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
Hackney 1861
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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The nuisances abated by Mr. Valentine during the Quarter, partly under my instructions, are as follows:—
| Cesspools emptied, filled up, and drained into the sewer | 92 |
| Cesspools emptied | 31 |
| Horse, cow, pig, and vegetable refuse removed | 77 |
| Houses limewashed, purified, and repaired | 69 |
| Pigsties repaired or removed | 19 |
| Foul and offensive drains cleansed and re-constructed | 91 |
| Other nuisances | 33 |
| 412 |
This number, 412, is decidedly in excess of the average for the corresponding
Quarters of the last three years, especially as regards the houses
limewashed, purified, and cleansed. In order to obtain the removal
of so many nuisances, it was requisite to require the attendance before the
Board of twenty-seven owners of property, and to summons five persons
before the Magistrates at the Worship-street and Clerkenwell Police
Courts. The Magistrates ordered the removal of the nuisances in all
these cases.
The weather was not so warm as usual—the mean temperature for the
Quarter having been about one degree below the average. During the
first six weeks the temperature was much below the mean, but it increased
at a greater rate than usual during the remainder of the Quarter. The
highest temperature recorded was 80.6°, and the lowest 27.4°, affording a
range of 53.2°. The pressure of the air as indicated by the barometer
was in excess of the mean; whilst the rain-fall was rather more than an
inch below the average.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN W. TRIPE.
August, 1861.