LIBRARY y / / >'/ALS IN GHAM RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. 0O0 ANNUAL REPORT of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH for the year 1946 to which is appended the REPORT OF THE SAM IT ARY INSPECTOR. STAFF. Medical Officer of Health; L.G. ANDERSON, M.D.Livorp., Ch.B., D.P.H. Surveyor & Senior Sanitary Inspector; H.E. GILBY, F.R.I.C.S., M.Inst.Mun.E., Cert.S.I.B., Cert.R.3.I., as Inspector of Meat & Other Foods. Deputy Surveyor & Additional Sanitary Inspector; A.H. EAGLE, Cert.S.I.B., A.M.I.S.E.,, Cert.R.S.I., as Inspector of Meat & Other Foods. District Water Engineer; E. HAYMAN. Assistant to Surveyor & Senior Sanitary Inspector; L.H. DOUGHTY. (Now serving with H.M. Forces.) Temporary Shorthand Typist; MISS E.M. WATERSON. (From Jan.1st to Sopt.7th,1946.) Shorthand-Typist; MISS J.H. LEWIS. (From 30th Sept*1946 to date.) Temporary Clerical Assistant. (Hobhouse Rural Housing Survey); R.F. HERRING. (From 30th Sept.1946 to date.) Clerk to Medical Officer of Health; D. HUNN. (Returned from Royal Navy 2nd.Sept.19U6.) ./AL3 IN GHAH RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. Council Offices, FAKSNHAM, Norfolk. ,ITITUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1946. Mr. Chairman, Ladies & Gentlemen, I have the honour to submit to you my Annual Report for the year ending December 31st, 1946. In view of the unavoidable delay which occurs before the receipt of the Registrar- General's statistical figures it was considered desirable that an interim report should be submitted to you in order that you might have before you at the earliest possible time the salient features relative to the health of your district for the previous year. An Interim Annual Report was therefore submitted to your Public Health Committee on the 9th April, 1947. This report was based on statistics obtained from the local office registers and as these statistics were compiled from the 1945 mid-year population and also did not take into account such factors as inward and outward transfers of births, revision of classification of causes of death, they will be found to differ slightly from those contained in this report. The problem of shortage of staff was in great part solved by the appointing of Mr. A.H. Eagle to the post of Deputy Surveyor and Additional Sanitary Inspector on the 12th Dec. 1945, and Mr. R.F. Herring to the post of Temporary Clerical Assistant to the Public Health Department on the 30th Sept. 1946. Mr. D. Hunn, Clerk to the Medical Officer of Health, returned from i/ar Service to take up duties on the 2nd Sept, 1946. The Diphtheria Immunisation Scheme continued to function well and the results are considered to be most encouraging. In conclusion I would like to thank the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee for their progressive and encouraging support and the staff for their loyal co-operation for upon these factors depends the continued progress towards improving the public health conditions of our district. I have the honour to be Your obedient servant, L.G ANDERSON. M.D.,Ch.B.,D.P.H. Medical Officer of Health. STATISTICS. Area (in acres) .. 88,818. Resident population mid-year 1946 (as estimated by the Registrar-General) . 17>150. Number of inhabited houses (end of 1946) . 6,449. Rateable Value (end of 1946) .£67,723. Sum represented by a Penny Rate . £286. VITAL STATISTICS. (1). Live Births. Males. Females. Total. Legitimate. 141 149 290. Illegitimate. 11 11 22. Total. 152. 160. 312. Live Birth Rate per 1 ,000 of estimated Resident Population . 18.2 Live Birth Rate per 1 ,000 of Civilian Population. England & ./ales . 19.1 (2). Still Births. Males. Females. Total, Legitimate. 3 7 10. Illegitimate. - — — Total. 3. 7. 10. Still Birth Rate per 1 ,000 of estimated Resident Population . 0.58 Still Birth Rate per 1,000 of Civilian Population. England & './ales.0.53 (3). Deaths. Males. Fbmales. Total. 109. 110. 219. Crude Death Rate per 1 ,000 of estimated Resident Population . 12.8 Crude Death Rate per 1 ,000 of Civilian Population. England & /ales.11.5 Deaths from puerperal causes . Nil. (No area comparability figure is available as yet.) (4). Infant Mortality.(Deaths of Infants under 1 year of age.) Males. Females. Total. Legitimate. 5 5 10. Illegitimate. — - — Total. 5. 5. 10. Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births . 32.1 Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births England & Jaies . 43.0 ^s compared with the previous year the number of live births in the district showed an increase from 292 in 1945 to 312 in 1946, whilst the number of deaths increased from 202 in 1945 to 219 in 1946. The chief causes of death were heart disease, cerebral haemorrhage, cancer and senility. Many of the deaths included under the headings heart disease and cerebral haemorrhage might just as well been classed as senility as they occurred in the age groups 80 to 90. The greatest incidence of deaths occurred in the age group 70 to 80 whilst the next highest incidence was recorded in group 80 to 90. 