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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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RODENT CONTROL
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 19U9
A. Surface Treatments
(1) 6554 visits were made during the year by the Rodent Operator and 889
by the Public Health Inspectors to premises infested or possibly
harbouring rats or mice.
461 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 459
Number of premises found to be infested 415
Number of premises where no evidence of rodents found 44
Number of premises cleared of rats or mice (including 74
previous year's cases) 461
Number of premises still being trteated at the year end 28
(3) The cause or site of infestation at the 415 infested premises was:-
| Keeping of poultry | 5 |
| Inside premises (under floors etc.) - rats | 22 |
| Inside premises (under floors etc.) - mice | 38 |
| Buries, scrapes etc., in gardens, land etc. | 220 |
| Under or inside sheds | 124 |
| Defective drains | 6 |
| Total | 415 |
(4) Type of premises found to be infested:-
| With Rats | With Mice | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council Property | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Dwellinghouses | 337 | 15 | 352 |
| Business premises, etc. | 23 | 14 | 37 |
| Schools, Hospitals, Canteens etc. | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Land | 6 | - | 6 |
| Total | 375 | 40 | 415 |
(5) Summary of the type of premises and methods employed in clearing premises of rats and mice:-
Type of premises cleared:-
| Dwellinghouses (mainly in gardens) | 379 |
| Food shops and food premises | 21 |
| Non-food shops | 4 |
| Waste land and building sites | 8 |
| Hospitals and Schools | 19 |
| Factories and Workplaces | 11 |
| Council Premises (other than dwellings) | 10 |
| Miscellaneous | 9 |
| Total | 461 |