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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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24
The question might be thought worthy of consideration whether it would be
advisable and useful if statutory obligation were, placed on all persons carrying
out rat repression work to notify the presence of rats to the local authority. In
the absence of a statutory obligation to do so, it would be unreasonable to expect
the contracting firm to notify,, as strong objection to such action might be taken
by occupiers. On the other hand, knowledge of the presence of rats in a particular
building might enable the local authority to initiate concerted action by owners of
other property in an infested block and so enhance the prospect of dealing effectually
with the pest. The firms who undertake rat repression work in the Borough
under the arrangements made by the Council have agreed to furnish information
of all their work in the Borough.
| WARD. | Number ofpremises inspected. | Numberrat infested. | Action for Rat Repression. | RESULT. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traps. | Poisons. | Rat catchers. | Dogs. | Cats. | Proofing | |||||
| a. | 12 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | Free | 2 |
| b. | 19 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | F ree | 3 |
| Numbers reduced | 1 | |||||||||
| C. | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | — | 2 | 1 | Free | 1 |
| Rats occasionally seen | 1 | |||||||||
| d. | 24 | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 11 | Free | 10 |
| Rats occasionally teen | 2 | |||||||||
| e. | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | Numbers reduced | 1 |
| F | 31 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 8 | Free | 6 | |
| Numbers reduced | 4 | |||||||||
| G. | 13 | • 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | Rats occasionally seen Free | 3 |
| Rats occasionally seen | 1 | |||||||||
| Premises demolished | 1 | |||||||||
| H. | 43 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 10 | — | 3 | 5 | Free ... ... | 13 |
| Rats occasionally seen | 4 | |||||||||
| i. | 21 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Free | 11 |
| Rats occasionally seen | 3 | |||||||||
| ' ^ | 174 | 71 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 35 | Free | 50 |
| Numbers reduced | 6 | |||||||||
| Rats only occasionally seen | 14 | |||||||||
| Premises demolished | 1 | |||||||||