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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
The following table shows rat and mice destruction carried out by pest operatives during 1971:—
Table 50
| Type of Local authority | Property Dwelling houses (including council houses) | All other (including business premises) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Properties inspected as a result of | ||||
| (a) notification | 29 | 3,290 | 466 | 3,785 |
| (b) survey | — | 120 | 3 | 123 |
| (c) otherwise | — | — | — | — |
| Total inspections | 29 | 3,410 | 469 | 3,908 |
| Properties inspected which were found to be infested by:— | ||||
| (a) Rats—major | — | — | — | — |
| (b) —minor | 6 | 726 | 132 | 864 |
| (c) Mice—major | — | — | — | — |
| (d) —minor | 16 | 817 | 142 | 975 |
| Infested properties treated | 22 | 1,543 | 274 | 1,839 |
| Retreatments | 68 | 2,673 | 511 | 3,252 |
| "Block" control schemes carried out | 5, involving 178 premises | |||
RODENT CONTROL
The incidence of infestation during the year was normal and no special comment
is called for.
A statistical analysis of infestation over the past six years is illustrated in the
following two graphs which show the number of premises dealt with by quarters.
The incidence of rat infestation has not changed much, but, as is clearly shown
by the trend line there has been quite a steep rise in the number of mice infestations
up to the end of March, 1970, before the number began to fall. However,
the fall appears to be only temporary as the latest figures show that there is every
indication that the incidence is rising again and may well exceed the peak
reached in 1970 by March, 1972.
Each of the premises about which a complaint of rodent infestation has been
made or is suspected of being infested receives an average of 2.7 visits per week
(3.0 visits for rats and 2.3 visits for mice per week). It takes an average of 5.7
visits to deal with a rat complaint and 4.4 visits for a complaint of mice over an
average period of two weeks. A few infestations take considerably longer than
this to clear up. The figures quoted do not apply to places where there is need
for treatment over a continuous period, such as river banks, railway cuttings
and sewers, all of which are dealt with as a matter of course by the rodent
operatives or sewermen.
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