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

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Walthamstow 1903

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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68
Slaughter-houses.—There are twelve licensed slaughter-houses
within the district which are kept in satisfactory repair. In three of
these during the year the paving has been found in a defective condition
and has been thoroughly repaired, and in other respects the regulations
as to cleaning, etc., have been complied with.
Fishmongers.—The premises occupied by Fishmongers, of which
there are 89, within the district, have been constantly visited throughout
ihe year, and the following works ordered and carried out:—
Paving repaired 13
New paving works 1
Repairs and drains 3
Cleansing 2
Improvement in smoking-shed 1
Ice-cream Vendors.—Sixteen premises are occupied by Ice-cream
Vendors, and are kept in good condition.
Fish Offal.—The nuisance caused by the removal of fish offal,
though during permitted hours, yet at a time when our streets are most
crowded, has still given rise to many complaints, especially during the
warm weather. The regulations of the Metropolitan Police Acts
dealing with this subject are only concerned with the hours during
which the removal is effected. As, however, it is essential, and quite
possible, to prevent nuisance in course of removal, the question of the
hours is a secondary consideration, and our efforts should be directed to
the prevention of nuisance. The new bye-law, which has been
sanctioned by the Local Government Board, is drafted so as to prevent
nuisance from the stench, whatever the hours during which the removal
is effected, and has been printed and circulated amongst the fishmongers
of the town and the offal removers. The bye-law reads as follows:—
Every person who, by himself, or his servant, or agent, shall
remove or convey or assist in the removal or conveyance of any
filth, ashes, or rubbish, emitting a stench across, through or along
any stieet, within the district, shall, unless the filth, ashes or
rubbish is so covered as to prevent such emission, cause such
matter to be mixed or covered with a sufficient quantity of a suitable
and effective deodorant, or shall adopt such other precautions
as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the emission of noxious
or offensive effluvia from such filth, ashes, or rubbish.
Food Supply. —The food exposed for sale in the town generally, and
specially in the market places on Fridays and Saturdays, continues to be
of wholesome quality. A regular visitation of the markets, as well as
observation in the course of ordinary duties, has not revealed any
conditions requiring action, except in one case—i.e., swine fever. In
the month of June, in the course of my visits, I had reason to believe
that several pigs suffering from swine fever had been killed in