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
Edmonton 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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The following table gives details of the work carried out during the year.
| Type of Property | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Authority. | Dwelling-houses | Agricultural | All other (including Business and Industrial) | Total | |
| i. Number of Properties inspected by the Local Authority during 1951 as a result (a) of notification or (b) otherwise. | (a) 8 | 696 | .. | 96 | 800 |
| (b) .. | 104 | .. | .. | 104 | |
| 2. Number of Properties (under 1) found to be infested by rats. | Major 3 | .. | .. | 9 | 12 |
| Minor 2 | 468 | .. | 62 | 532 | |
| 3. Number Of Properties (under 1) found to be seriously infested by mice | 1 | 72 | .. | 20 | 93 |
| 4. Number of Infested Properties (under 2 and 3) treated by the Local Authority. | 7 | 549 | .. | 90 | 637 |
| 5. Number of Notices served 1 under Section 4 | |||||
| (1) Treatment | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| (2) Structural Works (i.e. Proofing) | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 1 |
| Total | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 1 |
18
SANITARY INSPECTION IN THE AREA.
Six District Sanitary Inspectors and one woman Sanitary Inspector are
engaged in the sanitary supervision of the Borough, working under the supervision
of the Senior Sanitary Inspector. The Senior Sanitary Inspector supervises
the work of the Borough.
Sanitary Conveniences.
There are seven Public Conveniences in the Borough which are kept under
constant supervision by the Public Health Department.
During the year free hand-washing facilities were introduced. Liquid
soap containers and paper towels were provided at each Public Convenience.
This innovation has proved very successful.
Rodent Control.
Under this heading your Senior Sanitary Inspector, as Officer-in-Charge,
Rodent Control, reported as follows: —
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949 came into force on the 31st
March, 1950.
The Council have an Assistant Rodent Officer, two Rodent Operators,
the part-time services of a Junior Clerk and appointed the District Sanitary
Inspectors as Rodent Officers.
The District Sanitary Inspectors in cases where there was a possibility of
the infestation being due to defective drainage visited the premises and tested
the drainage and any defects discovered were dealt with through the usual
channels. In 80 per cent of the cases defects were discovered and as one can
quite appreciate entailed quite a large amount of work.