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
Bermondsey 1947
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1947
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(47)
RODENT CONTROL.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Infestation Order, 1943.
In February the Public Health Committee appointed a Sanitary
Inspector to take charge of all rodent control work in the Borough.
The problem requires continual attention and during the year an
effort has been made to reduce rat infestation particularly of the
Borough's waterside wharves and warehouses where a large quantity
of London's food is handled.
The Council charge the occupiers of business premises with the
cost of carrying out rat extermination but a free service is given to
all dwelling houses in the Borough for both rat and mice infestations
and occupiers would help by informing this Department of cases of
rat and mice infestations.
Particulars of work carried out during the year are as follows: —
Particulars of work carried out during the year are as follows:—
| Dwelling Houses and Shops. | |
| Number of complaints investigated | 253 |
| Number of re-visits | 2,600 |
| Number of rats destroyed | 243 |
| Number of drains found defective and repaired or sealed off | 161 |
| Infestations cleared | 226 |
| Notices served under Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 | — |
| Notices served under Public Health (London) Act, 1936 | 32 |
Wharves and Warehouses.
| Number of inspections | 95 |
| Number if re-visits | 160 |
| Number of major infestations found | 18 |
| Number of minor „ „ | 10 |
| Number of rats destroyed | 2,285 |
| Infestations cleared | 15 |
| Notices served under Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 | — |
| Notices served under Public Health (London) Act, 1936 | 2 |
Factories and Workplaces.
| Number of inspections | 251 |
| Number of re-visits | 285 |
| Number of major infestations found | 8 |
| Number of minor „ „ | 29 |
| Number of rats destroyed | 1,419 |
| Infestations cleared | 27 |
| Notices served under Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 | — |
| Notices served under Public Health (London), Act, 1936 | 8 |