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
Chigwell 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chigwell]
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RODENT CONTROL
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PEST ACT. 1949.
1,856 inspections and visits were made in 1959 as against 1,497
in the previous year.
Yearly figures since the passing of the Act are:-
| 1957 | 2,010 | 1952 | 2,011 |
| 1956 | 1,080 | 1951 | 1,924 |
| 1955 | 1,548 | 1950 | 2,020 |
| 1954 | 1,308 | 1949 | 1,833 |
| 1953 | 1,388 |
The highest figure recorded is 2,020 in 1950, and the lowest
1,080 in 1956. The figures have remained fairly constant as the
average is 1,697•
I think the public are more than ever conscious of the rodent
menace which results in a very high percentage of the infestations
being reported to this department. The number of mice infestations
in houses still remains high.
Warfarin is exclusively used for treatment, and the results
obtained are excellent.
Treatment of the Council's sewers took place in the Spring
and Autumn. The results rere:-
May 1959 October 1959
Manholes treated 230 197
Poison part takes 5 1
Poison complete takes 30 6
For some reason we seem to get smaller takes in the October
treatments and this may be due to build-up in the rat population
in the sewers during the winter months.
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