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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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DISINFECTION AND PERSONAL CLEANSING
Details of the work carried out during the year are as follows:—
| Rooms disinfected or disinfested | 1,949 |
| Articles disinfected or disinfested | 26,569 |
| Verminous children cleansed | 648 |
| Verminous adults cleansed | 733 |
| Treatment for scabies, children | 1,108 |
| Treatment for scabies, adults | 728 |
| Articles cleansed | 87,837 |
| Domiciliary bathing | 523 |
WASPS, HORNETS AND THE LIKE
Under the provisions of Section 6 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions)
Act, 1963, the Council decided to introduce a service to assist residents to eradicate
wasps, hornets and the like. It was decided to charge £1 for the services of the
Council's staff and material in each case. During the year 174 wasps nests were dealt
with on this basis. In a number of cases it was not possible to deal with the nests
because of their inaccessibility.
ANTI-FLY CAMPAIGN
During the period June to September, the usual measures were taken to deal with
fly breeding. Calls were made to potential sources, such as stables, throughout the
Borough. Vacant sites which were well known to the department as rubbish dumps
were visited and deposits of litter removed and the ground sprayed with insecticide.
The treatment of dustbins with powder supplied by the Health Department was
carried out by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's staff. The caretakers of blocks
of flats were supplied with material to enable them to deal with refuse chutes and
chambers.
The following table shows rat and mice destruction carried out by pest operatives during 1970. No special comment is called for except to say that this is a continuing problem:—
| Type of Property | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local authority | Dwelling houses (including council houses) | All other (including business premises) | Total | |
| Properties inspected as a result of | ||||
| (a) notification | 23 | 3,659 | 363 | 4,045 |
| (b) survey | 1 | 144 | 8 | 153 |
| (c) otherwise | — | 17 | — | 17 |
| Total inspections | 24 | 3,820 | 371 | 4,215 |
| Properties inspected which were found to be infested by:— | ||||
| (a) Rats—major | — | — | — | — |
| (b) —minor | 1 | 1,078 | 117 | 1,196 |
| (c) Mice—major | — | — | — | — |
| (d) —minor | 10 | 936 | 85 | 1,031 |
| Infested properties treated | 11 | 2,014 | 202 | 2,227 |
| Retreatments | 39 | 3,208 | 398 | 3,645 |
| "Block" control schemes carried out | 4, involving 62 premises | |||