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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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41
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
The following is a summary of the work carried out during the year.
Notices Served : 16 Intimations and 8 Statutory Notices.
The following is a summary of the work carried out during the year.
Notices Served: 16 Intimations and 8 Statutory Notices.
| Type of Property | Local Authority Premises | Dwelling Houses | Business Premises | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Complaints received (including repeats) | 24 | 1,230 | 177 | 1,431 |
| 2. Number of properties inspected as a result of : | ||||
| (a) Notification (initial complaint only) | (a) 21 | 1,022 | 153 | 1,196 |
| (b) Block Survey | (b) 219 | 1,085 | 39 | 1,343 |
| 3. Number of properties found to be infested by rats (including 11 ship rats) | 17 | 597 | 82 | 686 |
| 4. Number of properties found to be infested by mice | 5 | 459 | 54 | 518 |
| 5. Re-visits by Investigators | *1,104 | 3,611 | 92 | 4,807 |
| 6. Non-effective visits by Investigators | 2 | 648 | 7 | 657 |
| 7. Number of infested properties treated (new jobs commenced) | 620 | 1,065 | 129 | 1,814 |
| 8. Continuation or post-bait treatment | *524 | 2,356 | 361 | 3,241 |
| 9. Visits by Operators | *4015 | 12,259 | 999 | 17,273 |
| 10. Still being baited at end of year | 1 | 19 | 11 | 31 |
| 11. Completed during the year | 1,344 | 2,047 | 230 | 3,621 |
| 12. Number of Business Agreements dealt with : 107. | ||||
| 13. Members of the Rodent Staff assisted in the application of smoke tesits in respect of 149 drainage tests carried out by Sanitary Inspectors. | ||||
* Includes the baiting of manholes for sewer maintenance treatments 19/20 and
special sewer treatment No. 7.
NOTE :—For the purpose of completing Sections 2, 3, 4 and 7, each property is entered once
only in respect of inspections, infestations and treatments.
Difficulties still continue to be met in this section of the work of the Department
and it is only by patience and persistence that many of the cases are brought
to a satisfactory conclusion. A number of infestations were traced to unsealed
disused drains. Quite a lot of work can be done before a disused outlet is found
and the premises cleared of rats. In one case where the premises were badly infested
by rats an inspection of the sewer revealed six disused outlets. Upon these being
sealed off the nuisance from rats was abated.
In another case it was found that rats had gnawed a hole through a slate cap
fitted to the clearing eye of the interceptor and, therefore, obtained access to the
house. Had the slate cap been properly fitted the rats could not have found an
edge on which to commence their gnawing operations.
Another case which gave considerable trouble for a long period was one where
a defect was eventually found in the drain of the adjoining premises at a point very
near the sewer. Since this defect has been repaired no further rats have been seen
at this address.