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 Orsett]
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East of church. (2 have been connected with this during the year)
—the overflow runs into a ditch some 300 yards away. At
Stanford-le-Hope the brewery, about 30 cottages, and the road,
drain into a tidal creek. At Horndon-on-the-Hill, South
Ockendon, Aveley and West Thurrock, some few cottages are connected
with drains, which empty themselves into the nearest
ditch. At South Ockendon the ditches to the South and East
were found very foul, and were temporarily disinfected with
lime. A committee inspected with the Medical Officer of Health,
but effectual dealing with the nuisance was left for the Parish
Council. At North Ockendon the pail system is adopted to
a great extent, but I find that it is the exception to the rule
to use earth and consequently the system is little better than
the old cesspits. Cesspits abound almost everywhere, and at
West Thurrock and parts of Stifford many of the cesspits go
down into the chalk from which the South Essex Waterworks
Company derives its supply.
There is no public scavenging.
Condition of
Cottages, orererowding
Considerable attention has for years been given to the
condition of cottages. Many have been condemned and
closed, and many more put into a good state of repair.
Overcrowding does not prevail to any great extent.
Industries carried
on, Effects
on health
The only industry carried on largely in the District is
Cement making, and in one of the processes connected with
this (viz., Grinding the Cement), I have thought the dust
inhaled to be a cause of Bronchitis and Lung Irritation.
Character of
Streams
The only streams in the District are the Mardyke and
Stanford Brook. The Mardyke rises in Warley and enters
this District between Bulphan and North Ockendon, flows
Southward between Orsett and South Ockendon, then turns
to the West through Stifford and between West Thurrock
and Aveley, and empties itself into the Thames above
i'urfleet. It occasionally overflows and submerges parts of
Bulphan and Orsett Pens, and the land adjoining its banks
through Stifford to its junction with the Thames—not
polluted. Stanford Brook drains the Southern and part of
the Western slope of Laindon Hills, it runs betweeen
Horndon-on-the-Hill and Stanford-le-Hope, and then between
Mucking and Stanford-le-Hope, joining the Thames in the
Lower Hope. It is a tidal stream as high as Stanford
Bridge; about 500 yards below this it receives the drains
from Stanford Brewery and several cottages in the sand pits.