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
Kensington 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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On two occasions all the sewers in the borough were dealt
with by poison bait, and it was estimated that in the first
treatment 4,070 rats were destroyed; and in the second 4,014
rats were killed.
| Complaints investigated | 1,426 |
| Premises inspected following complaints | 1,666 |
| Premises where rats were found | 484 |
| Premises where mice were found | 720 |
| Premises where other vermin were found | 156 |
| Premises where no infestation existed. | 306 |
| Number of visits made | 10,063 |
| Number of notices served | 125 |
| Premises successfully treated | 1,294 |
| Cases in which advice only was given | 72 |
| Borough Council properties dealt with. | 86 |
The Ministry recommended that information obtained by
inspection and complaints, and all case work, should be
suitably collated to present a clear picture of the conditions
and to furnish a guide for subsequent action. The Minister
is empowered from time to time to require reports and, in
particular, an Annual Report must be submitted to the Minister
on (i) the extent of infestation, (ii) special circumstances
to which any undue presence of rats and mice might be
attributed and (iii) the nature and extent of co-operative
working with contiguous local authorities.
The following is the Report submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for the nine months from 31st March to 31st December, 1950:- Prevalence of Rats and Mice
| Type of Property | Total | Number of properties in Local Authority's area in which infestation was | Number of properties infested by:- | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notified byOccupier | Otherwise discovered | Recorded Total | Rats + | Mice only | |||
| Major infestations. | Minor infestations. | ||||||
| Local Author-ity's Property | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dwelling houses | 34,689 | 626 | 39 | 665 | 11 | 209 | 445 |
| Business Premises | 7,636 | 109 | 2 | 111 | 3 | 36 | 72 |
| Agricultural Property | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total: | 42,356 | 736 | 43 | 779 | 15 | 246 | 518 |