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
Woolwich 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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TABLE No. 63—continued.
| Nuisances, etc., Abated. | Total. |
|---|---|
| Insufficient supply of water or water cut off by Metropolitan Water Board | 45 |
| Additional Water Supply | — |
| Cases of overcrowding remedied | 49 |
| Dust Bins supplied | 535 |
| Verminous Rooms Cleansed | 159 |
| Accumulations of Manure Removed | 46 |
| Dung Pits provided | 1 |
| Smoke Nuisances | 4 |
| Coppers Repaired | 208 |
| Cooking Stoves Repaired | 347 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,115 |
Rats. During the year 72 investigations were made under
the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act. A Rat Week was
held in November and by arrangement with the Works
Department 6,927 baits were laid in 102 old sewers likely
to be infested with rats. During the year many persons
were advised as to the best means of dealing with the rat
nuisance so far as it affected their respective premises.
Mosquitoes. During the summer complaints were again
received from persons living in the Abbey Wood area that
they were troubled with mosquitoes, but from investigation
it appears that the menace was not quite so serious as in the
previous year. The mosquito causing the trouble was the
culicine variety; no specimens of the malaria mosquito
(anopheline) were discovered. The area from which the
complaints were received is near the Plumstead marshes and
the ditches dividing these constitute a convenient breeding
ground for mosquitoes. In addition there is a large allotment
area nearby where allotment holders use an improvised type