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
Lewisham 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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30
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
A copy of the annual report submitted to the Minister of Agriculture
and Fisheries, as required by the provisions of the above Act, is
appended.
Table 17
| Type of property | (i) | (ii) | (iii) | (iv) | (v) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in borough | Properties inspected as a result of (a) notification or (b) otherwise | Properties under (ii) found to be rat infested | Properties found to be seriously mouse infested | Infested properties (under iii and iv) treated | |||
| (a) | (b) | Major | Minor | ||||
| Local authorities' property | 142 | - | 16 | - | 11 | 5 | 16 |
| Dwelling houses | 60,420 | 1,042 | 2,823 | - | 1,189 | 179 | 1,368 |
| Agricultural property | 43 | — | 27 | — | 27 | — | 27 |
| All other property (including business and industrial) | 3,763 | 71 | 83 | — | 102 | 8 | 110 |
| TOTAL | 64,368 | 1,113 | 2,949 | — | 1,329 | 192 | 1,521 |
Number of "block" control schemes carried out 10
It has not been found necessary to serve notices under section 4
of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949 for either treatment or
structural works (i.e. proofing), and consequently no default action has
been necessary and no legal proceedings have been taken.
Rodent control — "block" control
Where rats or mice are present in substantial numbers in a group of
separately occupied premises, it is sometimes considered advisable to
deal with these premises as a block rather than as a number of individual
properties. Nine such block control treatments were carried out in
respect of rats and one in respect of mice during the year.
Details of the block control treatments carried out in respect of
rats are as follows:—