Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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damage to the interests of this town. The scheme has been
defeated for the present, but may be renewed in another form,
which should for the reasons stated meet with your strenuous
disapproval.
Pollution of rivers and streams in the District—The sources and
nature of such pollution and any action taken to check it.
The Thames is well looked after by the Thames Conservancy,
and prompt action is taken against the Corporation
if any sewage, &c. is carried into the river by sudden storms
or if the sewage effluent is in any way unfit.
The Hogg's Mill stream, which has been referred to, is
also in a measure under the supervision of the Thames Conservancy,
but the inspectors appear to take less interest in
this tributary watercourse than in the main stream of the
Thames. Reports often reach us of bad effluents being turned
into the river from the Sewage Works on the banks, but on
reaching the outfall the nuisance is always found to have been
stopped. Our only evidence is the nature of the water as
it comes through the Borough and this is often most unsatisfactory.
The legal difficulties in dealing with nuisances in
regard to watercourses seem to be very great, and some
simplification of the law is required.
The Latcbmere Brook is partly in this district, and
although a portion of it has been filled in it still serves to carry
off a certain amount of surface water from the north-east part
of the town. It is a very slow running stream and only partly
under the control of this Corporation.
Excrement Disposal—System in vogue—Defects, if any.
Water carriage is universal, and satisfactory. I think
every closet in the town is now provided with a flushing tank,
and the system works well.
Removal and Disposal of House Refuse—Whether by public scavenger
or occupiers—Frequency and method.
Certain streets are subject to a daily collection, in which
case the refuse is placed outside the house in a suitable
receptacle and removed by the dustmen. In other streets the
collection is weekly, the dustbins being emptied by the dustmen.
The collection is worked by the Corporation and the dust is