12 deaths occurred in age group 90 to 100. Infant Mortality showed a slight fall from 11 deaths in 1945 to 10 in 1946. The causes of death of these infants, details of which are in our Register, are given in the following table Sex. Age. Cause of Death. F. 3 hours. Prematurity. M. 9 hours. Prematurity. F. 18 hours. Prematurity, M. 3 days t Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn F, 4 days. Heart disease. M. 2 weeks. Marasmus. (Prematurity). F. 2 months. Coma and Convulsions. M. 3 months. Cong.malformations of heart. The Zymotic death rate for the year was 0.00. This is the rate due to smallpox, measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and diarrhoea under two years of age. Death from: 1946. Smallpox . 0.00 Measles . 0.00 'whooping Cough . 0.00 Scarlet Fever . 0.00 Diphtheria . 0.00 Enteric Fever . 0.00 Diarrhoea (under 2 years) . 0.00 Zymotic death rate . 0.00 Below is given a table showing the causes of death as supplied by the local Registrar of Births and Deaths Cause of Death. Males. Females. Total. Heart disease. 43 38 81 . Cancer. 17 17 34. Cerebral Haemorrhage. 6 11 17. Senility. 10 10 • 0 CM Pneumonia (all types). 2 ■7 5. Gangrene. — 1 1. Pulmonary Tuberculosis. 4 4 8. Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis. 2 — 2. Accidents. 2 — 2. Suicide. 1 2 3. Prematurity, 2 2 4. Diabetes. - 2 2 B Uraemia. 6 7. Cretinism. - 1 1. Bronchitis. 1 2 3. Blood Disease. - 2 2. Rheumatoid Arthritis. — 1 1. Ac. Cholecystitus. 1 1. Meningococcal Meningitis. 1 1. Hernia. 1 1. Addisons Disease. i : 1. Pernicious Anaemia. i 1. Ac. Intestinal Obstruction. — 1 1. Congenital Malformations. i 1 2 s Haemorrhage of the Newborn. i - 1 . Convulsions. — 1 1 * t • All Causes:- 101 . 102. 203. The following table shows the incidence of deaths at various age groups Age Group. Males. Females. Total. Under 1 year. 4 4 8. 1 and under 2. - - — 2 tr " 5. 1 — 1 . 3 11 " 10. i 1 2. 10 11 " 20. — — — 20 it " 30. 1 5 6. 30 it ” 4o. 3 — 3. 4o II " 50. 2 8 10, 50 It " 60. 7 6 13. 60 II " 70. 17 14 31 . 70 11 " 80. 37 32 69. 80 II " 90. 25 23 48, 90 II ” 100. 3 9 12. 101. 102. 203. Cancer. .The Registrar-General’s record of the number of deaths from cancer rose during the year from 24 in 1945 to 39 in 1946 and the incidence is above the average for the past 8 years. Below is given the various types of cancer, details of which are contained in our Register Males. Females. Total. alimentary system. 13 8 21 . Genit o-urinary. 2 7 9. Brain, 1 — 1. Bone. — 2 2. Skin. 1 — 1 . 17. 17. 34. It will be seen that the alimentary system (stomach, colon etc.) is that most affected. The following table shows the incidence of cancer during the past 8 years:- 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946. Males. 16 14 20 22 22 8 11 21 Females, 20 15 19 22 19 14 13 18 Total. 36 29 39 hh 41 22 24 39. The following table summarises the vital statistics during the past 8 years 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946. Population. 17040 16940 17560 16830 16830 17410 17220 17150 Live Births. 244 i ro tr o 259 285 282 336 292 31 2 Still Births 8 13 9 20 11 4 9 10 Deaths. 236 231 251 219 233 234 202 219 Infant Mortality. 9 10 16 9 7 7 11 10. INFECTIOUS DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis) The incidence of infectious diseases for the year is given in the following table Disease. Total Cases. Deaths. Scarlet Fever. 15. — Pneumonia. 9. — Jaundice. 1. — Diphtheria. 2. — Puerperal Pyrexia. 2. - Meningitis. 2. — Erysipelas. 2. — All Causes:- I 33. - The following table shows the incidence of infectious diseases grouped according to age:- Disease. Under One 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 10- 15- 20- 35- 45- 65- Total Scarlet Fever. — — 1 *• — 6 — 1 4 3 — — 15. Pneumonia. 1 - 1 - •mm 2 - 1 - 3 1 9. Jaundice. - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 1. Diphtheria. - - — - - - - - 1 1 - - 2. Puerperal Pyrexia 1 1 - - 2. Meningitis. — - — - - - - 2 — - — - 2. Erysipelas. 1 1 2. - All Causes:- 1 — 2 - 8 - 3 8 5 4 2 ! 33. 2 cases of diphtheria were notified (male aged 26 and female aged 37) neither of whom had been previously immunised. 2 cases of puerperal pyrexia -were notified. These cases occurred at Briston and Kettlestone, The incidence of infectious disease (33 cases) remained at a satisfactorily low level and was slightly lower than that of the previous year (34 cases) The following table shows the incidence of infectious diseases for the past 8 years:- Disease. •1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 Scarlet Fever. 