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

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St Giles (Camberwell) 1883

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell]

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182
right, however, to recall to recollection that systematic
house-to-house inspection was commenced
in Camberwell immediately on the organisation of
the sanitary department at the beginning of 1856,
and that it has been maintained without intermission
ever since ; that during that time 82 miles of sewers
have been made, more than 28,000 houses have been
drained, and probably more than 10,000 cesspools
abolished. For a statistical record of the more
important works done through the direct agency of
the sanitary department I must refer to the table
prepared jointly by the Surveyor and myself. It
will be seen from that that our sanitary works have
covered a large field; and that, amongst other
matters, the disinfection of houses and of bedding
after infectious disease, the application of Torren's
Act, and the regulation of houses let in lodgings
have formed no unimporatnt part of the duties of the
Inspectors. And, indeed I do not hesitate to assert
that, notwithstanding that here and there there may
seem to have been neglect, that in some instances
the carrying out of sanitary requirements may not
have been effected so pertinaciously as might be,
and that there are still many things in the parish
that one would like to see otherwise than they are,
an enormous amount of good work has been done,