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 1972
[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 | 246 |
| Choked and defective drains and sewers | 636 |
| Defective water closets | 69 |
| Accumulations of offensive matter | 179 |
| Unsound food | 133 |
| Verminous and other Infested premises : (a) Bugs | 36 |
| (b) Rats and Mice | 1256 |
| (c) Wasps | 377 |
| (d) Fleas | 87 |
| (e) Others | 234 |
| Keeping of Animals | 3 |
| Nuisance from Pigeons | 50 |
| Smoke Nuisances | 84 |
| Noise Nuisances | 91 |
| Fumigation of Rooms | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 383 |
| Condemned Food | 93 |
| Total | 3961 |
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 Acts. | Food and Drugs Act. |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Informal Notices served | 227 | 161 |
| Number of Informal Notices complied with | 319 | 94 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | 49 | - |
| Number of Statutory Notices complied with | 94 | — |
6. DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
After the occurrence of an infectious disease, premises and articles therein can be
disinfected free of charge and in cases other than infectious disease on payment by the
individual.
Disinfestation work to eradicate bed bugs, fleas, etc., is paid for by the individual
and is not a charge on the Council.
Persons suffering from scabies or infested with lice are taken, with their bedding,
to Hammersmith Medicinal Baths for cleansing, and I am indebted to Dr. A. D. C. S.
Cameron, Director of Health Services of the London Borough of Hammersmith and to
Mr. F. C. Baldwin, Superintendent of the Baths, for their valuable assistance during the
year.
20 patients received treatment against scabies. In addition the bedding of 2 further
cases who were being treated by their family doctor was cleansed.
7 persons were treated for lice infestation and the bedding of 1 person disinfested;
3 premises were disinfected following infectious diseases and 113 premises disinfested.
Costs amounting to £443.80 were recovered.
7. PEST CONTROL
Rats and Mice.
The number of complaints received from the public again registered an overall small
reduction over the preceding years.
56