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
Sutton and Cheam 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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RODENT CONTROL
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
A - Surface Treatments
(1) Eight thousand six hundred and seventeen visits were
made during the year by the Rodent Operators and four hundred and
eighty four by the Sanitary Inspectors to premises infested or
possibly harbouring rats or mice.
Four hundred and fifteen premises were cleared of rats or
mice, and no major infestations were recorded.
(2) The work for the year is generally summarised as under:-
| Complaints received or cases discovered and investigated | 472 | ||
| Number of premises found to be infested | 434 | ||
| Number of premises where no evidence of rodents found | 38 | ||
| Number of premises cleared of rats or mice (including 70 previous year's cases) | 415 | ||
| Number of premises still being treated at the year end | 92 | ||
| (3) The cause or site of Infestation at the four hundred and thirty four Infested premises was:- | |||
| Keeping of poultry | 70 | ||
| Inside premises (under floors etc.) - rats | 26 | ||
| Inside premises (under floors etc.) - mice | 43 | ||
| Buries, scrapes etc. in gardens., land etc. | 182 | ||
| Under or inside sheds | 134 | ||
| Defective drains | 1 | ||
| Accumulations of refuse etc | 4 | ||
| Total | 460 | ||
| (4) Type of property found to be infested:- | |||
| With Rats | With Mice | Total | |
| Council property | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Dwelling houses | 346 | 20 | 366 |
| Business premises etc. | 31 | 19 | 50 |
| Schools, Hospitals, Canteens, etc. | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Totals | 391 | 43 | 434 |
(5) Summary of the type of premises and methods employed in clearing premises of rats and mice:-
| Type of Premises cleared | |
|---|---|
| Dwelling-houses (mainly in gardens) | 355 |
| Food shops and food premises | 23 |
| Non-food shops | 15 |
| Waste land | 1 |
| Hospitals and Schools | 4 |
| Factories and Workplaces | |
| Council Premises | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | 6 |
| Total | 415 |