London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finsbury 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
24
Verminous Persons.
The Borough Council continued the operation of the Cleansing
Station in the Health Centre for the treatment of verminous conditions,
including Scabies, and the arrangements whereby school children
were treated on behalf of the London County Council under the
supervision of a nurse appointed by them. At other times the work
was carried out under the supervision of the nurse appointed by
the Borough, who also undertook the Home Visiting.
Arrangements were also continued during the year by which
cases were treated on behalf of the Shoreditch Borough Council.
The Service has worked very satisfactorily, but owing to the very small incidence of these conditions, the total numbers have, therefore, been small.
| Vermin | Scabies | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of treatments given to Finsbury cases (other than School children) | 105 | 12 | 117 |
| Total number of treatments given to Shoreditch cases (other than School children) | 13 | 26 | 39 |
| Total number of treatments given to School children (all the School children treated were not resident in Finsbury ; a proportion being from adjacent boroughs) | 1,184 | 66 | 1,250 |
| Total number of Home Visits paid | 6 |
Rodent Control.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, came into
operation on March 31st, 1950. The Council employs five rodent
operatives under the supervision of the Senior Sanitary Inspector
who is designated Rodent Officer.
Treatment for the eradication of rats and mice is provided free for
private dwelling houses, but otherwise a charge is made to cover the
cost. The maintenance treatment of the sewers was carried out
during May and December in conjunction with the Borough Engineer's
department, and in addition six treatments were given to
two specified areas in the Borough.
I feel that the rat and mice infestation in the Borough is certainly
much less than it was some years ago, but without constant attention
it would rapidly grow into a serious problem again.