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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
City of London 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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32
FLEAS AND PLAGUE.
Investigation into the question of plague-carrying fleas on rats caught in kitchens
in the City of London was attempted during the year. It was felt that, under the constantly
warm conditions in restaurant kitchens, the Indian plague fleas, Xenopsylla Cheopsis, might
survive and multiply. Unfortunately, the experiment had to be abandoned because of
the difficulties experienced in carrying out the special requirements of a really scientific
investigation. This is to be regretted, as investigation would have been of definite scientific
value, as if no Cheopsis fleas were found on rats in the most likely places in the City, it
could be assumed that, in spite of the prevalence of the black rat, there would be no great
danger of the spread of plague, even if it were introduced. On the other hand, if not only
the black rats but the plague-carrying flea are common in London, this danger could not
be regarded as altogether absent.
MEAT INSPECTION. According to the Board of Trade returns the imports of fresh meat and bacon for the twelve months, 1937, were :—
| BEEF AND VEAL. Cwts. | MUTTON AND LAMB. Cwts. | PORK. Cwts. | BACON. Cwts. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937. | 1936. | 1937. | 1936. | 1937. | 1936. | 1937. | 1936. | |
| Argentine | 7,124,885 | 7,252,004 | 889,932 | 900,083 | 194,001 | 190,371 | — | — |
| Australia | 2,190,301 | 1,666,219 | 1,882,962 | 1,499,264 | 233,892 | 232,510 | — | — |
| Brazil | 527,844 | 526,514 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Canada | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,387,006 | 1,092,401 |
| Chile | — | — | 210,390 | 206,968 | — | — | — | — |
| Denmark | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3,429,427 | 3,373,415 |
| Estonia | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40,506 | — |
| Irish Free State | 4,223 | 5,382 | 15,620 | 21,324 | 54,010 | 115,973 | 509,809 | 505,162 |
| Latvia | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37,096 | — |
| Lithuania | — | — | — | — | — | — | 187,949 | 193,533 |
| Netherlands | — | — | — | — | — | — | 481,067 | 484,708 |
| New Zealand | 830,219 | 824,177 | 3,603,036 | 3,530,744 | 592,648 | 579,086 | — | — |
| Poland | — | — | — | — | — | — | 442,382 | 408,415 |
| Sweden | — | — | — | — | — | 250,046 | 241,604 | |
| United States | — | — | — | 21,706 | — | 6,969 | 16,935 | |
| Uruguay Other Countries | 654,994 280,473 | 590,348 268,262 | 164,961 51,633 | 126,128 40,027 | 15,634 | 10,731 12,514 | 153,128 | 217,094 |
| Totals | 11,612,939 | 11,132,906 | 6,818,534 | 6,324,718 | 1,111,891 | 1,141,185 | 6,925,385 | 6,569,632 |
Live stock for twelve months, 1937:—
| Cattle. | Sheep. | Pigs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 9,053 | — | — |
| Irish Free State | 640,996 | 311,752 | 42,524 |
Value of Live Stock:—
| Canada | £158,623 | — | — |
| Irish Free State | £6,114,699 | £551,090 | £179,944 |