3 17 39 16 37 59 13 15 Pneumonia. 5 8 6 4 11 6 11 9 Erysipelas. 1 2 4 2 6 10 J 2 Diphtheria. 19 2 2 - 3 - — 2 Puerperal Pyrexia. 3 1 — 2 1 — — 2 Meningitis. - - — - - - - 2 Ophthalmia Neonatorum 1 - 1 — — — 2 Jaundice, — — — — — 1 Cerebro-spinal Fever. 1 1 3 1 — — — — Pemphigus. — - — — — — 1 — Acute Poliomyelitis. — — - — — 1 — — Dysentery. — — — — — 6 — — Enteric Fever. 1 - — - 2 — - - Total:- 34. 31. 55. i in C\J 6o. • CM CO 34. 33. MEASLES & WHOOPING COUGH. The incidence of measles and whooping cough remained at a low level and no deaths from these two diseases occurred. Disease. 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946. Measles. 95 406 38 88 116 106 82 Whooping Cough. 24 15 44 9 102 4 45 Total:- 119 421 82 97 218 110 127 TUBERCULOSIS. During the year 15 new cases of tuberculosis were notified, 7 males and 8 females. Of these new cases 11 were tuberculosis of the lungs and 4 tuberculosis of other organs. The following table shows the incidence of new cases for each of the past 8 years. 2 males and 2 females were notified as having been cured and their names were in consequence removed from the register. 10 cases (6 males and 4 females) died from the disease during the yearc 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946. Pulmonary. M 9 8 15 8 8 14 5 5 P 4 8 13 6 6 3 3 6 Non- Pulmonary. M 1 7 8 6 6 2 5 2 P 5 3 12 8 6 3 3 2 Total. 19 26 48 l_28 26 22 16 15. Details of new cases and deaths from Tuberculosis during 1946 are as shov/n in the table below:- Age Period New Cases, Deaths. Respiratory Non-Respiratory. Respiratory Non-Resp: 0 - 1 M* Fe M, P. M. F 0 M. F. — — — — — — — — 1 - - — 1 - — — — — 5 - 1 — 1 1 1 — 1 — 15 - 2 — - — - 1 — -i 25 - — 2 — — 1 1 - - 35 - — 3 — 1 — — — 45 - - — — 1 — 1 1 — 55 - 1 — - — — - — — 65 - 1 1 - — 1 1 — — All Ages 5 6 2 2 4 4 2 — 11 4 8 2 15 10 The number of cases still on the Tuberculosis Register at the end of the year is as follows Males. Females. Total, Pulmonary. 37 22 59 N on-Pulmonary. 23 22 45 Total:- 6o 44 104. A scheme is being put into operation whereby on receipt of the notification that a person is suffering from tuberculosis the housing conditions and milk: supply will be investigated. The following table gives the birth-rates, death-rates, an analysis of mortality, and case-rates for certain infectious diseases in 1946. The rates for England and Wales, for 126 County Boroughs and Great Towns, for 14-8 Smaller Towns, for London, and for the Walgingham Rural District to show the comparison. (Provisional Figures based on Weekly & Quarterly Returns) Walsingham R.D. England & ./ales 125 County Boro’s and Great Towns including London. 148 Smaller Towns (Resident Populations 25,000 to 50,000 at 1931 census London Administrative C ounty. BIRTHS: Rat ,es per 1 ,000 Population. Live .. 18.2 19.1 22.2 21 .3 21.5 Still . .. 0.58 0.53 0.67 0.59 0.54 DEATHS: . 1 All Causes 12.8 11.5 12.7 11.7 12.7 Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Smallpox 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Measles ... 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 Scarlet Fever... 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 'Whooping Cough.. 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 Diphtheria 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Influenza 0.17 0.15 0.13 0.14 0.12 NOTIFICATIONS: Typhoid Fever ... 0.00 O.Oli 0.01 0.01 0.01 Paratyphoid Fever 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 Cerebro-spinai Fever 0.00 0.05 0.05 o.o4 0.0 6 Scarlet Fever ... 0.87 1 .38 1.51 1.33 1.42 :./hooping Cough... 2.62 2.28 2.48 2.05 2.22 Diphtheria 0.12 0.28 0.32 0.31 0.24 Erysipelas ... 0.12 0.22 0.25 0.22 0.27 j Smallpox ... 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Measles 4.78 3.92 4.73 3.70 7.35 Pneumonia 0.52 0.89 1.02 0.74 0.75 Rates per 1 ,000 Live Births — Deaths under 1 year of age 32.00 43.00 46.00 37.00 41.00 Deaths from Diarrhoe a and Enteritis under 2 years of age... 0.00 4.40 6.10 2.80 4.20 Rates per 1,000 Total Births (i.e. Live and Still.) NOTIFICATIONS: -1 Puerperal Fever ) • ( 1.62 Puerperal Pyrexia ) i 6.21 8.50 10.35 7.63 ( 9.68 DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION. The Diphtheria Immunisation Scheme initiated by the District Council was continued throughout the year and 233 pre-school children and 117 children of school age were immunised. In addition to the initial immunisation 510 children of school age were given a re-inforcing injection of diphtheria prophylactic. The following table shows the immunisation state of the children in the district:- Under School Age. 5-9 years lo - 14 years Total. Under One 1- 2- 3- 4- Numbers Immunised 2 103 144 163 179 881 IS 1031 12 2503 Estimated Population. 