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
Holborn 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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steps being taken to eradicate the vermin. In 13 cases traps were used,
5 occupiers laid down poison baits. In 18 cases professional rat catchers were
employed, and in 26 cases the nuisances were abated following new drainage or
satisfactory methods of rat-proofing.
The Eat Officers reported that in a number of cases where no evidence of
rats was found at their inspections the satisfactory condition was the result of
continued efforts, initiated in previous years, for rat repression, such as the regular
use of traps, cats, poisons, or the employment of professional rat catchers.
The following is a summary in tabular form of the conditions found and action
taken in the various wards of the Borough: —
| WARD. | Number of premises inspected. | Number rat infested. | Action for Rat Repression. | RESULT. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traps. | Poisons. | Rat catchers. | Dogs. | Cats. | Proofing | |||||
| a. | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| B. | 64 | 10 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 8 | Free | 8 |
| Rats occasionally seen | 1 | |||||||||
| Under observation | 1 | |||||||||
| C. | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | ' — | — | 1 | Free | 1 |
| d. | 52 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | Free | 9 |
| e. | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | Free | 1 |
| Under observation | 1 | |||||||||
| F. | 17 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 7 | Free | 10 |
| Under observation | 1 | |||||||||
| g. | 12 | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 10 | Free | 9 |
| Rats occasionally seen | 1 | |||||||||
| Under observation | 2 | |||||||||
| H. | 44 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 10 | — | 1 | 5 | Free | 7 |
| Under observation | 5 | |||||||||
| Reported free | o | |||||||||
| I. | 12 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | Free | 7 | ||
| Under observation | 2 | |||||||||
| 215 | 68 | 13 | 5 | 18 | — | 2 | 42 | Free | 54 | |
| Rats only occasionally seen | 2 | |||||||||
| Under observation | 12 | |||||||||