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27
SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Health Department,
Council Offices,
New Malden,
January, igog.
Rashell Davison, Esq., m.d.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Dear Sir,
I have pleasure in submitting my First Annual Report
of the work done in the Health Department, and the Sanitary
circumstances of the District, for the year ending December 31st,
1908.
SANITARY WORK OF THE YEAR.
It will be seen that great progress has been accomplished in
the general sanitary work of the District during the past year.
A tabulated summary of the various inspections made and
nuisances discovered (Table I.) is inserted on page 31.
During the year, 87 complaints of nuisances in the District
were received. All complaints are immediately investigated and
the necessary steps in respect thereof at once taken.
Systematic inspection of the District has been made in accordance
with the General Orders of the Local Government Board and
Sec. 92 of the Public Health Act, 1875.
Most of the nuisances discovered were remedied upon receipt
of informal notices, but in 30 cases Council Orders had to be
applied for.
In no case, however, have legal proceedings been necessary.
At the close of the year there were 19 notices in abeyance,
most of the work however being in hand.
A house to house inspection of all the small property in the
District is being gradually undertaken, and this I find is very
necessary.
A large number of the cottages (occupied by labourersgenerally),
are in a very neglected and insanitary condition indeed.
The owners or interested persons in some cases appear to do
nothing whatevertowards the general maintenance of the properties,
year after year, until the condition of a great many is deplorable,
a disgrace to the persons interested and to the District. By this
I do not mean to imply that there are no reasonably good landlords
who are alive to their true interests, but I would point out that a
house in a state of decay, dilapidated, damp and dirty, is enough
to dishearten the best inteutioned of occupiers.