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
Kingston upon Thames 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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The following is a brief tabulated list of causes for complaints received during 1955:-
| Sanitary Defects | |
| Rodents | 182 |
| Defective Ashbins | 3 |
| Drains and Sanitary Arrangements | 97 |
| Overcrowding | 2 |
| Food | 23 |
| Nuisance from Smoke | 19 |
| Defective Yards and Paving | 6 |
| Insect Pests | 22 |
| Accumulations | 9 |
| Water Supply | 3 |
| Others | |
| 544 |
14. RODENT AND INSECT PEST CONTROL.
During 1955 no legal action was required under the
provisions of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
This is in itself an indication of the co-operation received
from householders and business people.
As mentioned in previous reports, many rat infestations
are traceable to defective drains, and, more rarely, to faults
in sewers. During the year 30 defects of drainage systems
were revealed during rodent control investigation (5 of which
were on bomb sites) and of this number, 24 were found to be
the cause of the infestation.
During the year two maintenance treatments were carried
out to the sewer system in the town. During the second treatment
very heavy rainfall was experienced and it was not
possible to assess accurately the number of instances where
the poison bait was taken by the rats. It is for this reason
that the figure recorded with regard to instances where bait
was taken, in the statement below, is higher than that
recorded last year.
Rodent Control - Statistical Statements 1955. Private Dwellings and Corporation Property.
| Rats | Mice | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of complaints received in office | 134 | 25 | 159 |
| „ „ premises Inspected as a result | 405 | ||
| „ „ „ found to be infested | 203 | 44 | 247 |
| „ „ separate infestations treated | 183 | 26 | 209 |
| „ „ visits for treatment and re- inspections | 1,307 | 94 | 1,401 |
| „ „ premises treated by occupier or other agency | 25 | 26 | 51 |
| „ „ „ inspected on routine survey | approx. | 90 | |
| „ „ poison baits deposited | 404 | ||