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
Stepney 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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52
In addition to the National Rat Week in November, three extra Rat
Weeks were held in February, May and August, in collaboration with the
adjoining Boroughs of Bethnal Green, Shoreditch and Poplar, when poisoned
bait was laid in the manholes and side entrances of the sewers in and adjoining
the boundary roads of the respective Boroughs.
The following is a record of the work done in Stepney during these extra Rat Weeks in 1935 :—
| Extra Rat Weeks. | Dates (inc.) | Poisoned baits laid in | Baits laid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manholes. | Side-entrances. | Eaten. | Uneaten. | ||
| First | 4th to 9th February | 192 | 22 | 1,726 | 330 |
| Second | 13 th to 18 th May | 219 | 25 | 1,849 | 173 |
| Third | 29th July to 3rd August | 255 | 15 | 1,870 | 272 |
National Rat Week—Uh to 9th November.
The Council adopted a similar procedure as in previous years.
Notices, drawing the attention of the public to the matter, were inserted
in four local newspapers.
Communications were sent to 13 local cinemas, requesting that notices
be displayed on the screen, drawing attention to National Rat Week.
75 chemists and oilmen within the Borough were supplied with copies
of the Ministry of Agriculture's form No. 618/T.R., bulletin No. 30 the official
pictorial bills and bills "Rat Poison Sold Here," and were requested to display
the same in their shop windows.
Rat poison, consisting of extract of squills, barium carbonate, phosphor
paste and rodine, were placed in the sewer manholes and side entrances at
238 different positions throughout the Borough. A total of 1,887 portions
of bait were laid, of which number 1,690 were eaten.
The Council employ three men as ratcatchers, who give their whole time
to rat destruction.
Rent and
Mortgage
Interest
Restrictions
Acts.
54 applications were received during the year for Certificates that certain
houses were not in a reasonable state of repair. 51 were granted, 3 were
refused. In addition, 15 applications were received for Reports that the work
mentioned on the Certificates have been satisfactorily executed. All were
granted.