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30 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF DISTRICT.
During the year 70(5 inspections have been made by myself
and the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, under the Housing
Acts and the Public Health Act. In addition 281 inspections
were made on account of infectious diseases, 186 of which were
to ascertain the present condition of cases of Malaria, Dysentery,
and Trench Fever, 90 visits were paid to the Infant Welfare Centres,
Creches, and the Maternity Home, and my attendance was
necessary on five occasions at the Police Court.
Nine special inspections were made of the River Wandle,
in consequence of complaints as to nuisance arising from its foul
condition, and also for preparation of evidence before a Committee
of the House of Commons against the Bill of the Croydon
Corporation to sink additional wells near the source of the River.
The following report was made to the Council on the
matter:—
"The River Wandle enters the Borough of Wandsworth
at Summerstown, close to the Corruganza Works, and forms the
boundary between the Borough and the Borough of Wimbledon
until it reaches a point opposite the foot of Groton Road. From
that point to the River Thames it forms the division between
the Southfield and the Springfield and Fairfield Wards.
From the Corruganza Works to the dam erected above the
outfall of the sewage from the Wandle Valley Sewerage Board
Farm the River is fairly clean, and the bed does not, except at
the dam itself, seem to have much deposit.
Below the weir at the foot of Trewint Street the effluent from
the Wandle* Valley Sewerage Board is discharged into a bvwash,
and about 100 yards further down the effluent from the
Wimbledon Sewage Farm is also discharged into the same bywash,
eventually passing under the London and South Western
Railway, and discharging into the River a few yards lower down.
The pollution at this point is most marked, and offensive
gases are given off by the sewage.