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
Hampstead 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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10
I am indebted to the members of the Light Rescue Service for
their assistance during the survey and the subsequent treatment. A
temporary rat-catcher was also engaged.
Sewers.
In co-operation with the Borough Engineer's Department, the
sewers were treated by a system of "pre-baiting" and poison baiting
with very successful results. It is intended after testing by "postbaiting
" to undertake further sewer treatments where necessary.
The merit of the scheme lies, not only in the extermination of
rats infesting the sewer system, but also in draining surface premises
of rats by ensuring their destruction in the sewers.
Although the results cannot yet be fully assessed, I feel that much
useful work in rat eradication has been accomplished and I have no
doubt that it will be found to be of inestimable benefit to the community.
| Notifications. | Removals to Hospitals. | Deaths. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebro-Spinal Fever | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Diphtheria | 15 | 15 | 1 |
| Dysentery | 15 | 15 | _ |
| Erysipelas | 24 | 10 | 1 |
| Malaria :— | |||
| Contracted abroad | 1 | 1 | _ |
| Induced in institutions | 2 | 1 | _ |
| Measles | 377 | 74 | 1 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 2 | 1 | _ |
| Paratyphoid Fever | 2 | 2 | _ |
| Pneumonia | 84 | 33 | 8 |
| Poliomyelitis | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Puerperal Fever | 2 | 1 | _ |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 26 | 25 | _ |
| Scabies (notifiable from 1st August, 1943) | 104 | _ | _ |
| Scarlet Fever | 123 | 101 | _ |
| Typhoid Fever | 2 | 1 | |
| Whooping Cough | 117 | 32 | 1 |
| Total | 902 | 318 | 15 |
Cancelled cases have not been included.