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
Wood Green 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wood Green]
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The Muswel1 Stream
Investigation of this Stream was commenced in October of this
year. The procedure used was identical to that of the Moselle
Brook Survey with one exception, that is that the work was shared
among all the Inspectors, as Mr. Goodfellow is now a District
Inspector.
Due to the depth of sewers in the area under survey, it was
found necessary to postpone this work in early December until
the Spring of next year since by 3 p.m. it was too dark to see
the colour trace in the water.
The Town Clerk wrote to the Lee Conservancy Board informing them of this and of our proposal to resume this most important work at the end of February 1956.
| Houses tested | Business premises tested | Defective | Rain Water to soil | Preliminary Notices | Statutory Notices | Re-ins-pec-tion | Com -ple-ted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. Cs | Sinks | Baths | Wash hand basins | |||||||
| 864 | 24 | 34 | 8 | 9 | 38 | 15 | 10 | |||
Rodent Control
Out of a total of 2,225 premises inspected throughout the
year, it was found necessary to carry out treatment at 152 of
them: 123 dwelling houses and 17 other premises were treated for
rat infestation; a further 29 dwelling houses and 17 other premises
were treated for the presence of mice.
During the year 15 to 20 baiting points have been maintained
on the Council's tip at White Hart Lane. The poison used in every
case was "Warfarin".
Where there is suspicion or evidence that the rats are coming
from defective drains, the Sanitary Inspector is informed, a test
with the smoke testing machine applied, and any necessary action
taken.
Two maintenance treatments of the soil sewers were carried
out, the first in June and the second in November and December,
on both occasions 672 manholes were baited. In the second treatment
the bait used was sausage rusk and the poison arsenic. Of
the manholes baited, 434 showed pre-bait take, and 417 part-take
of poison. There were no complete takes of poison, whilst the
complete takes of pre-bait were 206.
The sewer treatment was carried out in co-operation with the
Borough Engineer and surveyor's Department. The Public Health
Department employs a whole-time rodent operator who made 3,182
visits to premises during the year.
Ponds and Rubbish Dumps
These are regularly inspected with the object of preventing
the breeding of insect pests. The pond in White Hart Lane is emptied
and cleansed periodically by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's
Department, whilst that of Alexandra Palace is supervised
by the Alexandra Palace Trustees.
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