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 1967
[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 | 339 |
| Choked and defective drains and sewers | 697 |
| Defective water closets | 62 |
| Accumulations of offensive matter | 142 |
| Unsound food | 140 |
| Verminous and other Infested premises : | |
| (a) Bugs | 42 |
| (b) Rats and Mice | 1381 |
| (c) Wasps | 7 |
| (d) Fleas | 49 |
| (e) Others | 41 |
| Keeping of Animals | 7 |
| Nuisance from Pigeons | 19 |
| Noise Nuisances | 60 |
| Smoke Nuisances | 103 |
| Miscellaneous | 284 |
| Total | 3373 |
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 | 320 | 381 |
| Number of Informal Notices complied with | 254 | 211 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | 102 | — |
| Number of Statutory Notices complied with | 114 | — |
6. DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
The cleansing and disinfection of premises and any articles therein likely to retain
infection after infectious disease is carried out at the expense of the Council and in
cases other than after infectious disease at the expense of the individual.
The only type of disinfestation carried out is that of premises for the eradication
of bed bugs, fleas, etc., the cost of the work being charged to the individual.
All persons suffering from scabies or infested with lice are, by arrangement, sent
to Hammersmith Medicinal Baths for treatment and I am grateful to Dr. A. D. C. S.
Cameron, Medical Officer of Health of the London Borough of Hammersmith, and the
Superintendent of the Baths, Mr. F. G. Baldwin, for their valuable assistance during
the year.
There was an increase in the number of cases of scabies treated during the year —
89 as compared with 16 in 1966 and only 1 in 1965. 8 persons were treated for lice
infestation compared with 5 in 1966.
100 premises were disinfested during the year and costs amounting to
£100 19s. 5d. were recovered.
7. PEST CONTROL
(a) The rodent control staff have again done much useful work in eradicating
rats and mice:
No. of complaints received 1,381
No. of infestations found 899
Total number of visits 6,584
70