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
Enfield 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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The following table shows the incidence of Tuberculosis and death-rates from this disease in the various Wards in the District during 1951.
| Ward. | Estimated Population. | No. of Cases. | T.B. Case-rate. | T.B. Death-rate. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulm. | Other. | Pulm. | Other. | Pulm. | Other. | ||
| North-East | 25,922 | 25 | 3 | 0.95 | 0.11 | 0.34 | 0.00 |
| South-East | 20,761 | 18 | 4 | 0.86 | 0 19 | 0.43 | 0.09 |
| Central | 20,887 | 23 | 2 | 1.09 | 0.09 | 0.47 | 0.04 |
| South-West | 18,625 | 23 | 1 | 1.22 | 0.05 | 0.21 | 0.00 |
| West | 23,705 | 24 | 5 | 1.00 | 0.20 | 0.54 | 0.08 |
| Total | 109,900 | 113 | 15 | 1.02 | 0.13 | 0.40 | 0.04 |
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949.
During the year a Rodent Investigating Officer and three
operators were engaged on control of rat infestation at dwellinghouses
and other premises and of the sewers in the district.
The Council decided that this service should be available to
the occupiers of all dwelling-houses free of charge ; industrial and
business premises are dealt with at the request of the proprietors
who pay the full cost of any disinfestation undertaken at their
premises.
777 premises were inspected during the year for rat and mice
infestation, and of these 660 were found to be affected.
The total number of treatments carried out by the Department
(including domestic, business and factory premises, and re-infestations)
was 614.
During the year the Sanitary Inspectors and Rodent Investigating
Officer made 9,717 visits concerning rat infestation.
All the sewers in the district have been systematically examined
and the Ministry's scheme for the extermination of rats in sewers
has been closely followed. Experience gained during these investigations
has proved extremely useful to the Department, and it
has been possible to trace any colony or heavy infestation; such
infestations as were discovered were confined to small areas far
apart from one another. During the initial investigations 1,295
manholes were examined and 742 pre-baits and 161 poison-baits
were laid. The necessary follow-up treatment continues so that the
rat population of the sewers may be kept under control.
ERADICATION OF BED BUGS
Number of Council Houses found to be infested 21
Number of Council houses disinfested 21
Number of other houses found to be infested 45
Number of other houses disinfested 45
Householders are urged to seek the assistance of the Health
Department immediately they suspect the presence of bugs or
similar pests.