London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Leyton 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
This page requires JavaScript
Continued from previous page...
| Rooms redecorated | 1,482 |
| Windows, sills, etc., repaired | 593 |
| Cement work to sink waste gullies repaired | 65 |
| Miscellaneous defects remedied | 654 |
Drainage.
The drains of 71 houses were reconstructed. In some instances
the reconstruction related to portions of the public sewers, and in
these cases the work was carried out under the supervision of the
staff of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department, the
expenses incurred thereby being recovered from the owners.
Verminous Houses. Infested. Disinfested.
Number of houses 158 158
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Ministry of Food—Infestation Order 1943 S. R. & 0. 680.
Complaints
Complaints received and investigated 647
Premises not treated (not genuine infestation) 51
Premises treated :—
(a) Dwelling-houses 515
(b) Business premises 81
596
Premises freed 517
Sewer Maintenance Treatments.
All sewers in the Borough were treated in July, 1949 (followed
by a further treatment in January, 1950).
The following figures show the results of these two treatments :
| No. of Manholes baited. | No. showing complete prebait take. | No. showing some prebait take. | Percentage of take. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Treatment | 1,208 | 193 | 617 | 50.9 |
| 2nd Treatment | 1,214 | 283 | 730 | 59.2 |
It will be seen from the results obtained during the baiting
of the public sewers that there is still a heavy rat infestation in
the sewers. In order to reduce the infestation it may be necessary
to treat the sewers more often in future. From experience it is
found that most of the infestation of premises is due to faulty
sewers and drains.