[Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Edinburgh City.

  • Edinburgh (Scotland). City Council.
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Edinburgh City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    142/274 (page 134)
    the first of its kind, by Dr (afterwards Sir) Henry Littlejohn, the first Medics Officer of Health of the City, published in 1865. Space forbids any detailei reference to the portrayal of the conditions in that report, but it is related ther that large sections of the population were crowded together in squalid homes o one or two apartments in the towering tenements forming the congested centra areas of the City. Instances of tenements having as many as 60 to 70 room with up to 56 families, and populations of 130 to 240 persons, are given. Th internal condition of these homes may be imagined from the fact that water hai still to be carried to many of them from the public wells and there was almos an entire absence of sinks and water-closets. In cases where the latter had beei installed they were faultily placed in dark, internal apartments and were mad to serve many families. Even at that date Sir Henry seemed reluctant to entrus the inhabitants with separate sanitary appliances in their houses, so filthy and fou were those already in existence being kept, and he suggested that they migh be provided at the foot of the stairs. A beginning had been made with the erection of more modern houses, som on a co-operative basis. These were afforded more ample space both inside ant outside, although not on the present-day scale, and although sanitary facilitie were provided they were yet of a somewhat elementary character. Towards th end of the century the forerunner of the modern tenemental type of house wa being developed, replete with scullery and bathroom, and a new standard wa being set which, in the course of years, has been subject to gradual improvement Since the formation of the Sanitary Department vast changes have beer made in the domestic environment by the removal of many nuisances and th< widespread provision of modern sanitary conveniences and hot and cold wate supply within the houses as well as the attainment of higher standards of domes tit and communal cleanliness. Notable improvements have been made by large scale slum clearance and the erection of increasing numbers of new houses Conditions in places of employment, as well as in bakehouses, dairies and shops in places of entertainment, in shipping, transport, etc., have also been greath improved. Life has thereby become much more tolerable for the citizens. B\ the further application of hygienic principles to the manufacture, storage and salt of food, the distribution of milk, the sale of ice-cream, the prevention of fooc adulteration, smoke abatement, and the destruction of rats, mice and various insect vermin, additional benefits to the health and welfare of the community have been gained. Whilst, therefore, it will be admitted that considerable progress has beer made, it will also be realised that much remains to be done. There are stil many slum properties and other insanitary conditions calling for attention. Tht process of grappling with these has been temporarily hindered by war-time activities and continuing shortages, but it is hoped that before long a resumptior of the task will be possible. The applications of sanitary science are ever- widening, new problems are constantly arising and higher standards are being set. There is, therefore, always need for the utmost vigilance in this important field which affects so much the well-being of the citizens.