London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
In order that the Implementation of this statute may be performed in a uniform and
satisfactory manner, it is very necessary that the officers of the respective authorities
co-operate, exchange information regarding experiences in the field and be kept up to date
with modern poisons and techniques. With these objects in view the Greater London area has
been divided into three and the London No.1 (Northern) Post Control Conmittee covers Islington,
This Committee supersedes what was known as the Workable Area Committee which functioned since
the coming into force of the Infestation Order 1943.
The present Committee, of which Mr. W.C. Bartlett, Chief Public Health Inspector, is
Chairman is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
10 London Boroughs, the City of Westminster, the City and Port of London, the Greater London
Council, the British Railways Board, London Transport Board and the Army. The Committee met
on two occasions during the year, on each of which the Rodent Officer attended. In addition
the Chairman of the three London Committees meet annually.
RODENT INFESTATIONS
The number of recorded complaints rose during the year to 2,667 compared with 2,271
during 1967. Visits to premises by rodent control staff numbered 23,078. There were no ship
rat Infestations during 1968.
Due to a severe staff shortage there were only three sewer treatments carried out during the year Instead of the usual four.
| Type of Property | Local Authority Premises | Dwelling Houses | Business Premises | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Complaints received (Including repeats) | 75 | 2. 142 | 450 | 2,667 |
| 2. | No. of properties inspected as a result of | ||||
| a) Notification - initial complaint only; | 80 | 1,688 ' | 418 | 2. 186 | |
| b) Block survey | 49 | 470 | 146 | 665 | |
| 3. | No. of properties found to be infested by rats (including NIL ship rats) | 83 | 603 | 182 | 868 |
| 4. | No. of properties found to be infested by Bice | 27 | 1. 248 | 271 | 1,546 |
| 5. | Completed treatments during year | 53 | 1,525 | 246 | 1,824 |
| 6. | No. of business agreements dealt with Dlsinfection/Dlslnfestation | 247 | |||
WATER SUPPLY
The Metropolitan Water Board is the responsible authority for the supply of water in
Islington. The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity. There were 55,000
dwellings in the Borough supplied direct from mains serving the entire population of the
Borough (241,890). No houses were permanently supplied by a stand-pipe and the Director of
Water Examination, Metropolitan Water Board, states that no artificial fluoride was added.
On account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction, the Board's river and well water
supplies are not considered to be plumbo-solvent.
One large block of offices, however, obtains its supply of water exclusively from
artesian wells and is not supplied with water by the Metropolitan Water Board.
51