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
Islington 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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1928]
62
among rats or mice is not without coniderable interest at the present time, as quite
apart from it being important to know a disease that kills off these pests, a disease
thus spread may lead when investigated to some knowledge which might have a
bearing, even on Cancer Research.
Summary of Work under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act during the years 1922-28:—
| 1928 | 1927 | 1926 | 1925 | 1924 | 1923* | 1922 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Streets visited | 203 | 235 | 217 | 96 | 91 | 544 | 711 |
| Number of Private Houses visited | 349 | 368 | 320 | 133 | 176 | 650 | 1,023 |
| Number of Shops and Factories visited | 56 | 81 | 61 | 14 | 19 | 712 | 1,009 |
| Total Premises inspected | 405 | 449 | 381 | 147 | 195 | 1,362 | 2,032 |
| Found Rat Infested | 154 | 191 | 174 | 66 | 61 | 787 | 1,031 |
| Found Mice Infested | 2 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 66 | 72 |
| Defective Drains Repaired (Cause of Rat trouble) | 49 | 48 | 49 | 51 | 60 | 13 | 52 |
| Number of Complaints received | 150 | 202 | 173 | 105 | 118 | 67 | 177 |
HOUSING.
Towards the end of the year considerable difficulty was experienced in regard
to the conditions of Nos. 1 to 7, Mildmay Avenue. Several notices served had
been outstanding for some time, and there was overcrowding.
The Medical Officer of Health made the following representation.
22nd Novmber, 1928.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of
Islington.
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors.
Housing Act, 1925, 1 to 7 Mildmay Avenue.
I beg to represent pursuant to the provisions of the Housing Act, 1925, that
within the area in the Metropolitan Borough of Islington shown by a pink tint on
the plan annexed hereto houses are unfit for human habitation and/or the narrowness,
closeness and bad arrangement of the houses within such area or the want of
light, air ventilation or proper conveniences or any other sanitary defects or one
or more of such cases are dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants
of the said buildings in the said area and that the most satisfactory method of
dealing with the evils connected with such houses and the sanitary defects in such
area is an improvement scheme for the rearrangement and reconstruction of the
houses within the area.
I am
Your obedient servant,
G. CLARK TROTTER,
Medical Officer of Health for the
Metropolitan Borough of Islington.
A schedule was submitted with the representation setting forth the conditions
in detail.
Summary of Housing from 1919 to 1927 (inclusive):—
The number of houses or flats provided by the Islington Borough Council,
the London County Council and by private enterprise in the Borough, was as
follows:—