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
Willesden 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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131
Inconvenience to Tenants.— It will be observed from the foregoing time-table that the tenants
will not have a home for practically two whole days and the intervening night, but they will be able
to pass the night of the third day as above in their own home and in their own beds.
It may be further observed that, where a tenement has to be completely disinfested, in some cases
it might be practicable to arrange that different rooms were done on different days so that the tenant
would be inconvenienced to the least possible extent and would not have to leave his abode.
Where it is not found practicable to disinfest one room at a time, arrangements would require
to be made to accommodate the families concerned over-night.
Such accommodation should provide 3 bedrooms, 1 large kitchen and living room and, as aforesaid, 1 large bathroom with the necessary simple furniture and kitchen ware.
| Cost.—The following provisional estimate is submitted:— (a) Initial Cost of Equipment— | £ | s. | d. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnishing | 163 | 10 | 0 |
| Apparatus | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 183 | 10 | 0 | |
| (6) Annual Cost— Disinfestor (Grade C) | 158 | 5 | 0 |
| 1,000 rooms at 5s. per room | 250 | 0 | 0 |
| Disinfection of bedding at Municipal Hospital | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Disinfestation of furniture and bedding by hydro-cyanic acid gas at Kensington in the worst cases only | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Rent of house or flat including heating and lighting | *100 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleaning and Laundry | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 808 | 5 | 0 | |
| 250 | 0 | 0 | |
| 558 | 5 | 0 |
* This sum may appear high but it seems to me doubtful if it is desirable to reserve a Council
flat for this purpose.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Act, 1925.
Verminous Articles.
Section 45.—(1) If it appears to the local authority, on the certificate of the medical officer or
sanitary inspector, that any articles in any premises used for human habitation in the district are infested
with vermin, or by reason of their having been used by, or having been in contact with, any
person infested with vermin, are likely to be so infested, the local authority at their expense may cause
such articles to be cleansed, disinfected or destroyed, and if necessary for that purpose to be removed
from the premises.
(2) Where a person sustains damage by reason of the exercise by the local authority of their
powers under this section, and the condition of the article with respect to which those powers have
been exercised is not attributable to his act or default, the local authority shall make reasonable
compensation to that person.
Verminous Houses.
Section 46.—(1) If it appears to the local authority, on the certificate of the medical officer or
sanitary inspector, that any premises used for human habitation in the district are infested with vermin,
the local authority may give written notice to the occupier of the premises, or if the premises be vacant
to the owner of the premises, requiring him within a period specified in the notice to cleanse the premises,
and the notice may require, among other things, the removal of wallpaper or other covering on the
walls, and the taking of such other steps as the local authority may require for the purpose of destroying
or removing vermin: