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Altogether, 179 combined drains were investigated and over 100 smoke tests
were carried out. Twenty-eight of these smoke tests produced positive results and
twelve combined drains were found to be defective. In five cases, after the service
of the necessary notices under Section 40 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
the Borough Engineer carried out the work of repair or reconstruction, the cost
being apportioned among the responsible owners.
Shops Act, 1950.
The provisions of the Shops Act, 1950, relating to the suitability of sanitary
accommodation in shops is the responsibility of the local sanitary authority.
Altogether 411 visits of inspection were made by the Sanitary Inspectors for this
purpose during the year.
Common Lodging Houses.
There are two licensed Common Lodging Houses in the Borough, with accommodation
for 50 and 22 men respectively. Eighteen inspections were made of these
premises during the year.
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts.
During 1953 the Health Committee authorised the issue of certificates in respect
of two houses on the application of the tenant that the houses in question were not
in good and tenantable repair. The Committee also considered two applications
for revocation of existing certificates of unfitness, and approved one such revocation
on being satisfied that the necessary repairs to put the house concerned in a reasonable
state of fitness had been executed.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933. This Act places upon the Council the duty of
enforcing the provisions relating to poisons in Part II of the Poisons List. During
1953 the number of sellers of Part II poisons (other than registered pharmacists)
on the list maintained by the Council was 146. This number included seven new
registrations during the year.
Rats.
Once again measures for the destruction of rats were continued throughout the
year. 1,122 complaints were received and in addition to the investigation of the
premises concerned in the complaints, the systematic inspection under" block
control" was continued. A total of 7,572 premises were inspected under the block
control system. The total number of properties found to be infested by rats or
mice or both was 1,402, which included 209 business and industrial premises. All
infestations found are systematically treated and where the cause of the trouble
appears to be due to defective drains or other defects in the building the owner is
requested to effect the necessary repairs. The Department carried out 31 smoke
tests on suspected defective drains at rat infested premises and these tests produced
evidence of 16 defective drains causing rat infestation.
The Council continued its practice of carrying out free treatment in respect
of infestations in private dwellings. A charge is made for treatment carried out
by the Council at business and industrial premises.
Owing to the flooding in February, 1953, in low lying areas in the Borough at
Abbey Wood rats were driven to seek shelter in higher ground and this caused two
major infestations. The areas were surveyed and a systematic poisoning campaign
carried out using Zinc Phosphide, Arsenious Oxide and Warfarin, in that order.
The areas were cleared of rats and some 185 bodies were recovered.
It is usual for rats to move from infested sewers to the surface by means of
defects in the sewers or drains, but during the year a reversal of this procedure was
discovered. In an area in the Borough where the sewers have always been clear
of rats and the rat infestations have been purely surface ones, test baiting revealed
a minor infestation in the sewers which was cleared after treatment. An open
drain was found which the surface rats had used to gain access to the sewers.
As in previous years, with the co-operation of the Borough Engineer's Department,
two sewer treatments and one test baiting were undertaken during 1953
and in this way the number of rats in the sewers has been kept under control. The
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