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
Edmonton 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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Up to the end of the year, 7,405 visits and re-visits have been made by
the Rodent Operatives, in connection with complaints as to alleged rat infestation.
Eight Intimation Notices and two Statutory Notices have been
served—owing to the fact that the Occupiers did not appear to be taking
effective measures to eradicate the vermin.
Defestation has been carried out on request at 1,882 premises as the result
of the Survey, and at the end of the year 30 premises were in process of
" Defestation."
The District Sanitary Inspectors in cases where there was a possibility of
the infestation being due to defective drainage visited the premises and tested
the drainage and any defects discovered were dealt with through the usual
channels.
Of 109 cases of Rat Infestation referred to the District Inspectors, owing
to the possibility of defects in the drainage, in 55% of the cases defects were
discovered and as one can quite appreciate entailed quite a large amount of
work.
During the year the second maintenance treatment of the sewers took
place by the Borough Engineers Department.
Middlesex County Council Act, 1944, Section 279, Hawkers, Etc.
This Act came into operation on the 1st October, 1944, and Section
279 replaced Section 71 of the Act of 1938. Four persons were registered
during the year.
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts 1920-1933
D iring the year your Senior Sanitary Inspector has issued 12 Certificates
under the above Acts upon applications of Occupiers of dwelling-houses in the
disirict.
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
J5
The following table gives some idea of the work carried out :—
| Number of journeys to collect bedding | 230 |
| „ „ „ „ return bedding | 219 |
| Rooms disinfected after infectious disease | 492 |
| „ „ „ phthisis | 104 |
| Rooms disinfected after other cases | 106 |
| Disinfestation carried out after vermin | 279 |
| Bedding, clothing, etc., disinfected after infectious disease | 2,659 articL s |
| Bedding, clothing, etc., disinfected after phthisis | 749 „ |
| ,, „ ,, „ ,, other cases | 1,540 „ |
The Council distribute a disinfecting powder and fluid to residents who
apply for same at the Town Hall Yard. During the year, the applicants
numbered 6,214. One hour daily is allowed for such distribution with the
exception of Fridays and Saturdays. A Formalin Chamber is used for the
disinfection of books, leather goods, etc., articles that would be damaged by
steam. The number of books and other articles thus disinfected was 410.
Seven Council properties and 68 other houses were found to be infested
the total number of rooms disinfested was 279. The whole of the work is
carried out by the Department, the materials used being Insecticides containing
D.D.T. as a base.