1370 E 2166 3536 Percentage Immunised. 43?° 8Q% 725S Numbers Re-inforced. — 510 510 $ These figures are in respect of children attending public primary, secondary and grammar Schools in the iaisingham Rural District. As from January 1st, 1946 the diphtheria immunisation of children under school age was made the responsibility of the Norfolk County Council Welfare Service. On the 1st April, 1946 a revised scale of fees to general practitioners was adopted as follows:- (a) For cases treated at a Doctor’s surgery or at a centre other than on a sessional basis 3/- per injection. (b) For cases treated in the home of the patient 6/- per injection plus mileage A/- per mile one way for distances over 1 mile. (c) Treatment at a Centre for a session not exceeding 1-? hours, £1.11,6, plus 10/6 for each additional half hour and mileage at l/- per mile one way. I should like to record my sincere appreciation to the general practitioners, district nurses, school teachers and all others who have to do so much to help to make the Diphtheria Immunisation Scheme a success. LABORATORY FACILITIES. Bacteriological and seriological examinations are carried out at the Emergency Medical Services Public Health Laboratory, Bowthorpe Road, Norwich, under the direction of Dr. MacDonald whose ready co-operation and help I wish to acknowledge. AMBULANCE FACILITISS. The Ambulance service of the district is covered by the Home Ambulance Service of the Joint Council of the St. John’s & British Red Cross Society. There are two Ambulance Stations, one at Fakenham and one at Holt. Fakenham Ambulance carried in 1946, 238 cases and covered 12,509 miles and Holt Ambulance carried 306 cases and covered 13,096 miles. These of course include cases outside the district which are in the respective ambulance areas. There is also a hospital car service in connection with each station for the removal of sitting cases to and from hospital. The Ambulances are run by voluntary members of the two organisations and the hospital car service by volunteer drivers obtained by these and the V.V.S. Infectious cases are carried by the County Council Ambulance stationed at the Isolation Hospital at East Dereham. HOSPITALS - PUBLIC & VOLUNTARY. There are no Hospitals in the v/alsingham Rural District, General Medical and Surgical cases are admitted to the (1) Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich. (2/ West Norfolk & King’s Lynn Hospital, King’s Lynn. (3) Jenny Lind Children's Hospital, Norwich. (4) Cromer & District Hospital, Cromer. (5) Cottage Hospital, Wells-next-the-Sea. There are no Maternity Hospitals, or private Maternity Homes in this district and mothers wishing to have their babies in a maternity home must go either to (1) Stowe Vicarage, Stow©. (2) The Burleigh, Sandringham Road, Hunstanton. (3) Dawning Port, Brook Road, Sheringham. unless they wish to go still further afield. The provision of a Maternity Home under the direction of the County Council Maternity Scheme is still one of the urgent necessities of the present time. Infectious disease cases are admitted when necessary to the County Council's Isolation Hospital at East Dereham. INFANT ./ELFARE. Infant 'welfare Centres under the direction of the County Medical Officer are held at the following places and times BINHAM, The Reading Room. Held on 1st Tues. in the month. FAKENHAM, Court House,Holt Rd. " " 2nd Wed. " " " " " 3rd Thurs.” ” ” MELTON CONSTABLE, Railway Inst." " 1st Wed. " " " Attendances continue to be good, due in great part to the energetic efforts of the local district nurses. The Clinics are also used as Diphtheria Immunisation centres for children under five years of age and it is gratifying to note that u practically all the mothers who attend accopt for their children the immunisation offered. FACTORIES. WORKSHOPS AND WORKPLACES TABLES. 1. IN3PECTIQN. Including Inspections made "by Sanitary Inspectors. Premises. Number of 4 0) Inspections. (2) Written Notices (3) Prosecutions. (b) factories with mechanical power 6 — — without " " 8 3 — WORKPLACES — — — Total: - 14 3 — 2._DEFECTS FOUND. Number of Defects. Number Particulars. 0) Found. (2) Remedied. (3) Referred to H.M. Inspector. (4) of Prose- cut ions . (5) Nuisances under the Public Health Acts:- Want of Cleanliness 2 2 'Want of Ventilation — — — — Overcrowding — — — — ./ant of Drainage of floors — — - — Other Nuisances — — — — Sanitary( insufficient — — — — Accommo-( unsuitable or defective — — — dation ( not seperate for se xes - — — Offences under the Factory & Workshop Act:- Illegal occupation of under- ground Bakehouses — - - — Breach of special sanitary requirements for Bakehouses i Other Offences 1 1 — — Total:- i | 3 3 — 1 I conclusion. In conclusion it may be stated that the general health of the community in the Walsingham Rural District has remained satisfactory during the year. The great problems of rehousing those people who are living in insanitary houses, in overcrowded conditions or are compelled to share houses with others still remain with us. The provision of more up-to-date schools with better accommodation and hygiene facilities in place of those so well known to be most unsatisfactory is also an urgent necessity. Both these problems are being dealt with by the respective authorities as expeditiously as the present shortage of man-power and building materials will allow. 