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Insect Pests
The Department gives free assistance to householders in securing the elimination of insect pests.
Non-domestic premises are also treated on request but a charge is made to cover the cost of the service.

Mortuary
From the 1st April 1965 the modern Public Mortuary situated at Myddleton Road, Hornsey, N.8. has
been used for the reception of bodies for the whole of the Borough. Prior to the 1st April bodies from
Tottenham and Wood Green were taken to the Prince of Wales's Hospital Mortuary. During 1965, 277
bodies were received into Hornsey mortuary and post-mortem examination was made in 272 cases.
Noise Nuisance
A number of complaints were investigated of disturbance arising from noise which was usually
generated in factories in close proximity to residential premises, of which the following is a typical
instance:-
Following complaints from a resident of noise from a nearby factory measurements were made in a
cottage opposite the factory, a microphone being placed in a front first floor room with the casement
window open 6". Recordings were made at hourly intervals from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. inclusive. These
recordings were subsequently analysed into third octaves and a measurement in A-weighted decibels
(dBA)taken when the sound level was fairly steady. The sound level inside the room with the window
slightly open varied from 56-60 dBA during the two hours between8 and 10 p.m., between 52-56 dBA
between 10 p.m. and midnight, and 50-52 dBA between midnight and 5 a.m.
The frequency distribution of the noise was fairly consistent at all hours and tended to be
predominantly low frequency sound.
There were, however, marked peaks in the noise spectrum at the third octave frequencies centred
on 160 and 315 cycles per second, the peak at 315 c.p.s. appeared to die away between 10 and 11 p.m.
while that at 160c.p.s. remained very constant throughout the night. The levels measured in A-weighted
decibels were much above the 35 dBA recommended by the Wilson Committee for maximum internal levels
at night in urban dwellings.
The Company concerned were informed of the findings and with the aid of tape recordings and
tabulation analysis figures it was possible to trace the machines which were the major source of the noise
and recommendations were madeas to what mechanical measures could be taken to bring about a reduction
in the noise to reasonable limits.
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