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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In another case it was necessary for 103 visits to be paid, 30 pre-baiting and
poisoning treatments to be carried out and for the drains to be subjected to three
smoke tests, before the premises were finally cleared of rats.
In a new estate in the Borough complaints were received that one particular
house was troubled with rats and, upon examination, it was found that an unsealed
drain had been left for the purpose of taking away the drainage of a proposed
garage. Upon sealing this inlet the nuisance was abated.
It was necessary to poison bait on a vacant site in the Borough and in order to
avoid any possible danger, the site was suitably fenced and the surrounding tenants
were informed of the intention to lay poison so that children and pets could be kept
under control. This necessitated the sending of 240 Notices and the treatment was
successfully carried out.
| Manholes Baited | Complete takes (CT) | Partial takes (PT) | No. takes (NT) | Bodies seen | Percentage of poison takes | Estimated kill | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT | PT | NT | ||||||
| 748 | 264 | 469 | 279 | 30 | 12.6% | 81.2% | 6.2% | 4,605 |
| Manholes Baited | Complete takes (CT) | Partial takes (PT) | No. takes (NT) | Bodies seen | Percentage of poison takes | Estimated kill | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT | PT | NT | ||||||
| 750 | 420 | 552 | 198 | 27 | 8.3% | 87.2% | 4.5% | 4,642 |
In view of the fact that two cases of Weils Disease occurred among workmen,
who were engaged in re-constructing a length of sewer in the Borough, the Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries deemed it advisable to carry out a special sewer treatment
in this portion of the sewer in conjunction with the Finsbury Authorities.
The portion treated was between Richmond Avenue, Liverpool Road, Theberton
Street (Upper Street) and the Angel and the sewers were subjected to three individual
treatments. The first was a direct poison treatment using damp sausage rusk and
1 per cent. Sodium Fluoroacetate. The second treatment consisted of two days
pre-baiting with Bread Mash followed by a poison baiting with Bread Mash and
10 per cent. Arsenious Oxide. On a third occasion the treatment comprised the use
of a Barley Mash with 2 per cent. Antu added to form the poison bait. Two days
pre-baiting was followed by poisoning on the third day. Having regard to the fact
that the part of the Finsbury system proved to be lightly infested, only the first
two treatments were carried out on this section. Although the series of treatments
resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of rats, the efficiency of the series