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 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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The following is a brief list of causes for complaints received during 1967 which resulted in investigation by the Department and in all cases where necessary, appropriate action was taken.
| Accumulations | 68 | ||
| Animals | 9 | ||
| Caravans - illegal parking | 9 | ||
| Dampness | 122 | ||
| Drainage/Sanitary Arrangements | 953 | ||
| Dustbins | 17 | ||
| Flooding | 23 | ||
| Foods | 144 | ||
| Food Hygiene | 17 | ||
| G-eneral Housing Defects | 129 | ||
| Insects | 451 | ||
| Noise | 55 | ||
| Offensive Odours | 101 | ||
| Overcrowding | 10 | ||
| Pigeons | 42 | ||
| Rodents | Rats | 1,131 | 1,258 |
| Mice | 127 | ||
| Shops Acts | 2 | ||
| Smoke | 110 | ||
| Squirrels | 39 | ||
| Water | 14 | ||
| Yards and Paving | 4 | ||
| Others | 67 | ||
| 3,644 | |||
13. RODENT AND INSECT PEST CONTROL.
Fewer complaints of rodents were received during the year
which may be an indication that the intensive work previously
carried out is having some effect and that work done on surveys
anticipated complaints which would otherwise have been made.
The rate of turnover of manual staff during the period
under review was far too high and it is still difficult to recruit
and retain workmen of a sufficiently high calibre for the variety
of work which is required of staff on pest control and other manual
work in the Department.
There is no doubt that there would be fewer complaints of
rats if the occupiers of business and residential properties kept
their yards and gardens reasonably tidy, for frequently shelter is
provided for rats by accumulations of rubbish and unwanted furniture.
It is to be hoped that passing of the Civic Amenities
Act, 1967 will have some effect in reducing the amount of dumping
of such materials.