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 1956

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]

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Table: 1. Prevalence of Rats and Mice.Type of Property

1. Prevalence of Rats and Mice.

Type of Property

Local AuthorityDwelling-housesAgriculturalAll other (including Business and Industrial)Total
1. Number of Properties inspected by the Local Authority during 1956 as a result (a) of notification or (b) otherwise(a) 4651...32687
(b) 13,669...6724,342
2. Number of Properties (under 1) found to be infested by ratsMajor 31...812
Minor 1548...7556
3. Number of Properties (under 1) found to be infested by mice176...1087
4. Number of Infested Properties (under 2 and 3) treated by the Local Authority5624...23652
5. Number of Notices served under Section 4:
(1) Treatment...............
(2) Structural Works(i.e., Proofing)...............

Table: 2. Measures of Control.

2. Measures of Control.

Type of Property.Properties Inspected.No. of InspectionsNotices Served.Treatment Completed.Block Treatments
Rats,Mice,
Local Authority'sPremises5131..41..
Dwelling Houses4,3207,351..57475..
Business Premises704867..1210..
Total5,0298,349..59086..

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During the year maintenance treatments of the sewers took place by the
Borough Engineer's Department, and I am indebted to the Borough Engineer
for the following report:—
RAT DESTRUCTION IN SEWERS
The 19th and 20th Maintenance Treatments were carried out in the
Spring and Autumn of 1956.
The results achieved are very similar to those for the past ten years,
seeming to indicate that the rat population in sewers is keeping at a level
figure, neither increasing nor decreasing. This supports the view put forward
at times by the Divisional Rodent Officer that sewer treatments would
probably only prevent the rat population from increasing.
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