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 Malden and Coombe]
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The Council have appointed a groundsman who devotes the
whole of his time to this Park. If this progress is only maintained
during the coming year, Beverley Park will soon, no doubt, be more
frequented in the bright weather, especially by children, and so take
them away from the busier thoroughfares.
Allotments.—There are now 92 holdings at the Council's
allotments, and these are quite inadequate to meet the demands,
showing how highly the Council's endeavour to provide ground for
the healthy occupation of gardening are appreciated.
SANITARY POWERS OBTAINED BY THE COUNCIL.
The Council has secured by its adoption of the Public Health
Acts Amendment Act, 1907, one of the most powerful levers to
operate sanitary improvements in the district. It cannot be denied
that the Council are well to the front in securing reforms, but the
powers conferred by the Local Government Board and Secretary of
State will considerably assist the Public Health Officers. The
Council are well in advance of many districts, and it is anticipated
that good work will follow.
EXCREMENT DISPOSAL.
The water carriage system is the method of removal of sewage
from the dwellings in this district. Every opportunity is taken
advantage of for the improvement or amendment of drainage of
existing buildings, the whole of which is carried out by the Health
Department, modern sanitary fittings replacing defective or obsolete
ones, and thoroughly modern drainage systems replacing the
old ones.
SCAVENGING AND CLEANSING.
Collection and disposal of all refuse is now carried out by the
Health Department, viz., the collection, removal, and destruction
of house and trade refuse. The effective disposal of dry refuse,
paper, rags, and other more or less combustible material constitutes
one of the greatest difficulties which every sanitary authority has to
face. Some 2,704 loads are collected yearly. Much of this might
be obviated and expense to the ratepayers reduced if individual
householders would burn in their own grates such material as
paper, rags, potato peelings, cabbage leaves, and similar substances
; few do so, with the result that the average dustbin contains
an objectionable amount of readily decomposing material.