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
Port of London 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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The figures given in Tables "H" and "I" are no indication of
the relative efficiency of Sulphur Dioxide and Hydrogen Cyanide as
fumigants, because one large passenger line fumigate their vessels
regularly every voyage with Cyanide for the destruction of insects, and
these vessels are almost, if not absolutely, rat free.
(3) Trapping. All vessels from Plague-infected ports are required to have
traps set on board, in order that specimens may, if possible, be obtained
for bacteriological examination. All other vessels, on which there is
evidence of rats, but not of such a number as to justify a demand for
fumigation, are required to have traps set in all spaces where signs of
rats are discovered. The trapping may be carried out by professional
rat-catchers or, in some cases, by members of the crew, under the
supervision of the officers of the Port Sanitary Authority.
(b) Premises in the vicinity of Docks and Quays. The Port of London Authority
constantly carry out methods of rat-destruction ashore in the Port. Trapping
is the method principally employed, but the Authority are always ready to
test any new method of rat-destruction that is brought to their notice. The
condition of all shore premises is under the constant supervision of the
Sanitary Inspectors and rat-searchers of the Port Sanitary Authority, who
draw the attention of the officers of the Port of London Authority to any
signs of rat-infestation they may discover.
(4) Measures taken for the detection of rat prevalence in ships and on shore:—
Examination by Inspectors and Rat-searchers, as already described.
(5) Rat-proofing:—
The Port of London Authority have, during the year, continued their scheme of
rat-proofing in the Docks and Warehouses. No rat Plague has occurred on shore in
the Port for 13 years, and the policy of the Port of London Authority in constantly
applying methods of rat-destruction and progressively rat-proofing the Docks and
Warehouses has been an important factor in keeping the Port of London free from
Plague infection.
Rats Destroyed during 1929.
TABLE E. (1) On Vessels.
| Number of | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April. | May. | June. | July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total in Year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rats | - | — | - | - | - | - | - | 41 | 71 | 72 | 88 | 43 | 315 |
| Brown Rats | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 46 | 98 |
| Species not Recorded | 862 | 681 | 871 | 852 | 540 | 1,038 | 484 | 809 | 409 | 295 | 393 | 88 | 8,122 |
| Eats examined | — | - | (See below.) | — | — | — | 61 | 74 | 85 | 104 | 89 | 413 | |
| Eats infected with Plague | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil |
See also Appendices XXVI., XXVII. and XXVIII.
* Total includes 2,969 Rats not accounted for in Tables "G," "H" and "I," being a number of Rats voluntarily notified
by Private Rat Catchers as having been trapped on vessels from non-infected ports.