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
Beckenham 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]
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Hall area has a widespread surface problem, whereas no single instance
of rats in the foul water sewers in this area has ever been recorded, and
frequent tests have been made since 1946.
The following Table gives a record of this sewer work since 1946.
It will be seen that apart from the considerable reduction in infestation
in the first eighteen months of the series, the rat life in our sewers
continues at a more or less even level.
RODENT CONTROL. Sewer Maintenance Treatments.
| OPERATION NO. DATE | NO. OF MANHOLES BAITED | NO. SHOWING PREBAIT TAKE | NO. SHOWING COMPLETE PREBAIT TAKE | ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF SEWERAGE SYSTEM INFESTED | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oct./Nov. 1946 | 1,438 | 479 | 214 | 30% |
| 2. | Mar./Apl. 1947 | 1,474 | 382 | 161 | 24% |
| 3. | November 1947 | 785 | 225 | 131 | 14% |
| 4. | March 1948 | 542 | 115 | 72 | 7% |
| 5. | Sept. 1948 | 496 | 69 | 28 | 4% |
| 6. | Feb./Mar. 1949 | 135 | 59 | 45 | 3% |
| 7. | Sept. 1949 | 222 | 79 | 56 | 5% |
| 8. | March 1950 | 319 | 138 | 98 | 9% |
| 9. | December 1950 | 549 | 192 | 98 | 12% |
| 10. | June 1951 | 286 | 48 | 29 | 3% |
| 11. | December 1951 | 175 | 96 | 78 | 6% |
| 12. | June 1952 | 299 | 141 | 71 | 9% |
My thanks are due to the members of the Public Health staff who
have worked with me so loyally during the year under review.
G. A. WEBBER,
Chief Sanitary Inspector.
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