London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1922
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1922
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19
Arrangements were made for increasing the baits to be laid down in the Council's
sewers; 4,000 being used during Rat Week in comparison with the usual number,
1,000 baits per week.
A number of owners and occupiers responded to the suggestion for concerted
effort. A return from one firm shows 150 rats killed at its various branches as a
result of Eat Week Campaign.
The arrangements made by the Council as a result of the Rat Campaign in
1021, operated during the year as follows: —
(1) Systematic baiting in the Council's sewers has been carried out, the
baits used being barium carbonate, squill tablets, and " Dalroc."
(2) The services of one of the Council's workmen has been available for the
purpose of rat proofing, the cost of such service and material used being defrayed
by the occupiers of premises were work is carried out.
(3) The arrangement made by the Council with two firms of rat catchers for
dealing with rat infested premises at the cost of the occupier has proved useful;
in a number of cases considerable work in connection with rat repression and rat
proofing has been carried out. In one case as many as 73 rats were killed in
one night
The following firms of rat-catchers carry out work connected with rat repression for owners and occupiers in the Borough at the following rates: —
| Small Houses 8 rooms. | Stables 10 horses. | Shops small. | Hotels, &e., and large shops. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | ||||
(4) Suitable rat poisons have been on sale in the Public Health Department
at cost price during the year.
In the year 1021 the Council adopted resolutions in favour of:—
(a) Registration of rat-catchers.
(b) Placing on owners or occupiers of property an obligation to notify the
local sanitary authority on ceasing to use any drain or similar sanitary fitting and
for making it an offence to cease to use any such drain without efficient sealing off.
(c) Extending liability under the Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919 to
the "owner " as well as the occupier to rat infested premises.
A considerable number of local authorities expressed agreement with these
resolutions and a communication was received from the London County Council,
dated 31st July, 1922, stating that after careful consideration that Council had
passed the following resolutions:—
(a) That legislation be promoted in the session of Parliament, 1923, to place
upon owners or occupiers of property an obligation to notify the local sanitary
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