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

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Heston and Isleworth 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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Informal notices issued 228
Written reminders issued 234
Statutory notices served 47
Total number of inspections and re-inspections 17,684
Inspections of piggeries 13
Inspections of stables 34
Inspections of urinals 54
Sinks provided or repaired 12
Roofs repaired 78
Gutters repaired or renewed 81
Brickwork sills, etc. repaired or renewed 141
Premises provided with damp-proof courses 2
Yards and forecourts paved or drained 14
External painting 6
Rooms stripped, cleansed and redecorated 115
Floors walls and ceilings repaired or renewed 256
Rooms in which ventilation provided or improved 14
Windows repaired or renewed 160
Doors and other woodwork repaired or renewed 92
Staircases replaced or repaired 6
Handrails or balusters repaired or renewed 2
Grates provided or repaired 35
Washing coppers provided or repaired 2
Instances where ventilation under floor provided or improved 6
Food stores provided or repaired 5
Domestic cleansing enforced 2
Verminous condition abated 5
Improper keeping of animals abated 5
Offensive accumulations removed 76
Other repairs carried out or nuisances abated 75
Visits re infectious diseases, etc. 305
Pigstyes repaired 1
Complaints continue to be received of nuisance caused by pigeons. The Public
Health Act, 1961 now gives a local authority power 'to take steps for the purpose of
abating or mitigating any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation in
any built-up area of house doves or pigeons or of starlings or sparrows'. The seizure
and destruction of any birds must be carried out humanely and any action taken must
not contravene the Protection of Birds Act, 1954 Action taken at nine sites in the
Borough resulted in the destruction of 204 pigeons, but while food is liberally provided
by the public there is little prospect of keeping the numbers down.
FXCHANGF OF ARTICLFS FOR RAGS, ETC. Under the Public Health Act, 1961, it is
an offence for any person who collects or deals in rags, etc. to sell or deliver
whether gratuitously or not, any article whatsoever to a child under the age of 14
years in exchange for rags, etc. The Police notify the Council of any such contraventions
coming to their notice.
CLEAN AIR During the year the Public Health Inspectors made 116 smoke observations
and paid many visits to premises in regard to which complaints of smoke
nuisance had been received Six notices were served under section 30 of the Clean
Air Act. 1956
The Council has co-operated with the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research since 1951 by measuring atmospheric pollution in the Borough and forwarding
monthly returns The original apparatus gave monthly measurements of solid deposits
and sulphur pollution The instruments were installed on the roofs of the Health
Department, Heath House and the isleworth Telephone Exchange.

The average monthly records of pollution given by these instruments were as follows.-

Deposit (tons per sq. mile)Sulphur (Mgms. S03 per day per 100 sq. cm.)
195112.20.72
195211.20.87