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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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35
Maintenance Treatment for Rats in Sewers
This aspect of rodent control continues to be undertaken
by the staff of the Borough Engineer and I am indebted
to him for particulars of the treatment given.
Two treatments were carried out in the year, the
first from 16th January to 4th February, using a sausage Rusk
bait and 2½ per cent, phosphide poison medium, and the second from
2nd to 2lst July with bread rusk and 10 per cent. arsenious oxide.
The following table indicates the result of the two treatments:-
| January 1957 | July 1957 | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of manholes baited | 717 | 757 |
| No. of manholes showing prebait take | 322 | 392 |
| No. of manholes showing complete prebait take | 85 | 25 |
The second treatment would appear to indicate a more
widespread infestation but a decreased rat population.
Insect and other Pests
In addition to the usual complaints of ants, bugs,
cockroaches, fleas, flies, lice, pigeons, wasps, woodlice and
woodworm there have been increasing numbers of complaints from
tenants of new blocks of flats of the pest "Bryobia praetiosa"
or Clover Mite. The source of infestation would appear to be
importation on turves or in grass seed. The infestations have
proved very obstinate to treatment and do not respond to the
usual D.D.T. and B.H.C. insecticides.
Experimental treatments have been carried out using
Gammexane and Malathian and with successful results.