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 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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| Date of Hearing and Court | Address | Principal Nuisances or Offences | Result of Proceedings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.7.50 North London | 19, Blundell Street | Failure to comply with the provisions of Sec. 12 of the L.C.C. (Drainage) Bye-Laws, 1934. (Defective sink wastepipe). | Adjourned sine die. |
| 13.11.50 North London | 181, Offord Road | Failure to comply with the provisions of Bye-Law 13(a), L.C.C. Bye-Law dated 20th October, 1938, (Failure to provide waste-pipe to tap on staircase to second floor). | Work completed. Case not proceeded with. |
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
During the year D.D.T. (dichlor-diphenyl-trichlorethane) as a powder or in
solution continued to be used for the purpose of disinfestation of rooms in respect
of bugs and other insect pests. The results proved to be very satisfactory, and no
reinfestations were reported.
The free treatment of rooms and furniture in recommended cases continued,
and the number so treated was 303, most of these being on behalf of elderly or
infirm persons.
A total of 1,590 rooms were disinfested for vermin.
During the year, 1,132 rooms were disinfected after cases of infectious or other
diseases.
The precautionary spraying of furniture and bedding of families removing to
new Council dwellings was continued and the effects of 374 families were treated.
Cleansing of Verminous Houses.
Special consideration was given during the year to a review of the problem of
bug disinfestation in houses, taking into account the experience gained by the
Department in the use of D.D.T compounds for this purpose since 1947. It was
thought that with a more systematic attack on bug infested properties the new
insecticides offered a better hope of a major reduction and perhaps ultimate virtual,
elimination of the bug nuisance.
It was decided in the first place to gain more information in regard to the degree
of bug infestation in Islington by carrying out a limited survey in certain areas.
Seven streets or blocks of flats were inspected, and although the survey was carried
out in April, when evidence of bug infestation is probably lower than in the summer
months, it was nevertheless found that from 18—50 per cent. of houses in the
different streets inspected showed signs of some infestation. Although the number
of streets inspected was limited and perhaps to some degree selected, they can be
considered typical of a very large number of streets in Islington. The problem of
bug infestation is therefore considerable and serious.
Bug disinfestation hitherto has been carried out mainly on premises which have
been the subject of complaint or precautionarily in cases of re-housing by the Council.