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 1967

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]

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Pests
Rat and mice infestations increased slightly. 1.803 properties required treatment
compared with 1,704 in 1966, but retreatments fell from 3,339 to 3,118. There was
however, a decrease in the number of mouse infested properties and this suggests that
greater care in the storage of food may have been responsible. There has been a
marked increase in the number of verminous children cleansed at the Disinfecting
Stations, 512 as against 394. Treatment for scabies has risen for children from 251 to
517, and for adults from 195 to 360. It was also necessary to disinfest many more
rooms and articles. It is difficult to see the reason for this with the improved housing
conditions; it is however, hoped that this rise is only temporary and that the figures
for 1968 will show a considerable improvement.

Table: Table 40SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS BY PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTORS

Table 40

SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS BY PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTORS

Reason for inspectionTotal
On complaint3,732
House to house1,947
Improvement giants1,492
Houses in multiple occupation1,555
Rent Acts20
Mortgage survey982
Other Housing Act visits1,048
Notice from builder1,246
Infectious diseases215
Infestation251
Factories, mechanical80
Factories, non-mechanical90
Outworkers121
Clean Air inspections1,335
Pet Animals Act19
Offices, Shops, etc. Act1,153
Common Lodging Houses6
Fireguards33
Hairdressers19
Pharmacy and poisons170
Icecream premises75
Restaurants, cafes, etc.1,397
Bakehouses22
Food shops and stalls1,414
Other shops and stalls123
Food inspections567
Sampling269
All other matters4,513
Revisits12,535
Total—all inspectors36,429

Table: Table 41SUMMARY OF NOTICES SERVED

Table 41SUMMARY OF NOTICES SERVED

Informal notices:
Public Health Act, 1936845
Factories Act5
Housing Act, 195743
Housing Act, 196141
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963555
Total1,149