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
Merton 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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Accidents Reported and Investigated.
In offices 3
In retail shops 31
In wholesale shops and warehouses 6
In catering establishments open to public; in canteens,
etc. 3
The total number of visits of all kinds made by the specialist staff
and by the Public Health Inspectors during 1966 was 4,304.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
The following table summarises surface rodent control work
which was carried out during 1966.
The inspection and treatment of sewers was undertaken in collaboration
with the Borough Surveyor. Ten per cent, of the total
manholes in the whole sewer system were test baited, and maintenance
treatment was carried out in these, and other manholes known to be
infested four times during the year. During 1966, 562 manholes were
baited and only 42 showed evidence of rodent infestation.
The Department continued to deal with rodent treatment and disinfestation work in Council-owned property within the Borough.
| Number of Properties inspected as a result of | Number of Properties found to be infested by | Number of premises treated including retreatments | Visits made including reinspections | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notification | Survey under Act | Total | Rats | Mice | ||
| 1,299 | 1,249 | 2,548 | 1,041 | 258 | 1,289 | 14,692 |
Other Pest Control Work.
During the year 1966, 379 complaints were received concerning
insect pests and the following is a list of the infestations dealt with:—
Ants 26
Beetles 36
Bedbugs 20
Cockroaches 21
Fleas 16
Flies 20
Mosquitoes 20
Maggots 2
Silverfish 3
Spiders 3
Woodworm 1
Wasps 211
Where possible practical help is given by the carrying out of
disinfestation work, but in certain cases reference is made to contractors
who specialise in control work.
The incidence of wasps was again generalised during 1966. No
charge is made for the destruction of nests, but this work can only be
undertaken when the nest is readily accessible. If the number of
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