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Report of the Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector,
E.R.H. Hodge, M.R.S.H., M.P.H.I.A.
RODENT CONTROL, DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION SECTION
The work of the Section in 1958 showed little change from past years. The half
yearly treatment of the sewers by the Borough Engineer's Department continued and together
with the treatment of surface infestations and the repair of sewers and drains found
defective should materially decrease the rodent population, but, from observation of nests
found, it appeared that the hard core of infestation, finding that there was more food for
them, celebrated by having larger families, so necessitating further and more effective
treatments.
Much to the surprise of everyone in the Section, the trend of previous years, for
the numbers of complaints to fall, stopped and although the number of investigational visits
rose, the number of operational visits fell: viz. 1957 being indicated ( - ).
( Investigational visits 2329 (2212)
Rodent Control ( Operational visits 6681 (7968)
( Investigational visits 633 (677)
DIsinfestation .
( Operational visits 385 (444)
The number of drain tests and notices compare favourable with 1957. The following
table (with figures for 1957 indicated ( - ) shows the respective totals for the year:-
Drain Tests carried out 536 (486)
Premises reported to Health Committee
under Public Health Act, 1936, Section 24
(for repair of sewers) 186 (166)
Premises reported to Health Committee
under West Ham Corporation Act, 1893, Section
41 (for repair of drains) 199 (215)
With reference to the Section 41 notices, it was only necessary to serve Statutory
Notices in 67 cases.
Once again the year was remarkable for the number of sewers which served large
numbers of properties, and which required attention.
The ratio of infestation; rats:: mice remained as in 1957. almost 50/50.
The disinfestation of cafe, kitchens etc., has proceeded steadily; and once again
the results are very heartening, but hospitals still present a problem, because work can
usually be only done in the evenings, the many ducts and steam lines, and most important,
the habit of the cleaning staff in scrubbing away every vestige of insecticide, which
completely nullifies the residual effect of the modern Insecticide.
The health of the Section remains good, no cases of dermatitis or injury occurred.
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