London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hillingdon 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
This page requires JavaScript
Buildings
Airport buildings are inspected for rodents and insects. Mice and particularly cockroaches
were troublesome in past years but with the regular control treatment by the contracting company
the situation remains greatly improved.
Aircraft
Occasionally a rodent is found or suspected on an aircraft presumably gaining access with
cargo. During 1970 five aircraft were fumigated with hydrogen cyanide for the destruction of rats
or mice but only one carcass (a white mouse) was found. In order that infestation may proceed
quickly a fumigation company has agreed to treat an aircraft with hydrogen cyanide at any time
of the day or night on the request of an airline duty officer. On discovery of insects, disinsectisation
by spraying is carried out immediately by airline staff. If warranted, the services of the same company
are available for treatment by gas fumigation.
OTHER SERVICES
DEPARTMENTAL LABORATORY
With the formation of the Borough a small laboratory was set up tor the purpose ot carrying out simple screening tests and examinations in connection with the Council's responsibilities for food and drug examination, the operation of the atmospheric pollution measurement stations and other matters. It has been possible over the years to expand the work carried out in this laboratory with a resultant saving in cost and a technical assistant is now employed on laboratory work and associated sampling duties. Details of chemical tests in connection with food have been set out elsewhere and the following is a summary of all the examinations carried out.
| Type of Examination | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Total number of Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agar Sausage incubation and assessment. (Check on surface cleanliness of food premises and equipment) | 42 | 24 | 66 | |
| Bacteriological examination of foods and water: | ||||
| (1) Food | 2 | 5 | 7 | |
| (2) Liquid egg | 4 | Nil | 4 | |
| (3) Water | 38 | 4 | 42 | |
| Chemical Examination of Food | 190 | 9 | 199 | |
| Celluloid in toys | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| pH determination of iced lollies | 3 | Nil | 3 | |
| Insects identified | 52 | |||
| Moulds identified | 11 | |||
| Chemical Examination—River water | 33 | |||
| Atmospheric Pollution: | ||||
| Sulphur dioxide determinations | 2,548 | |||
| Measurement of Smoke Concentrations | 2,548 | |||
| Examination of Building Materials | 2 | |||
In addition to this work two tests were carried out on building materials for the Architects
Department. A portable pH meter was added to the laboratory equipment during the year and
this has proved extremely useful for pH determinations in connection with food as well as swimming
pool water.
109