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 Westminster, The United Parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster]
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44
Carriage entrances 3
Altering position of lamp 1
Materials on road 1
New drains 107
Examining drains 3
Unstopping drains 12
Inserting flaps upon drain 1
Lowering flap of drain 1
Repairing drain 1
Taking over new street 1
215
The whole of the costs of reinstating paving, constructing
drains, etc., have been borne by the various licensees.
STREET CLEANSING, STREET WATERING, AND REMOVAL OF
HOUSE REFUSE,
The remarks upon these services assume a new feature in the
report which I annually present, inasmuch as the services have
only been under the direct control of the department since
March, 1891.
Without endeavouring to laud the department, the following
statement is put forward as a resume of the work which has
actually been performed during the 12 months ended 25th
March, and as the work had previously been performed under
the contract system, no real comparison can be set out in this
report. The Vestry have, however, only to remember the
condition of the streets when in the hands of the contractor, and
to notice their condition under the existing circumstances, to be
convinced of the advantage to the public comfort, which has
taken place in consequence of the change.
In the removal of house refuse, which is a matter the Vestry
have not so many opportunities of observing, the endeavour, at
all times, has been to fall in with the wishes of every occupier;
and ns an evidence that the effort has met with success, I would
state that the number of requests for removal, made at my office,
has fallen to ten per cent, of that received during the contract
system. In this service a fall of snow is now not such a grave
matter as it was in previous years, inasmuch as during the storms
in January on inconvenience whatever was experienced by any
inhabitant in consequence of non-removal of dust.
The difficulty of cleansing the street after a snow storm has
always been great, but the extra duty imposed upon the Vestry
in the passing of the Public Health Act, 1891, has enormously
increased the responsibility, and added to the amount which