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
Finchley 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley]
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"Both establishments are equipped with modern filtration and chlorination plants.
The water is drawn from the public water supply and is continuously filtered on a
six-hour cycle, make-up water being added as necessary to cover losses by evaporation,
filter washing and other causes. The chlorination is controlled in accordance with the
latest practice in this important subject.
"Samples of the water are taken regularly for bacteriological examination and the
results are consistently satisfactory. This reflects greatly to the credit of the staff
directly concerned with the operation of the purification plants, for the bathing load
is frequently heavy. In the 1962 season, 282,737 people visited the pools."
Eighty-eight samples of the water were taken by the Public Health Inspectors
during the year.
RODENT CONTROL
The form in which the statistics in this Section is reported has been amended
so as to bring it into line with the data in the Report to the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
| Type of Property | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | |
| Local Authority | Dwelling Houses (inc. Council Houses) | All Other (including Business Premises) | Total of Cols. (1), (2) & (3) | |
| 1. Number of properties inspected as result of | ||||
| (a) Notification | 18 | 179 | 44 | 241 |
| (b) Survey | 7 | 24 | 3 | 34 |
| 2. Total inspections carried out | 136 | 868 | 249 | 1253 |
| 3. Number of properties inspected which were found to be infested by | ||||
| (a) Rats | 15 | 149 | 37 | 201 |
| (b) Mice | 8 | 41 | 9 | 58 |
| 4. Number of infested properties (in 3 above) treated by Local Authority | 23 | 168 | 42 | 233 |
Of the 259 premises at which evidence of infestation by rats or mice was found,
37 were shop or factory premises. Poultry was kept at 10 addresses only. In 3 cases
smoke tests were applied to rat runs and as a result defects in drains or sewers were
revealed in each case. The necessary remedial works were carried out.
41