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
Battersea 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Rag Flock Acts, 1911 and 1928.
These Acts were passed to prevent the use of material known
as rag flock, unless such material complies with the standard of
cleanliness laid down in the Act.
No proceedings were taken under these Acts in Battersea
during 1933.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
This Act, which became operative on the 1st January, 1920,
imposes on local authorities and occupiers of premises additional
responsibilities in connection with rat repression.
The work carried out during 1933 under the Council's Rat Repression Scheme is summarised as follows :—
| Premises visited | 1,687 | Contracts made or renewed | 12 |
| Poison baits used | 20,600 | ||
| Dead rats found | 1,050 | Value of contracts | £180 7 0 |
| Cash for poison bait | £7 6 6 | ||
| Total expenditure (financial year 1933-34) ... | £499 4 9 | ||
| Income (financial year 1933-34) | £151 16 6 | ||
Drains were tested at 120 premises in connection with this
work, and in 106 cases defects of more or less serious character
were found. The presence of rats in houses is usually regarded as
prima facie evidence of drain defects. The work of the Rat Officer
therefore is carried on in close co-operation with that of the district
Sanitary Inspectors.
As in previous years an intensive effort for the repression of
rats was organised during "Rat Week" (6th to 11th November).
Bait was laid in the sewers, and was supplied to all applicants
during the week free of charge. The co-operation of the public
was invited by posters and advertisements. The results were good,
considerable numbers of rats being found dead.
It is also found that considerable interest is taken by the public
in the Council's successful efforts for the repression of rats in the
Borough and the consequent diminution in the damage (apart from
the risk to health) caused by their depredations.
Fouling of Footways by Dogs.
It was not found necessary during the year to institute
proceedings under the by-law made by the Council in 1927
(and renewed in 1929) with regard to the fouling of footways by
dogs.
The application of this by-law to the Borough appears undoubtedly
to have effected a diminution of this objectionable form of
nuisance on the public footways.
Personal Cleansing Station.
During the year 1933, there were 3,385 children and 223 adults
cleansed and treated at the station. Of the 3,385 children attending,
635 were suffering from scabies or itch, a contagious parasitic