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 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
This page requires JavaScript
Sewers
Treatment of sewers is carried out with fluoracetamide when conditions permit. In other cases
warfarin sewer bait is used. During the year 57 inspection chambers in various parts of the sewage
system were treated.
Squirrels and Foxes
The nature of the Borough makes control of these animals particularly important. A charge is
made for this service and all land under the control of the Borough is systematically dealt with,
shoots being arranged under the control of a technical assistant. During the year 1,410 squirrels and
48 foxes were destroyed.
Other Pests
Measures are also taken against feral pigeons and stray cats when such steps are necessary
in the interest of public health. As a result of trapping over the last two years the centre of Uxbridge
is no longer troubled by a serious pigeon nuisance.
Insect Pests
There was a reduction in the number of insect pest complaints during the year, 652 as compared
with 1.480 for 1971. This was laraelv due to the decrease in the number of waso complaints, 452 as against 1,336 for 1971.
Details of these complaints are as follows:
| Wasps | 452 | Carpet beetles | 7 | Insect larvae | 6 |
| Ants | 23 | Cockroaches | 17 | Mites | 7 |
| Fleas | 44 | Flies | 38 | Silver fish | 3 |
| Bed Bugs | 22 | Lice | 5 | Other insects | 5 |
| Beetles | 23 | ||||
| Total | 652 | ||||
PORT SANITARY ADMINISTRATION—LONDON (HEATHROW)
AIRPORT
While the Borough is the port health authority for London (Heathrow) Airport, the airport
itself extends into the adjoining districts of Staines and Hounslow. During 1972 aircraft movements
again increased and the number of passengers using the airport numbered 18,621,886 an increase
of 14% over the previous year.
Imported Food
At the end of the year one of the two bonds in the central area transferred its operation to the
cargo terminal in the Urban District of Staines and it is anticipated that no further commercial
imports of food will take place through the remaining bond.
The following food was inspected and found in good condition:
Article lbs Article lbs
Fresh Vegetables 70,252 Tinned Fruit 167
Fresh Fruit 49,935 Dried Turtle Meat 7,942
Food Hygiene
During the year the enlargement of the Terminal 3 departures building was almost completed
together with opening of the more spacious catering facilities for the public who will enjoy better
service and the staff working therein have been afforded improved conditions. An aircraft catering
98