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 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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The sewers under the control of the Council are treated twice
yearly, in accordance with the suggestion of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries (Infestation Control Division). Their recommended
method of treatment, namely, the laying of prebait (unpoisoned)
on two days, followed on the third day by poisoned bait, is followed.
The Ministry make a grant of 50 per cent, towards the cost of
the service, in so far as this is not recovered from the owners or
occupiers of premises.
The following table shows the prevalence of rats and mice in the Borough for the year.
| Property | Number of properties where infestation was | Number infested by | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notified by occupier | Otherwise found | Total | Rats | Mice only | ||
| Major | Minor | |||||
| Council's Properties | 5 | – | 5 | – | 3 | 2 |
| Dwelling Houses | 392 | 20 | 412 | – | 171 | 241 |
| Business Premises | 23 | 4 | 27 | – | 16 | 11 |
The following table summarises the control measures carried out.
| Property | Number of inspections made | Number of treatments carried out | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rats | Mice | ||
| Council's Properties | 56 | 45 | 11 |
| Dwelling Houses | 1,403 | 171 | 241 |
| Business Premises | 732 | 18 | 11 |
Vacant Sites, Static Water Tanks, etc.
Complaints continued to be made of nuisances caused by the
dumping of rubbish in disused static water tanks, and on cleared
sites and in derelict buildings, and by the accumulation of stagnant
rainwater in static water tanks. In many cases, the rubbish consisted
merely of builder's material, scrap metal, etc., which, although
unsightly, could not be said to be a danger to health. In certain
instances, however, dead animals, vegetable refuse, old bedding, and
other material of a putrescible nature were found. It appears that
the primary responsibility for abating any nuisance so caused rests
upon the owner of the site, but in view of the difficulty and delay
which would have arisen from any attempt to enforce this responsibility,
the Council themselves undertook the removal of any such material
causing or likely to cause danger to health, a special provision of
£100 having been made for this purpose.
Four cases in which particular nuisance was being caused by
accumulations of water and rubbish in static water tanks were, however,
taken up with the owners of the sites. In one of these cases,