London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Harrow 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]

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63
There still remains the possibility of contamination in the Spring by
strontium 90. It is not expected though that this will reach dangerous
levels.
In considering the question of the danger of this contaminated milk,
it must not be forgotten that all milk is naturally radio-active to some
extent. There is no way of obtaining a wholly non-radio-active milk.
Contamination from fall-out temporarily raises the level of certain
radio-active substances.
What risk there was, was to children under one year of age who might
have consumed radio-active milk. Children over one year of age, expectant
mothers and nursing mothers were not especially at risk, nor the babies
who were being breast fed.
Rats and Mice
The rodent operatives found rats or mice at 1,359 of the 1,635
premises they visited. Each of the infestations was small and localised.
Most complaints were from private dwelling houses, 1,346 of these being
in respect of rats, seventy-five of mice. Thirty-nine infestations of rats and
four of mice were at Corporation properties, 145 and twenty-six at other
premises.
The number of visits made by the rodent operatives to these properties
was 1,635; in 1960 it was 1,690.
Vermin infestation is encouraged by the widespread practice of
people feeding pets and wild birds in the back gardens of their houses
without taking even elementary precautions against this encouraging
rodents.
The small number of sewers known to be infested with rats were
treated twice during the year. The results of the treatments do not suggest
any increase in the rat population.
Periodical surveys of watercourses and land owned by the Corporation
were made and treatments carried out where necessary.
Wasps
There are marked variations in the prevalence of wasps in different
years and so in the requests for help to destroy their nests. These numbered
345 in 1957; 213 and 265 in the next two years; only 111 in 1958; the
largest number ever recorded was 818 in 1959; there was a reduction to
647 in 1960 and a further fall to 450 this last year. In spite of the smaller
numbers because of reduced staff, only 398 cases could be dealt with—the
other fifty-two being treated in other ways.