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
Fulham 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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138
the source from which the rats gain admission to
the premises. In all cases the Rat Officer works
in association with the Sanitary Inspectors so that
the defects are remedied as the result of notices
served by the Inspectors.
Out of the 149 rat complaints investigated, in 63 instances (42.2 per cent.) the rats gained admission to the premises on account of defective drains. The type of drainage defect is shown in the following table:—
| Defective Drains under premises | 20 |
| Broken connection under footway | 24 |
| Disused gulley broken under footway | 13 |
| Broken interceptors | 3 |
| Cesspools | 3 |
| 63 | |
| In one case the infestation was due to a defective sewer. | |
| Rats were caught as follows:— | |
| In dustbin traps in sewers | 124 |
| In cage traps | 336 |
| By ferrets and break-back traps | 354 |
| 814 | |
The amount received by the Council from
property owners for the services of the Rat Officer
was, during the year ended 31st March, 1933,
£26: 5: 0, and in addition £5 was credited to
the Department for the services of the Rat Officer
to other Departments of the Council.
During Rat Week in November an intensive
effort was made to exterminate rats in sewers and
on lands and buildings known to be infested.