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
Carshalton 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
Six thousand five hundred and eighty-one visits were made by the
Rodent Operatives concerning 692 properties and 340 rat and mouse
infestations were found. Of that number 302 were found in private premises,
34 in business premises and 4 in Council premises.
The sewers in the district were bait tested during the month of May
and as no evidence of rat infestation was found the usual maintenance
treatments were unnecessary.
The results of maintenance treatments since 1958 are shown in the
following table:—
May Treatment
November Treatment
| 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manholes baited | 198 | 188 | 161 | - | 190 | - | - | - |
| Manholes in which takes of | ||||||||
| prebait were recorded | 80 | 7 | 4 | — | 51 | - | — | — |
| Percentage of manholes | ||||||||
| showing infestations | 40.4 | 3.7 | 2.5 | — | 26.8 | - | — | — |
| Percentage in relation to | ||||||||
| total manholes in district | 7.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | — | 4.5 | - | — | — |
For the last two years the usual November treatment was omitted
and only the May treatments were carried out, owing to the reduction
in infestation. The year 1961 was the first since the scheme began in 1946
after consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
when no evidence of sewer infestation was discovered at either of the
twice yearly testings.
Swimming Baths
There are two swimming baths in the district; a public one in the
Highfield Hall owned by the Council and the other sited in the grounds of
Barrow Hedges School and forms part of the school activities.
The Council bath measures 45 ft. by 22 ft. and varies in depth from
3 ft. to 6 ft. Water is supplied to it from the mains and is subjected to
precipitation, filtration and chlorination on the "break point" principle.
In order to avoid overloading, the user is strictly controlled. Eight samples
of water were examined from the Highfield Baths and all were entirely
satisfactory.
Three out of 6 samples taken from the Barrow Hedges School Bath
showed that the dosage of chlorination was inadequate. At one period
during the summer the chlorination plant developed a fault which was
no doubt the cause of the unsatisfactory samples. Bathing was suspended
until the plant had received satisfactory attention.
Offices
The Offices Act 1960 came into operation on the 1st January, 1962.
The main provision, that of Regulations made by the Secretary of State
to be made under the Act, are still awaited.
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