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
Holborn 1921
Report for the year 1921 of the Medical Officer of Health
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In accordance with the foregoing resolutions the Council made arrangements with the following firms of rat-catchers to carry out work connected with rat repression for owners and occupiers in the Borough:—
| Small Houses 8 rooms. | Stables 10 horses. | Shops small | Hotels &c., and large shops. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton & Son | 10/- per night | — | — | |
| Howard & Sons | To be quoted for separately. |
Arrangements were also made for suitable rat poisons to be supplied to the
occupiers of rat-infested premises at cost price.
At our request a film illustrating the harm done by rats and showing suitable
means for catching them was shown at a local cinema for a week.
Smoke Abatement.
The smoke shafts in the Borough were frequently kept under observation
and in 161 cases the inspections were recorded. Ten complaints were received
and nine notices served, including two Statutory notices.
In several cases the persons concerned have supplied a better quality coal,
and taken care not to burn coal dust. Cases have been brought to our notice where
stokers have no means of knowing that black smoke is being emitted from the
chimney. This difficulty has been overcome by a suitable arrangement of mirrors.
Common Lodging Houses Acts, 1851 and 1853.
Seventeen Common Lodging Houses are registered in the Borough for 1,220
lodgers, viz.,1,058 males and 162 females.
The Common Lodging House accommodation in Holborn is equal to 28 beds
per 1,000 of the population, a higher rate than in any other Metropolitan area except
the City of London. The death rate amongst common lodging house residents is
very high; in this Borough it was 45 per 1,000 in 1921.