0O0 ' . ./ AL S INGHAM RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT of the SANITARY INSPECTOR for the year ending 31st. December 1946. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present to you my eighth and last annual Report for the year ending 31st.December 1946, which follows in the main the practice adopted during the war years showing the work carried out by the Public Health Department as far as possible in a number of tables. The first of these shows the number of inspections made for all purposes during the year. Nature of Inspection No.of - visits Housing inspections (Hobhouse Survey) 2255 Housing inspections (excluding above) 142 Housing inspections (Re-visits) 329 Public Health Inspections 251 Public Health Re-visits 359 Inspections of cowsheds and dairies 273 Inspections of slaughterhouses and food shops 58 Inspections of sewers, sewer ditches, sewage works, etc. 317 Inspections in connection with scavenging arrangements 305 Investigations respecting infectious and contagious disease 34 Hooms disinfected 31 Inspections of Public Conveniences 25 Inspections of factories and workshops 14 Inspections of Petroleum stores 34 Miscellaneous visits to owners etc. 235 Inspections in connection with District water supply scheme (Houghton Well) 93 Inspections re Building Licences (Civil Building Control) 156 Inspections in connection with the Government Evacuation Scheme 11 Total inspections for all purposes HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH Following upon the completion of the survey of the "" ' facilities in the Parish of Fakenham the Council made an important decision in respect of the arrangements for the collection of^ nightsoil in those portions of the town where both sewers and main water supply are available and all owners and occupiers were given written notice of the Council’s intention to terminate all night scavenging as from 31st. July 1947. A steady stream of applicants desiring advice on closet conversion resulted and the local builders were unable to satisfy all demands in this respect due to shortage of labour and materials, particularly the latter. HQBHOUSE PUPAL HOUSING SURVEY This Survey was pressed steadily forward but owing to other urgent calls upon the time of the staff and due also to unavoidable delays caused by changes in personnel, the Survey was not more than two thirds complete by the end of the year. The following table shows details of the Survey 3 Parishes surveyed in 1945 (Hempton, Pudding Norton and Great Ryburgh) 18 Parishes surveyed in 1946. A survey of the Parish of Fulmodestone has also been commenced, A summary of the condition found in all of the 21 Parishes surveyed is set down in detail below;- .. Parish Total No.of dwellings I Cla: II ssif ici III ation V Condemns Hempton 147 39 37 46 25 Pudding Norton 52 30 18 4 Great Ryburgh 158 31 56 54 16 1 Dunton 19 4 6 3 6 including Doughton 20 1 2 17 Toftrees 20 2 11 7 Shereford 23 1 9 13 Hethoughton 81 8 25 35 13 .uettle stone 51 9 17 13 12 incl. Pens thorpe 11 1 5 5 Little Ryburgh 27 3 10 8 6 Sculthorpe 181 63 56 44 18 Tatterford 21 4 12 4 1 incl. Tattersett 28 2 11 14 1 • Raynham (East, West and South) 119 17 47 38 17 Barshams (East, West and North) 89 23 37 17 11 5 Houghton 37 3 6 11 17 • • Q Little Walsingham 198 44 61 60 33 J 2 iOLais iorwara I2d2 285 42S. 393 175- " 17 HobhouseHousing Survey Total No.of Classification Parish dwellings I II III V Condemned Total forward 1282 285 426 393 176 17 Great Walsingham 170 83 35 28 24 Holkham 109 69 16 23 1 Wighton 110 22 30 38 20 5 Warhara 107 4l 11 44 11 6 Stiffkey 128 43 20 27 38 4 Mors ton 53 26 10 9 8 2 Blakeney 280 111 46 99 24 2 Fakenham 862 418 202 170 72 3101 1098 796 831 374 36 The classification is as follows Class I House fit in all respects for human habitation. Class II House fit after minor repairs. Class III House fit after major repairs. Class V House unfit for human habitation and incapable of being rendered fit at reasonable expense. This is not a final classification and it may well be that many houses in Class III will be re-classified as V. This position cannot be fully clarified until detailed information of each house becomes available after careful individual inspection. No attempt has been made to classify any dwelling in Class IV - house suitable for conversion under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts. 