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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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37
Rent and
Mortgage
Interest
Restrictions
Acts,
Record of Rat Destruction carried out by the Council's Ratcatchers from
lst January to 31 st December.
No. of premises visited 725
„ „ visits 17,485
„ „ dead rats found poisoned 67
* „ „ rats caught in our traps 1,643
„ „ premises cleared of rats as reported by the
Occupiers 376
„ „ new rat complaints during this period 556
*1,263 of these were actually brought into tlu Depot and destroyed.
The poisons used were as follows:—
Rodine 37,922 cubes
Barium carbonate 36,510 „
Phosphor paste 34,491 „
Extract of Squills 16,696 portions (2 oz.)
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 1936:—
| Extra Rat Weeks. | Dates (inc.) | Poisoned baits laid in | Baits laid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manholes. | Side-entrances. | Eaten. | Uneaten. | ||
| First | 3rd to 8th February | 327 | 34 | 2,229 | 225 |
| Second | 4th to 9th May | 292 | 36 | 2,415 | 388 |
| Third | 27th July to 1st August | 176 | 19 | 1,404 | 56 |
National Rat Week—2nd to 1th 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 14 local cinemas, requesting that notices
be displayed on the screen, drawing attention to National Rat Week.
78 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
221 different positions throughout the Borough. A total of 1,040 portions
of bait were laid, of which number 676 were eaten.
The Council employ three men as ratcatchers, who give their whole time
to rat destruction.
42 certificates were issued as to houses not being in a reasonable state of
repair. 5 applications for such certificates were refused. 19 applications were
received for reports that the work mentioned on certificates have been satisfactorily
executed 14 were granted and 5 were refused.