London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Sutton 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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The retail Bakehouses, 14 in number, were all found in good sanitary
condition.
Home Work.—Three lists of outworkers have been received, from makers of
wearing apparel, employing three home workers in the district and two residing
outside.
Water Supply.—The usually excellent water supply is from the Sutton Water
Company's wells in the chalk. Frequent chemical and bacteriological examinations
have been made on behalf of the Council by the Lister Institute of Preventive
Medicine. On one occasion during the year the report of the analysts caused some
anxiety, and a special report on the subject was made by me to the Council. The
latest sample submitted for analysis, however, gave very good results, showing the
water to be free from impurity. Great efforts are being made both by the Company
and the Council to ensure an excellent and safe supply. The process of sinking new
wells in the Chipstead Valley is, I hear, progressing rapidly, from which an excellent
addition to the Company's supply may be anticipated. The good work done by your
Council in endeavouring to prevent the pollution of the chalk strata from which the
present supply is obtained is referred to in another part of this report.
Sewage Disposal.—The sewage of the District is conveyed by a system of
sewers to a farm situated in the north-west portion of the District, where it is
submitted to treatment by double contact bacteria beds. This method continues to
give perfect satisfaction, and no complaints have been received of any nuisance
arising therefrom.
During the year a new double contact filter bed at the lower level has been
constructed 75 feet in length by 25 in breadth, and having a capacity of 9,720
gallons.
I am informed by the Surveyor that the low level beds referred to in my last
report continue to give satisfactory results.
Bye-Laws Relating to New Streets and Buildings .—The following table shows the work done under these Bye-Laws in 1904, and the ten preceding years:—
| In 1894 | In 1895 | in 1896 | In 1897 | In 1898 | In 1899 | In 1900 | In 1901 | In 1902 | In 1903 | In 1904 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The number of new buildings, and of additions to buildings, of which plans were submitted for approval under the Bye-Laws, was | 89 | 110 | 132 | 227 | 263 | 257 | 153 | 201 | 174 | 192 | 171 |
| The number of new streets, ditto, was | 4 | none | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| The number of times that legal proceedings were taken for breach of the Bye-laws relating to streets and buildings was | none | 1 | 1 | none | none | 1 | none | |none | none | none | none |
Five private streets were metalled, channelled, paved, &c., during the year
under the Private Streets Works Act, 1892.
As to House Drainage, &c.—I am informed by the Surveyor that the drains of
111 premises were connected with the sewers of the district during the year, viz.,
104 house drains, 6 stables, and 1 shop.