'This omission is due to the fact that Class IV is in effect a sub-divisio: of the main classes III and V, although the amount of money that an owner is prepared to spend is often the deciding factor apart from the position which has arisen due to the lapse of the Rural Workers Acts. Jointly with the foregoing a survey of sanitary arrangements has been put in hand in connection with the proposed District Scavenging Scheme, while the policy of allocating Street numbers whereever possible was continued. During the course of the year 440 letters were sent requesting attention to various matters at 671 premises. One Statutory Notice was served requiring essential repairs to one dwelling and the necessary repairs were made without recourse to legal proceedings being necessary. The following tabl/- summarises the works of repair carried out as a result of this action. Nature of works No.of cases brought to notice of owner. 34 Windows, window sills Hature of works No of cases brought to notice of owner. fi Floors Plaster to walls and ceilino-q o airs requiring repair excessive dampness Walls requiring repair Overcrowded houses" Houses demolished Firegrates and coppers House roofs Accumulation of refuse Outbuildings Dangerous structures Provision of proper and/or improved water Provision of inter-communicating doors Cleansing of wells 8 oors Provision of Sanitary Ashbins Conversion of properties to provide housing surface reinstatement ancTrepairs cesspool nuisances p ls Conversion of privy pits to Pail or Water Henairft °a Cookin8 facilities01036 tS repairs to doors Repairs to rainwater guttering Sewerage ® Drainage Chimneys pMQL OF CIV IT. BUILDING 30 119 13 17 26 32 33 146 2 39 27 34 4 43 45 7 7 6 20 67 30 32 27 54 32 was modifiedSduring the^yfar^ the^into operation in 1945 even more work was made the Msponsibili t7„falTteratl™ being th xhe Senior Sanitary Inspector continuedf,the Local Authority, except for the issue oHlieense^^^pe^t^ yffieultmapplioXatiotnrandbcar™ed4utWmS *™olnted to deal with IS summarised in the following t-ble^v/M^ us®ful,worko The work volume in l9h6 was roughl/ f4Vti4°3 'ttfofln^*f that ths HUaintenance licences issued. Type of Mo of premises Licences Estates jb-}__agerational Licences iagno3# ' Dwellings ,""repa irs, Dwellings , new Agricultural Business and other - 15 - i ii. iii. iv. etc.375 21 34 124 56o No. of Authorise' roperties Max. Expendiin 105 &5,930. 04 1. 463 27,783. 9. C 24 26,650c Or C 35 2,894.17c 6 127 4,979. 4- 7 754 £68,237.11. i Twenty two licences were reduced in amount by a total of £1,724.0.2. whilst eighteen others were refused, the refusals amounting to £1,917.14.3. Twenty four licences were forwarded to the Regional Licensing Officer for approval, amounting to £8,187.8.10. .."USING ACTS - Regulation 68A of the Emergency Powers (Defence) General Regulations Temporary licences permitting the occupation of nine condemned dwellinghouses have been renewed. COwSHEDO AiTD DAIRIES During the year 273 visits were made to cowsheds and dairies (approximately the same number as in 1945) attention being called to unsatisfactory methods of production in a number of cases. The following table summarises the entries in the Council’s registers at the end of the year:- Wholesalers 123 Retail Purveyors 63 Dairymen I4. Producers from outside the District retailing within the District 6 Graded milks The number of cowkeepers holding licences to produce accredited milk was 33 whilst 5 producers held licences to produce tuberculin Tested" milk. In the Fakenham area an important dairy project designed to improve the quality of milk supplied in the area was approaching completion at the end of the year, thus making available for sale by retail both heat-treated and graded milks for the first time in this locality. The Norfolk County Council decided to withdraw the powers delegated to District Councils in respect of the sampling of accredited milk, this.being with effect from the 31st.March. 40 samples of milk were taken for comparison with the methylene blue test during the first quarter of the year and 34 were satisfactory. Bulk samples 115 samples of milk were taken from non-designated producers’ premises for biological examination for Tuberculosis and of these one proved positive. A cow was subsequently eliminated from the herd concerned and destroyed under the Tuberculosis Order 1938. SLAUGHTERHOUSES A HD FOODS IiO PS 58 inspections of slaughterhouses and foodshops were made ! an^ fol1owing carcases were examined:- Oxen 3. She ep hil. Pigs 36. and xhe following were found to be were disposed of so as not to be diseased or otherwise used for the food of Beef - 2 Qx carcases and all offal 1 Liver 223-g- lbs.Beef. Pork - i Pig's head unsound man: - Mutton - Nil iinnod or bottled food 13 tins meat, 250 tins milk, 6 tins soup, 3j tins vegetables, 23 tins of Dam and syrup. ? 