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
Greenwich 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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One hundred and seventy-nine complaints regarding this pest
were received and during the year some 117 nests were destroyed,
mainly by means of Gammexane powder or Dieldrin Concentrate.
Many other types of infestation were encountered and the following is a list of the treatments which were carried out in connection therewith.
| Complaints | Treatments | Rooms | External Areas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beetles: Black | 5 | 5 | 18 | - |
| Carpet | 16 | 14 | 51 | - |
| Larder | 7 | 5 | 14 | - |
| Spider | 3 | 2 | 7 | - |
| Book Lice | 2 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Crickets | 1 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Earwigs | 13 | 13 | 38 | 9 |
| Fleas | 167 | 156 | 961 | 6 |
| May Bugs | 2 | 1 | 3 | - |
| Meal Worms | 1 | - | - | - |
| Moths | 4 | 4 | 4 | - |
| Psocids | 5 | 5 | 13 | - |
| Silverfish | 16 | 16 | 39 | - |
| Slugs | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Spiders | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| Wild Bees | 18 | 10 | - | 10 |
| Wood Lice | 13 | 11 | 31 | 5 |
| Woodworm | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Misc. Insects | 28 | 18 | 41 | 5 |
Sixty requests for spraying for other reasons such as bad
smells, offensive deposits, etc., were met by treatments to 228 rooms
and 12 external areas.
Precautionary Spraying.—During the year, at 27 premises,
unwanted bedding, furniture and miscellaneous household effects
were sprayed as a precautionary measure prior to removal by the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor's staff. Treatment was effected in
46 rooms and 1 external area.
Verminous Conditions
The procedure adopted to combat infestation by lice and general
verminous conditions is essentially the same.
Treatment for all cases and contacts is carried out at the Tunnel
Avenue, Lionel Road and Plumstead High Street Cleansing
Stations and the following Return summarises the work carried
out during the year:—