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The following letter was received from the Tilbury Urban District Council:—
20th November, 1919.
Dead Sir,
It has been reported to my Council that considerable damage is being caused by rats in the
Town, and especially in the Docks, and a report has been presented, a copy of which I enclose,
upon the various methods employed for exterminating these pests.
My Council resolved that the scheme on the lines of the Liverpool scheme should be adopted
in the Tilbury Urban District, and, having regard to the large numbers of rats in the Docks,
the great damage caused by them, and the necessity if the scheme is to be a success, for all the
Authorities to combine, I was directed to write asking if your Authority would co-operate with
my Council by establishing in those portions of the Docks within your jurisdiction a permanent
scheme on the lines proposed.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) A. W. BUCKNER,
Clerk.
The Port of London Sanitary Authority,
44, King William Street,
Greenwich, S.E. 10.
to which your Medical Officer replied as follows :—•
2.4th November, 1919.
The Clerk,
Tilbury Urban District Council,
Council Offices, Tilbury.
Dear Sir,
I have received your letter reports, and will lay it before the Port Sanitary Committee at
the next meeting.
Meanwhile may I point to the permanent scheme for many years past in force in the Tilbury
and all other Docks under the jurisdiction of this Authority—a scheme summed up in the
provisions for :—■
(1) Rat destruction on shipboard.
(2) Rat destruction in the Dock, and, lastly, the most important and only permanent
measure—-
(3) Rat proofing of food stores and prompt removal of edible rubbish.
This scheme will continue in the future in any circumstances; but very gladly in co-operation
with the similar work lately undertaken by the Tilbury Urban District Council.
Your obedient Servant,
W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port of London.
TABLE XXX.—Hospital.
Remaining in Hospital on 31st December, 1919 6
Total number of days treatment during the year 2,398
Average number of days treatment for each case 25.78
Average daily number of patients in Hospital 3.92
Average daily cost of maintenance per patient 1s. 10.05d
Average total cost of maintenance per patient 21. 7 s. 4½d.