928

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

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Windows 1914
Doors 416
Fireplaces 1156
Walls and Ceilings 13614
Coppers—
Cleansed 1
Repaired 684
New Provided 1
Ditches, Urinals, etc.—
Cleansed 2
Repaired -
Animals improperly kept 33
Offensive Accumulation 67
Overcrowding 83
Smoke Nuisance 127
Dust Receptacles provided
1350
Rooms Disinfected 3636
Premises Infected with
Rats 19
It frequently happens that a single sanitary notice specifies
many defects needing abatement.
Smoke Abatement.
Although West Ham is largely an industrial area, it is not
affected by "Black Smoke" to any considerable extent. The
greater part of the smoke is produced by the domestic fire, and
is therefore blue or yellow in colour rather than black, whilst the
soot consists of larger and more greasy particles than that produced
in the furnace of the steam boiler.
It is interesting to note that the demand for low temperature
coke is now much greater than the supply, and it is to be hoped
that those engaged in the production of this excellent fuel will not
only maintain the quality of their product, but will accelerate the
construction of additional plants. There can be no doubt that
herein largely lies the solution of the domestic smoke problem so
far as existing firegrates and cooking stoves are concerned. The
Gas and Electrical Industries are rendering useful assistance to
Smoke Abatement by providing at reasonable rates gas, current,
and appliances for their use.
Constant observation is kept over the various chimneys, not
being those of private houses, and suitable action is taken as and
when required.
SOOT GAUGES.
No soot gauges or actinometers are used by the Department,
it being felt that all available time and money should be devoted
to the speedy repression of the smoke evil rather than to the building
up of statistics which could not denote local conditions with
accuracy.
48