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
Chelsea 1957
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1957
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- 44-
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, which became operative
on 31st March, 1950, is more advantageous to a local authority in
dealing with rodents than the Rate and Mice Destruction Act, 1919,
which has been repealed. The new Act empowers a local authority to
take all practicable measures to rid its area of rats and mice. Under
the provisions of the Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919, the primary
duty for the eradication of these particular pests rested upon the
individual occupier,, With the advent of this new legislation, an
occupier is guilty of an offence if he fails to destroy rodents, or
use his best endeavours to prevent infestation.
There has always been co-operative action between owners, occupiers
and the local authority in this Borough.
Details of work carried out in this connection during the year are as follows:- 1. Treatment of Business and Private Premises.
| Business Premises | Private Premises | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of visits | 385 | 2,888 | |
| Number of infestations found | 33 | 278 | |
| Number of treatments undertaken | 28 | 272 | |
| Number of pre-baits laid | 2,074 | ||
| Number of poison baits laid | 662 | ||
| Number of complaints received | 325 | ||
2. Sewer Maintenance Treatments.
| No. of pre-baits laid | No. of poison baits laid | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Treatment | 1,326 | 424 | |||
| No. - Treatment | 1,130 | 284 | |||
| No. 3 Treatment | 1,380 | 345 | |||