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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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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 | 16 | 14 | 39 | — |
| Carpet | 13 | 12 | 32 | — |
| Grain | 4 | 2 | 4 | — |
| Larder | 12 | 12 | 33 | — |
| Spider | 4 | 4 | 15 | 1 |
| Wharf Borer | 3 | 3 | 6 | — |
| Caterpillars | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Earwigs | 84 | 87 | 46 | 82 |
| Fleas | 205 | 190 | 1,183 | 5 |
| Flour Weevils | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| May Bugs | 2 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Meal Worms | 12 | 12 | 24 | 1 |
| Moths | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Psocids | 8 | 8 | 17 | — |
| Red Mite (of Birds and Poultry) | 8 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| Silverfish | 20 | 16 | 43 | — |
| Slugs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Spiders | 5 | 5 | 12 | 2 |
| Wild Bees | 29 | 10 | — | 10 |
| Wood Lice | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
| Woodworm | 15 | 12 | 28 | — |
| Misc. Insects | 26 | 22 | 56 | 3 |
| Totals | 474 | 423 | 1,559 | 111 |
Seventy-one requests for spraying for other reasons such as bad
smells, offensive deposits, etc., were met by treatments to 251
rooms and 11 external areas.
Precautionary Spraying. —During the year, at 33 premises,
unwanted bedding, furniture and miscellaneous household effects
were sprayed as a precautionary measure prior to removal by the
Borough Engineer's staff. Treatment was effected in 110 rooms
and 6 external areas.
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