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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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The complaints received during the year are classified in the table below and they reflect a pattern similar to that of previous years.
| Nature of Complaint. | Number Received |
|---|---|
| Housing Defects | 261 |
| Choked and defective drains and sewers | 432 |
| Defective water closets | 37 |
| Accumulations of offensive matter | 61 |
| Unsound food | 73 |
| Verminous and other Infested premises : Bugs | 18 |
| Rats and Mice | 959 |
| Wasps | 8 |
| Fleas | 9 |
| Others | 53 |
| Keeping of Animals | 4 |
| Keeping of Bees | 2 |
| Nuisance from Pigeons | 15 |
| Smoke Nuisances | 53 |
| Noise Nuisances | 30 |
| Miscellaneous | 81 |
| Total | 2096 |
Every effort is made by inspectors to carry out their work through informal action, and to seek co-operation by interview and letter; in certain cases recourse to statutory proceedings is unavoidable, and a summary of notices served during the year is given below: —
| Subject of Notice. | Public Health Act. | Food and Drugs Act. |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Informal Notices served | 363 | 52 |
| Number of Informal Notices complied with | 241 | 49 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | 24 | — |
| Number of Statutory Notices complied with | 12 | — |
It was found necessary to institute legal proceedings against the owner of premises
in the Hampton Hill area for non-compliance of statutory notices served under Sections
39 and 45 of the Public Health Act, 1936. These notices were served on the 27th
November, 1964 and in March 1965 the owner was fined £2 plus £3 3s. Od. costs.
Again in June, 1965 the owner was fined 1s. Od. per day for 68 days + £3 3s. Od. costs
and then again in October, 1965, 1s. Od. per day for 113 days + £5 5s. Od. costs. The
notices were then complied with.
6. DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
Disinfection of premises and articles after infectious disease is carried out at the
expense of the Local Authority and in cases other than after infectious disease at the
cost of the individual.
Disinfestation of premises for the eradication of bed bugs, fleas, etc. is carried out
and the cost charged to the individual.
There is no provision for the destruction of wasps, ants, cockroaches, beetles and
other insects whose treatment requires a specialist service.
By arrangement, all persons suffering from scabies or infested with lice are sent
to the Hammersmith Medicinal Baths for treatment.
During the year 1 person suffering from scabies and 3 persons infested with lice
were treated.
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