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
City of London 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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TABLE XXXIII.—Rat Precautions.—Australian and U.S.A. Requirements.
In accordance with the order of your Worshipful Committee, certificates specifying the precautions taken to prevent the ingress of rats from shore to ship, while in the Port, were issued in respect of the following vessels:—
| Date. | Vessel. | Where lying. |
|---|---|---|
| 1926. | ||
| Jan. 7 | ss. "American Merchant " | Tilbury Dock. |
| „ 9 | ss. "Esperence Bay " | King George V. Dock. |
| „ 21 | ss. "American Farmer " | Tilbury Dock. |
| „ 28 | ss. "American Trader " | ,, |
| Feb. 6 | ss. "Moreton Bay " | King George V. Dock. |
| „ 19 | ss. "Menominee " | ,, |
| March 6 | ss. "Jervis Bay " | ,, |
| „ 19 | ss. "Minnekahda" | ,, |
| „ 25 | ss. "Hobson's Bay " | ,, |
| April 9 | ss. "Minnetonka" | ,, |
| ,, 16 | ss. "Demosthenes " | ,, |
| „ 19 | ss. "Largs Bay " | ,, |
| „ 23 | ss. "Minnewaska " | ,, |
| ,, 24 | ss. "American Merchant " | Tilbury Dock. |
| „ 29 | ss. "American Shipper " | ,, |
| „ 30 | ss. "Nevisian" | King George V. Dock. |
| May 22 | ss. "Esperence Bay " | ,, |
| June 10 | ss. "Vedic" | ,, |
| „ 11 | ss. "Moreton Bay " | ,, |
| „ 16 | ss. "Delphic " | Tilbury Dock. |
| ,, 29 | ss. "Delphic " | King George V. Dock. |
| Julv 10 | ss. "Jervis Bay " | ,, |
| ,, 30 | ss. "Barbadian" | Royal Albert Dock. |
| Aug. 4 | ss. "Caronia " | King George V. Dock. |
| „ 4 | ss. "Horatius " | ,, |
| „ 16 | ss. "Herminius" | ,, |
| „ 18 | ss. "Naperian " | Royal Albert Dock. |
| „ 20 | ss. "Largs Bay " | King George V. Dock. |
| „ 31 | ss. "Herminius " | ,, |
| Sept. 3 | ss. "Minnekahda " | ,, |
| ,, 10 | ss. "Esperence Bay " | ,, |
| „ 21 | ss. "Otira " | Royal Albert Dock. |
| „ 29 | ss. "City of Winchester " | King George V. Dock. |
| Oct. 8 | ss. "Mamilius " | ,, |
| ,, 14 | ss. "Moreton Bay " | ,, |
| „ 14 | ss. "Beltana " | ,, |
| „ 19 | ss. "Mamilius " | ,, |
| Nov. 8 | ss. "Fordsdale " | ,, |
| „ 19 | ss. "Jervis Bay " | ,, |
| „ 23 | ss. "City of Hankow" | ,, |
| Dec. 1 | ss. "Vedic " | Royal Albert Dock. |
| „ 10 | ss. " Ferndale " | King George V. Dock. |
| „ 15 | ss. "Vedic" | Royal Albert Dock. |
| „ 15 | ss. "Delphic" | King George V. Dock. |
AN EXPERIMENT IN RAT PREVENTION.
An experiment of some interest resulted in illustrating one of the methods
by which ratty premises may be dealt with.
A large store in a warehouse had material which, owing to infrequent turnover,
afforded not only ample and apparently delectable food-stuff for rats, but also
convenient warm and dry nesting.
The damage done attracted the notice of your Inspector in the district and a
close examination was made of the means of ingress for the rats, as also the conditions
under which they lived, in relation to the question of extermination.
An examination of the warehouse showed that there were two rat populations
to be dealt with—one having acrobatic ingress, of which the marks were very
evident, the approach being by way of greasy machinery ; while the other seemed
to have taken up permanent and satisfactory quarters.
The proofing out of casual or regular marauders was found to be a very simple
proposition—that of covering gnawed and gnawable woodwork with zinc sheeting.