London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Croydon 1962

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

This page requires JavaScript

68
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951
21 persons were licenced for the purpose of keeping Pet
Shops. During the year 21 inspections were made and there were
no infringements of the conditions, specified in the licences.
DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACTS
Ten cases of suspected swine fever notified were confirmed
and appropriate action was taken in conjunction with the Officers
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to provide
against the spread of the disease.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
This Act is mainly concerned with the destruction of rats
and mice and it places a duty on the occupier of any premises to
report to the Local Authority any infestation by such rodents.
Two rodent operatives are employed to deal with such complaints.
During the year, 2,481 private dwellings were inspected
following complaints and in 2,411 instances infestation was confirmed
and dealt with by the rodent operatives. 213 business
premises were found to be infested with rats or mice and these
were all disinfected during the year. Regular inspections are
made of premises where food is prepared or sold and particular
attention is given to methods of prevention of rodent infestation.
Corporation owned premises including sewage works,
refuse tips, depots, school kitchens and serveries, etc., are
periodically inspected for the presence of rodents and if infested
then action is taken by the department to eradicate the
pests. 47 infestations at such premises were dealt with during
the year.
The baiting of the Corporation's foul water sewers is
carried out annually.
During the early part of the year the whole of the sewerage
system in the Borough was test baited and showed takes of bait
at 23 manholes. These manholes were treated until no further
baits were taken.