01 Other food - 25 lbs. bacon, 112 lbs 11 packets of cereals, Total weight of foodstuffs mentioned cheese, 25.lbs. dried raisins, 2 Gins fruit, 1 cwt.fish (assorted cod and plai above:- 13 cwts.104 lbs. §K v'PACt3 AND DRAINAGE :T:iiken67H^fton, Weste|aynhaStCLittl°fqthe-0ld shallow S0wers in 7/alsingham has been necessnrv Ll L °ringj Tatterford and Litt] alone replacement is -ery desirib1pg wh J and °n economic grounds public health the present ’ ihilst from the viewpoint of the menace and reProac£ 0^f ™ *1^°^ ■jwer _ditches. C-fre at Sn0ring, ftent ion. Littlen|piginohmSeGtf Pvh BV6r dltches ot Blake is_ngnam, Gt. Ryburgh and Brinton received -ewera^e Jerks - Fnkenham. uid engines was again made dpring the vlar whilst^ pUmpmg plent pumps have worked a total of 3 323 ” hfst the engines and 9 hours 7 mins, pumping hr aiv LdT ’ Slvinf f» a™*°S* of hearly the corresponding 8 mlns-per on small daily margin of tw ,h 13 Horthy ot note that only a working arrangements are continued • t HnTl 15 ih?le the presen during the year was 32.31 inclesfan increase of Ih, *oto1 ^ figure for 19U5. increase of 2.72+ inches over the end there was . . - complaint of Soodin h two ? °6 Work was carrie' being due to the inadequacy of existfrl P !0ei? ln the Parish, thi, rainfalls. Ho easy r eme dy % he alh S Sf’ers to deal wlth heavy borne in mind when the new sewerage sohor^1? sncJ, the matter must he consideration» sewerage scheme for the Parish is under Pudding Norton. Ordinary maintenance was carried on and at the end of the year there was a prospect that the grave recurrent nuisance from the drainage of the Council Housing Estate at East View, Hempton would "be dealt with by connection to this system. It is to be hoped that this measure will be practicable at an early dote. Great '/alsingham. In this case also ordinary maintenance was carried on and the Council was negotiating for the purchase of the works at the end of the year. They will subsequently be used to treat sewage from the Y/als inghams and Wight on. PUBLIC CLEANSING. The year has seen a great step forward in that the first stage of the District Scavenging Scheme using motor vehicles operated by direct labour and based on the Hall Staithe Depot at Fckenham was brought into operation in August. The scheme at present embraces the collection of house refuse nd ui htcoil in the parishes of P kenh ri, Little nd Ore- t -ly'burph rt, of lp t t^lotone , Ponsthoypc ,ATynpton, Puddin -ton, D rrhaiiis3 including Houghton) Little • nd Gre°t Alsin h r, The vehicles hrve proved v.ry sr tirf ctory in usu but rc-'t difficulties have been experienced so far ;3 labour is concerned. the collection kenh n, Little 'The Council has further decided to extend the scheme on the following basis (a) House refuse collection from the entire district. (h) Nightsoil collection sufficient to take over all existing contracts,with extensions to parishes not at present served when main drainage becomes available in other parishes, thus making: nightsoil collection redundant. (c) The emptying of cesspools throughout the District. Provisional approval of the proposals for the enlargement of the Hall Staithe Depot has been signified by the Ministry of Health and every effort is being made to get the works completed at an early date. Provided no unforeseen delays develop it is anticipated that the Depot should be ready for use by the late autumn of the coming year and proposals for the future extension of the scheme have been made on this basis. For the time being contracts continue to exist in the parishes of Blakeney, Siffkey and Briston but these will become redundant when the Direct Labour Scheme is extended. Notwithstanding the difficulty attendant upon the extension of the Council’s main schema there seems to be no doubt that its operation will be welcomed in all portions of the District, whether there has previously been a parish scheme or not. \/ATER SUPPLIES. The entire Rural District is eventually to be served by a system which aims at providing a pure and wholesome supply of mains water to all except isolated premises, and this project received an exceptionally good start in the success of stage I which provided for the sinking of a new well at Houghton St. Giles. The work was carried out by Messrs. Lehane, Mackenzie & Stand of Derby under the control of Messrs. A.J.Cotter411 & Son the Council’s r;euf"-f '7ith local supervision in the hands of the Af * *Bin!c a wel1 100 feGt deep into the chalk ‘,o °1 -- “G-ley ? end the estimated output being 000 griLcno-’per hour, r-xe^an evi't^^r°i>-ery suitable and the copious yield of excellent i,"J ~ h j. c.