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 Shoreditch, Parish of St. Leonard]
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inspection, when it was found that each of the 76 houses had
a separate brick drain passing under living and sleeping rooms,
to the sewer in front of the houses. These drains were all of
defective character, causing thereby the lower rooms to be
impregnated with sewer gas, and infested with rats. The
closets were without water, and, with the exception of one, all
those on the north side were untrapped; there was under each
closet pan an open brick shaft which discharged into the
defective drain. These brick shafts and the closet pans were
very foul. They were generally close to bedroom windows
and smelled very offensively. The rain water pipes were all
connected with the drains, and the heads of all these pipes
were in close proximity to the first floor bedroom windows.
The dust bins were in many instances placed immediately
under the bedroom windows. The small yards were defectively
paved and consequently foul. The sinks . were generally
untrapped, and drinking water was stored in small uncovered
butts, many of which were very foul, and rotten. Notices
were served requiring the abatement of these nuisances; in
compliance with which the owners has removed all the brick
drains, and substituted stoneware pipe drains. The closets
have all been cleansed and repaired, and water has been laid
on to them. The yards have been paved with cement concrete,
and fitted with proper dished and trapped receptacles for
surface drainage and house slops. The rain water pipes have
all been disconnected from the drains, portable dust boxes have
been provided, and finally a constant supply of water from the
main has been given to each house.
No. 23, WINDSOR STREET, WENLOCK ROAD.—Under the
kitchen floor was found an accumulation of stagnant sewage
several feet deep, ascertained to be forced upwards from a
large dilapidated brick barrell drain lying at a depth of 6 feet
below the floor; as the owner refused to remove this drain,
and had filled in a quantity of rubbish on the top of it, the
premises were entered, under the Chairman's authority, and
the drain and all sewage matter removed by the Vestry's