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
Battersea 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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56
Traps have also proved very efficient for the destruction
of rats. Various types of traps have been used, the most
successful being the break-back trap and the platform cage
trap. As many as 21 rats at one time have been caught in
the latter type of trap. Varnish traps have also been found
very useful, but these deteriorate rapidly if kept, and were
therefore found too expensive for general use.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the Rat Officer's staff during the last six months of the year 1920:—
| The following is a summary of the work carried out by the Rat Officer's staff during the last six months of the year 1920:— | |
| Number of contracts entered into | 27 |
| Premises visited | 1,358 |
| Number of poison bait laid | 23,697 |
| Rat runs traced to house drains | 21 |
| Traps lent out to occupiers | 56 |
The amount of £312 14s. was paid to the Council by
occupiers of factories and other premises for the services of
the Organising Rat Officer's staff.
A Rat Week Campaign was carried out in Battersea from
1st to 6th November, and proved very successful. During
the week 18,500 poison baits were issued by the Rat Officer to
householders, and from the very large number of dead rats
picked up, thousands and thousands of these rodents must
have been accounted for.