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
Wimbledon 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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SECTION F. - RODENT CONTROL,
PETROLEUM STORAGE, ETC.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT. 1949.
The following table gives a statement indicating the action taken during 1959.
| Type of Property | Number of Properties inspected as a result of: | Number of Properties found to be infested by: | Number of Treatments carried out including re-treatments | Number of inspections made including re-inspections | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notification | Survey under Act | Total | Rats | Mice | |||
| Local Authority | 1 | 13 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 96 |
| Dwellings | 224 | 391 | 615 | 137 | 45 | 188 | 3,013 |
| All other, including Business Premises | 81 | 309 | 390 | 22 | 24 | 59 | 1,239 |
| Totals | 306 | 713 | 1,019 | 163 | 70 | 261 | 4,348 |
The inspection and treatment of sewers, and of the Corporation's
Depots, etc., was undertaken in collaboration with the Borough Surveyor's
Department, and details are not included in the figures given above.
The Public Health Department continued to deal with rodent treatment
and disinfestation work in Surrey County Council owned property
within the Borough, including schools, school canteens and river banks,
on a contract basis.
During 1959 no legal action was required to be taken under the
provisions of the Act, and this is an indication of the co-operation rereceived
from householders and business people.
PEST CONTROL.
During the year 1959, 269 complaints were received concerning insect pests, and the following is a list of the major infestations dealt with :—
| White mite | 3 |
| Woodworm | 6 |
| Furniture beetles | 2 |
| Cockroaches | 9 |
| Bed bugs | 14 |
| Ants | 8 |
| Maggots | 8 |
| Silver fish | 2 |
| Fleas | 4 |
| Bees | 2 |
| Flies | 14 |
| Mosquitoes | 2 |
| Crickets | 1 |
| Weevils | 1 |
| Wasps | 138 |