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be expressed to the Director of Entomology of the Natural History Museum for the helpful
co-operation of his experts in the identification.
Complaints are increasingly received from residents concerning damage and
nuisance caused by the common squirrel and traps purchased by the Council are hired
out on request.
During the year 126 requests were received.
"Wild" or "feral" pigeons continue to be a widespread pest.
The well-meant but misplaced kindness of those who regularly provide an ample
food supply at all seasons enables these birds to maintain a high breeding rate and the
problem is thereby increased.
A Specialist Contractor has again been employed to reduce the number of birds at
several major centres of infestation within the Borough.
A charge is made for disinfection and disinfestation, with the exception of terminal
disinfection carried out following a case of notifiable disease and the cleansing of
verminous people.
MORTUARY
The public mortuary serving the Borough is situated adjacent to the Disinfecting
Station, North Circular Road, N.3; in the course of the year 572 bodies were received.
EXHUMATIONS
Licences for the removal of human remains under the Burial Act, 1857, state,
inter alia, "it is considered advisable that the Medical Officer of Health should be
notified whenever such a licence is granted in order that he may be in a position to take
any action that may be necessary in the interests of public health".
Eight exhumations were carried out during the year, and, where appropriate,
were observed by a Public Health Inspector, to ensure compliance with the conditions
in the Licence.
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