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 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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RODENT CONTROL
Your Senior Public Health Inspector, as Officer-in-Charge, Rodent Control,
reported as follows
An Assistant Rodent Officer and two Operatives carry out rat and mice
destruction under the general supervision of the Public Health Inspectors.
Domestic premises are treated without charge and business premises on
repayment.
Wherever possible the poison used in treating infestations is "Warfarin"
which is very successful and comparatively harmless to human beings and domestic
animals.
In cases where rat infestations are suspected to be due to faulty drainage,
the Public Health Inspector makes a full investigation and where repairs are
found to be necessary, the matter is taken up with the owner.
Prevalence of Rats and Mice:
| Local Authority | Dwelling Houses | All other including Business and Industrial | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Properties inspected as a result of notification | 22 | 755 | 55 | 832 |
| Other properties investigated | 2 | 1,680 | 41 | 2,439 |
| Properties found to be infested Rats (a) Major infestations | _– | – | – | – |
| (b) Minor infestations | 26 | 545 | 24 | 595 |
| Mice (a) Major infestations | – | – | – | – |
| (b) Minor infestations | 6 | 61 | 8 | 75 |
| Number of properties treated by Rodent Operators | 26 | 606 | 38 | 670 |
| Number of inspections | 168 | 4,709 | 1,117 | 5,994 |
RAT DESTRUCTION IN SEWERS
The Council's Rodent Operatives took over the treatment of sewers from the
private contractors who previously carried out the work.
They continued using "1080" poison in quarterly maintenance treatments.
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