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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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33
Rodent Control
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
This Act lays a duty upon a local authority to see that their district is kept free from
rats and mice. It empowers them to carry out inspections and to require owners and
occupiers to keep their land and premises free from infestation. Occupiers are required
to give notification in writing of infestation by rats or mice to the local authority.
The following particulars were supplied to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in accordance with Article 1 (c) of the Conditions of Exchequer Grants to Local Authorities dated 28th July, 1950:—
| Type of Property | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Authority | Dwelling Houses | Agricultural | All other (including Business and Industrial) | Total | ||
| 1. Total number of properties in Local Authority's District | 14 | 6,145 | _ | 7,258 | 13,417 | |
| II. Numberof properties inspected as a result (a) of notification (b) | (a) 6 | 128 | — | 107 | 241 | |
| (b) - | 1,074 | — | 842 | 1,916 | ||
| survey, or (c) otherwise | (c) - | 74 | — | 138 | 212 | |
| III. Total inspections carried out in-cluding re-inspections | 50 | 2,087 | — | 1,780 | 3,917 | |
| IV. Number of properties (under II) found to be infested by:— | ||||||
| (a) Rats | Major* | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Minor† | 3 | 28 | — | 46 | 77 | |
| (b) Mice | Major* | — | 5 | — | 11 | 16 |
| Minor† | 2 | 75 | — | 45 | 122 | |
| V. Number of infested properties (under IV) treated by the Local Authority | 5 | 107 | - | 90 | 202 | |
| VI. Numberof notices served under Section 4— | ||||||
| (1) Treatment | — | — | — | — | — | |
| (2) Structural works (i.e. Proofing) | — | — | — | — | — | |
| VII. Number of cases in which de-fault action was taken by Local Authority following issue of notice under Section 4 | ||||||
| VIII. Legal Proceedings | — | — | — | — | — | |
| IX. Number of " block" contro schemes carried out | 31 " blocks " surveyed. | |||||
* " Major" includes properties with an estimated population exceeding 20 rats or mice,
t "Minor" includes properties with an estimated population not exceeding 20 rats or mice.