London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
This page requires JavaScript
The Department continued to deal with rodent treatment and disinfestation work in Council-owned property within the Borough.
| Type of Property | Number of Properties inspected as a result of | Number of Properties found to be infested by | Number of treatments carried out including retreat-ments | Number of inspections made including reinspec-tions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notification | Survey under Act | Total | Rats | Mice | |||
| Local Authority | 35 | 46 | 81 | 42 | 11 | 57 | 296 |
| Dwellings | 809 | 3,620 | 4,429 | 593 | 248 | 840 | 9,342 |
| All other including Business Premises | 186 | 545 | 731 | 82 | 70 | 155 | 4,064 |
| Totals | 1,030 | 4,211 | 5,241 | 717 | 329 | 1,052 | 13,702 |
Other Pest Control Work.
During the year 1965, 537 complaints were received concerning
insect pests and the following is a list of the infestations dealt with:—
Ants 36
Beetles 23
Bed Bugs 14
Caterpillars 1
Crickets 1
Cockroaches 1
Earwigs 3
Fleas 11
Flies 13
Gnats 2
Lice 1
Mosquitoes 14
Maggots 5
Silverfish 7
Spiders 2
Woodworm 7
Wasps 396
The incidence of wasps was again generalised during 1965, and
it is considered that the service provided by the Department in the
destruction of wasps nests plays a great part in the Council's Food
Hygiene Policy.
Ponds, ditches, open spaces and other mosquito breeding grounds
were sprayed with insecticide during the year, with satisfactory results.
Thirty-one complaints of nuisance or damage caused by feral
pigeons were received. Pigeon traps were placed at suitable sites
within the Borough, giving effect to a reduction in the number of
pigeons.
It is to be hoped that more concerted action by London Borough
Authorities in respect of feral pigeons may be organised during the
coming year.
Pet Animals Act, 1951.
Twelve licences to keep pet shops were issued during 1965.
Twenty-seven visits were made to these premises and any infringements
of the conditions of licence were rectified.
65