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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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43
For the first time, during the year two decisions of the Council were challenged in the
County Court;-
Case No. 560
The landlord appealed against the Council's decision to issue a certificate of disrepair
The Court ruled that the certificate should not have been issued, the tenant having given incorrect
information to the department regarding the terms of his tenancy.
Case No. 550
The tenant objected to the Council's decision to cancel the long outstanding certificate of
disrepair on the grounds that the work had not been satisfactorily carried out. The County Court
Judge, after personally visiting the premises, ruled that cancellation should be withheld for a
period of one month in order to allow the landlord to carry out further work. At the subsequent
hearing the Court ruled that the certificate should be cancelled.
RODENT CONTROL
During the year four baiting treatments of the sewers were carried out. On each occasion
315 inspection chambers were poison baited by a service company using sodium fluoracetate in
4 oz. baits. The toxic qualities of this poison are well-known and the main reason for engaging
this particular company was that their operators are thoroughly trained in the use of this substance.
After each treatment there was a reduction in the number of surface infectations, both 'reported' and 'discovered' by inspection. Practically all of the reported cases of surface infectations were traceable to rats coming off either a defective or disused house connection to the sewer.
| Dwelling Houses | Business Premises | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. No. of complaints received | 581 | 93 | 674 |
| 2, No. of properties inspected | 756 | 113 | 869 |
| 3. No. of properties found to be infested by rats – | |||
| Major | – | – | – |
| Minor | 247 | 30 | 277 |
| 4. No. of properties found to infested by mice | 335 | 33 | 368 |
| 5. No. of properties treated – | |||
| (a) Rats | 247 | 30 | 277 |
| (b) Mice | 335 | 32 | 367 |
| 6. No. of notices served under Section 4 – | |||
| (a) Treatment | – | – | – |
| (b) Structural works, i.e. proofing | – | – | – |
| No. of notices served under Public Health (London) Act, 1936 | – | – | – |
| 7. No. of visits made by Rodent Operatives | 577 | 4,835 | 5,412 |