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
Brentford and Chiswick 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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MISCELLANEOUS
RODENT CONTROL
During the year 1 741 primary visits and re visits were made by the Rodent
Operatives to premises in the district in connection with rodent disinfestation.
The number of premises where treatment was carried out is as follows:-
Private Houses 425
Factories 23
Shops 22
Schools 8
Parks and Open Spaces 4
None of these infestations were severe enough to be classed as major infest
ations
It was necessary to devise an alternative method of sewer maintenance in
1964 because of the unsatisfactory nature of the results obtained by the former
method whereby as outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
bait was lowered andlefton ledges slightly above the water level This level,
however fluctuates in Brentford and Chiswick sewers sufficiently to swamp the
bait often; and it was decided to use bait contained in polythene bags and sus
pended in the manholes thus keeping it from being swept away, and also preventing
rotting The method proved very successful. Also, instead of 10% sampling
of manholes, block treatment of every manhole in defined areas was introduced.
Analyses of the results are as follows
| No of manholes baited | No. of takes (in period between 1week and six weeks) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 1 | April June 1964 | Soil sewers | 85 | 44 | |
| Surface Water Sewers | 24 | 8 | ||||
| Area | 2 | October November. | 1964 | Soil sewers | 105 | 15 |
| Surface Water Sewers | 18 | 4 | ||||
| Area | 3 | November December | 1964 | Soil sewers | 75 | 53 |
| Surface Water Sewers | 51 | 11 | ||||
| Area | 4 | December 1964 | Soil sewers | 81 | 11 | |
| Surface Water Sewers | 66 | 15 | ||||
In these first four area schemes over one third of the Borough acreage
is included
The work of Rodent Control is carried out under the supervision of the
Chief Public Health Inspector by two Rodent Operatives
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951
This Act for the regulation of the sale of pet animals requires all premises
in which animals are sold for pets to be licensed by the local authority.
Two licences were issued during the year
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
Four premises in the Borough are registered for the purpose of the above
Act in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2 thereof,
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MASSAGE AND SPECIAL TREATMENT
Four establishments were inspected under this heading and all were found
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