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

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Paddington 1879

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]

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20
done, and large quantities of foul deposit were found
opposite the manure wharves, as well as at the east
end of the Basin. Of this only a small quantitywas
removed.
Dr. Hardwicke in his first annual report stated
that the basin was emptied and tolerably well
cleansed in July, 1867, and again less perfectly so
at Christmas. In 1868 Dr. Hardwicke, with the
sanction of the Vestry, addressed a letter to the
Grand Junction Canal Company, in which, after
refering to the insanitary condition of the Canal
Basin; to the requirement by the Metropolitan
Board of Works of forty-eight hours notice before
allowing the water to be run off; to the making
and enforcement of bye-laws, having for their
object the prevention of the fouling of the basin
by those employed thereon; to the absence of
water-closet accommodation for such persons, as
well as for those living in the barges; and to
the need of cleansing the basin once or twice
a year—matters and measures which had been
previously urged by Dr. Sanderson—he recommended
the appointment of an efficient waterbailiff
to check those malpractices with regard to
loading, &c., which have been the cause of nearly
all the mischief. Dr. Hardwicke further recommended
that, whenever it should become necessary
to cleanse the basin, a sufficient number of barges
should be allowed to sink in it whilst the water