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
Heston and Isleworth 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
The following work in connection with water supplies has been carried out:—
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplies provided or reinstated | 7 | 14 | 15 | 76 | 30 | 29 | 18 | 22 |
| Cisterns, cleansed, repaired, etc. | 12 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 34 |
| Draw-off taps connected direct to main | 25 | 15 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 12 | — | 9 |
| Service pipes or taps repaired | 17 | 36 | 36 | 257 | 45 | 48 | 46 | 46 |
| Cases where mains supply substituted for well supply | 7 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Samples taken from wells for analysis | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 |
| Wells abolished | 30 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
The following work has been carried out:—
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drains exposed for examination | 89 | 10 | 64 | 95 | 100 | 32 | 66 | 29 |
| Drains unstopped, repaired, etc. | 167 | 136 | 307 | 204 | 256 | 221 | 323 | 358 |
| Waste pipes repaired, trapped, etc. | 44 | 24 | 33 | 43 | 29 | 48 | 30 | 84 |
| Soil pipes repaired, etc. | 13 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| Ventilating shafts repaired, etc. | 15 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Fresh air inlets repaired, etc. | 47 | 11 | 10 | 15 | — | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Rain water pipes disconnected from drains | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | 2 |
| Gully traps inserted or repaired | 116 | 19 | 28 | 37 | 33 | 16 | 28 | 78 |
| Disconnecting traps inserted or repaired | 10 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Disconnecting and inspection chambers provided | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | — | 4 | 39 |
| Disconnecting and inspection chambers repaired, etc. | 47 | 16 | 26 | 23 | 38 | 13 | 15 | 46 |
| Drains constructed or repaired | 54 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| Total length (ft.) of drain pipes | ||||||||
| laid (a) 4in. | 1,722 | 279 | 133 | 427 | 491 | 56 | 195 | 1,146 |
| 115 | 21 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | 128 | |
| Drain tests applied | 251 | 56 | 52 | 36 | 113 | 26 | 56 | 255 |
| Other works executed | 8 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Cesspools emptied or repaired | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Cesspools abolished | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
RIVERS AND STREAMS.—The supervision of the rivers and streams in the Borough is carried
out by Middlesex County Council. No complaint of pollution has been made to the Health Department
during 1939-46.
The following works have been carried out:—
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Water closets constructed or rebuilt | 14 | 6 | 7 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Water closets where walls cleansed | 22 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 30 | 28 | 21 |
| Water closets fitted with new flushing apparatus | 15 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 11 | 31 |
| New pans or pedestals provided | 61 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 45 | 60 |
| Water closets repaired or improved | 220 | 165 | 145 | 189 | 144 | 99 | 132 | 172 |
| Water closet blockages unstopped | 63 | 25 | 10 | 25 | 37 | 14 | 17 | 27 |
| Other closets provided or repaired | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 3 |
PUBLIC CLEANSING.—The cleansing of streets and the collection and disposal of refuse are
carried out under the control of the Borough Engineer. Refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping
and the collection of house refuse is carried out weekly. Through action by the Health Department the
following: numbers of new dustbins have been provided—
1939 83
1940 25
1941 44
1942 121
1943 100
1944 52
1945 86
1946 233
18