^oluo.. u uo those concerned in the management of the ££ hi*, tTe\rt R aepth °f 66 feeU when a safirfactc 0 J-Gj-d 5- ove^‘ 1^,000 gallons per hour was obtained. a-! -pw- 1.^1°.^J ’onal source is doubly valuable in view of the ; ':r h:u LeTag experienced in maintaining a sufficient output nos sib ;V. t v'-ke sin?e dt wdl1 even tua lily be 11 a ue mi on s cur c o :;,;pu -i-'.ootantial reductions in the demands made upon the .u. ,er ■ip «■-> T1 ■a amp . :a nc >n a j. O *y J- 7) y L U/ X ■ s ion i .as - 6 :■? v i d o u - * i O %' n ‘ ^ L/c -1 ,~1 , >« .. O U ).. - -- u. — i? V 3.1* Oarnp u la:. i - a c * e: *iol ogic hen If h te r sup 7; Tiy a: , e ~ --------- o-l x'cur..cy.i.iu nempxon togethe ■ -var .amp and the R.A.F. Station, fest Raynham, .1 -•; n Vv, •' • j U. i... tteci 11 DVv S o - - olj ’ be,-., ’ee anc e. ah : lb' .mi :io .* -i ox or in o . n C '.t remj;... -i ? u hr - L-h § _ (drains ue r g all oh) A li I-/ :i tr nj of;. .on is u lj Nil Nil 2*3 0,17 Ou'/g n ah rroml from permanganate i:..' dness O j cl, _ J. 0 ,£■ Nil 21,6° r hscRQriological resu]ts »o ho10hhes per ml on agar at 37° 0, haciliuo loliford absent in 100 ml l'hysi o al c . oractoristics _ Bright and clear. Isrfuh-HbhIhhu demo 3 X i. vr 7;1 V?poSOS o nfl bnc.e-oicciesl purity and hhiehtiiabhher tolnkin^anfl >f which*! .oh hhccrnec^fhht^9 p?rish?3 of Fakenham and Hemptor of 93 avu'jfh: 0:: *«hh rarln wster supply, an increase 28 dj ffere.it s- *er® token aurin3 the year from “* Ci suPply. These were made up as followss- Routine scmples from public water supplies Initial samples from private wells Repeat samples from private wells Source of supply found to be unsatisfactory Humber of premises where an alternative supply was provided Wells cleoned out or repaired ^ ^1 '• Parish sc? v^n ,ers at Fakenham and Henri ton have continued their collections whilst monthly colls at Parish Salvage Depots have been made whenever necessary. 34 29 13 15 6 8 The following table ivos the year:- Material /astepaper (all rades) Bones Rags Bottles and Jars i.liscelleanous metals ditchen Waste (estimated) details of materials dealt with during Received Disposed of Tons. cwts. lbs. Ton§. cwts. lbs 34. 8. 108 27. 5. 48 16. 0 16. 0 19. 49 17. 0 2. 5. 56 15. 0 2. 19. 0 1. 13. 0 18. 0. 0. 18. 0. 0 59. 8. 101 49. 6. 48 The balance of materials was held at the main salvage denot for disposal in 1947. income received during' the year was £303.4.6. which represent .out 87% of the 1°45 i igmre. During the same period the expenses s including the usual payments to charities amount to £279.8.0. xitchen waste is collected in the parish of Fakenham. GOVJRNiiElIT EVACUATION SCHEME One property was released from requisition leaving 14 dwellings - sGill in use at the end of the yearj eight premises were in use by persons inadequately housed. THE INFESTATION QRPdR 1945 The Council continued to utilise the services of the Norfolk County Council War Agricultural Executive Committee in an atterrpt to co-ordinate the destruction of rats .and mice on a ricultural and other premises. lhe resultant charges continue to be met from the local rate fund During the year 29 parishes were dealt with under the scheme at ■f total cost of £164.12.6. .1 PETROLEUM (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1928. The following is a summary of licences issued and fees received under this heading:- Number of stores licensed Total storage capacity Pees received 39, lions CONCLUSION. The year has been notable for progress in the fields of district scavenging and public water supply - although it is of course true that a very great deal has still to be done in both these phases of the Council’s responsibility. Some considerable progress has also been made with the prelimina? Rural Housing Survey recommended by the Ilobhouse Committee; from the figures available it is clear that Housing work will for many years dominate the scene so far as local government is concerned. At the end of December I resigned my appointment v/ith the Counci' having obtained a similar post with the Hertford R.D.C. I must at this time pay tribute to the excellent support I have always received from the Council, Public Health Committee, Clerk and other memb'ors of the staff, whilst within the Public Health Dept. ;e were a happy team in which Mr. A.H. Eagle eagerly accepted full responsibility for the Rural Housing Survey and District Scavenging arrangements and carried out these duties with distinction. I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, H.E.GILBY Surveyor and Senior Sanitary Inspector. I :A(JG1S4? •sOS,