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 Merton and Morden]
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paving being constructed in such a manner as to permit of the
effectual drainage.
Four whole houses and one hundred and twelve rooms
were discovered to be in a dirty condition, and these have been
cleansed.
HOUSE REFUSE REMOVAL.
Approximately 3,900 tons of house and garden refuse have
been collected and disposed of at the tip at the Merton Park
Estate Company's Brickfield.
The number of inhabited houses has so increased that it
was found necessary to purchase another collecting van.
The Council pay an annual rent for the shoot at Morden,
and the cost has been partly covered by the receipt of a small
sum in respect of the privilege of sorting and selling old rags,
bottles, tins, etc.
I have recently been able to secure an increased sum in
respect of this privilege, which will entirely cover the rent
which the Council now have to pay.
The fixed ashpit has now been practically abolished in this
district, the portable galvanised bin having been recognised as
a more hygenic arrangement.
A weekly collection is made at every house in the district.
but it would perhaps be better, for the general community, to
institute a bi-weekly or even a daily collection, in the poor-class
streets of the district, particularly during the summer months.
This procedure is adopted in several Boroughs and Urban Districts,
and it cannot be denied that the practice is beneficial
in many ways.
The ashbin in many cases is placed under or near the