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
Poplar 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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(B) Dwelling Houses.
| 1946 | |
| 607 complaints relating to 490 premises were investigated. | 502/454. |
| 27 complaints relating to 24 premises were outstanding at the end of the year. | 21/25. |
| 1389 inspections were made by the Rodent Officers. | 1,271. |
| 3090 visits to apply treatments were made by the Ratcatchers. | 2,769. |
| 117 rats and 149 mice were found dead. | 280rats/67mice. |
| Premises treated: | |
| 470 dwelling-houses. | 359. |
| 5 small shops. | 38. |
| 12 business premises of which 10 entered Contributory Scheme . | 42. |
| 5 licensed premises. | 5. |
| 10 P.B.C. and L.C.C. | |
| Cause of complaints: | |
| 101 related to rats of unknown origin. | 140. |
| 63 attributable to defective drains. | 69. |
| 11 ,, ,, sewer works in progress. | 2. |
| 194 were found to be mice only. | 120. |
| 28 ,, ,, ,, ,, birds. | 22. |
| 1 was ,, ,, ,, moths. | 1. |
| 42 related to war debris removal. | 22. |
| 1 ,, ,, rats from P.L.A. area. | 13. |
| 49 were found to be without foundation. | 64. |
(C) Rodents found dead in 1947.
| Rats. | Mice. | |||
| Contributory Scheme premises | 976 rats, | 189 mice. | 2,563 | 305 |
| Dwelling-houses | 117 ,, | 149 ,, | 280 | 67 |
| Sewers | 14 ,, | . | 248 | . |
| Total | 1157 ,, | 338 ,, | 250 | . open |
| spaces | ||||
| 3,341 | 372 |
(D) Materials used (all premises and sewers):
| 55 cwts. Sausage rusks. | 68 lb.Zinc phosphide. | ||
| 12 " Wheat. | 10¼ Arsenicus oxide. | ||
| 5 " Rolled oats. | 4 " Red squill. | ||
| 1½ " Middlings. | 2 " Barium carbonate. | ||
| 150 1b. Flour. | 4 " Antu. |
(E) Sewer Treatments:
The 6th, 7th and 8th sewer maintenance treatments were carried out in January, June and December in conjunction with the Works Department and the Ministry of Food (Infestation Division) with the results shown:-
| Treatment No. | When treated. | No. of man-holes. | No take. | Small take. | Good take. | Complete take. | %take. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st. | Dec. 1943 | 1566 | 856 | 229 | 334 | 147 | 45 |
| 2nd. | Jany. 1944 | 1720 | 1508 | 149 | 56 | 7 | 12 |
| 3rd. | May 1944 | 1665 | 1281 | 129 | 151 | 104 | 24 |
| 4th. | Jany. 1946 | 1181 | 354 | 171 | 184 | 47 2 | 70 |
| 5th. | June 1946 | 1452 | 824 | 291 | 175 | 162 | 44 |
| 6th. | Jany. 1947 | 1500 | 1013 | 137 | 170 | 180 | 32½ |
| 7th. | June 1947 | 1680 | 1399 | 116 | 113 | 52 | 17 |
| 8th. | Dec. 1947 | 1701 | 1269 | 105 | 125 | 202 | 25 |