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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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The following table shows the work carried out during the year arising from the complaints received, and in connection with 47 blocks which were surveyed.
| Complaint | Block Survey | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business premises inspected | 158 | 1,020 | 1,178 |
| Dwelling houses inspected | 104 | 274 | 378 |
| Local authority premises inspected | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Business premises treated | 73 | 6 | 79 |
| Dwelling houses treated | 70 | 3 | 73 |
| Local authority premises treated | 3 | — | 3 |
| Business premises, inspection visits | 192 | 1,057 | 1,249 |
| Business premises, treatment visits | 517 | 42 | 559 |
| Dwelling houses, inspection visits | 165 | 272 | 437 |
| Dwelling houses, treatment visits | 536 | 25 | 561 |
| Local authority, inspection visits | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| Local authority, treatment visits | 21 | — | 21 |
| Total visits | 1,440 | 1,397 | 2,837 |
| Estimated kill (rattus norvegicus) | 188 | — | 188 |
| Bodies recovered (rattus norvegicus) | 84 | — | 84 |
| Estimated kill (rattus rattus) | 2 | — | 2 |
| Bodies recovered (rattus rattus) | 1 | — | 1 |
| Estimated kill (mice) | 965 | 81 | 1,046 |
| Bodies recovered (mice) | 247 | 30 | 277 |
Baiting of Sewers Two treatments were carried out during the year, the results of which are shewn below. In treatment No. 1 sausage rusk plus 2½% zinc phosphide was used, and in treatment No. 2 sausage rusk plus 10% arsenious oxide.
| 1 | April, 1959 | 232 | 197 | 186 | 196 |
| 2 | October, 1959 | 227 | 188 | 157 | 184 |
Disinfecting Station
The arrangement whereby Holborn undertakes to carry out all disinfecting, disinfestation
and cleansing work for the City of Westminster continued during the year.
The figures below relate to work done for Holborn only.
| Disinfection | |
| Number of rooms disinfected after tuberculosis | 15 |
| Number of rooms disinfected after other infectious diseases | 98 |
| Total number of rooms disinfected after infectious disease | 113 |
| Number of articles of bedding and clothing disinfected after tuberculosis | 615 |
| Number of articles of bedding and clothing disinfected after other infectious diseases | 2,592 |
| Total number of articles disinfected after infectious disease | 3,207 |
| Number of books disinfected after infectious disease | 100 |