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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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On one occasion a cat slept on a hair-stuffed chair after fumigated quarters were
passed as safe. The cat did not wake up.
Time does not permit us to give similar details of all the incidents which are
almost a commonplace to us in our cyanide treatment of ships, but we hope we have
said sufficient to emphasise the very great need for care in the clearing of spaces after
treatment with HCN and the importance of reliable, experienced operators.
Eats Destroyed during 1984.
TABLE E. (1) On Vessels.
| Number of | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April. | May. | June. | July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total in Year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rats | 112 | 62 | 104 | 65 | 64 | 69 | 80 | 73 | 79 | 83 | 109 | 82 | 982 |
| Brown Rats | — | — | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | — | 3 | 15 |
| Species not Recorded | 448 | 131 | 277 | 291 | 524 | 427 | 124 | 326 | 511 | 293 | 601 | 330 | 4,283 |
| Rats examined | 112 | 62 | 113 | 65 | 64 | 69 | 80 | 73 | 79 | 86 | 109 | 85 | 997 |
| Rats infected with Plague | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil |
| See also Appendices XXIII. and XXIV. | |||||||||||||
TABLE F.
(2) In Docks, Quays, Wharves and Warehouses.
| Number of | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April. | May. | June. | July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total in Year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rats | 87 | 106 | 81 | 139 | 130 | 94 | 55 | 67 | 81 | 114 | 131 | 108 | 1,193 |
| Brown Rats | 65 | 77 | 73 | 113 | 67 | 56 | 26 | 58 | 57 | 100 | 56 | 39 | 787 |
| Species not Recorded | 245 | 160 | 220 | 158 | 174 | 265 | 191 | 213 | 331 | 280 | 273 | 366 | 2,876 |
| Rats examined | 152 | 183 | 154 | 252 | 197 | 150 | 81 | 125 | 138 | 214 | 187 | 147 | 1,980 |
| Rats infected with Plague | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil |
| RATS EXAMINED—Vessels, Docks, Quays, &c 2,977 See also Appendices XXIII. and XXIV. | |||||||||||||
TABLE G.
Measures of Bat Destruction on Plague "Infected" or "Suspected" Vessels or Vessels from Plague Infected Ports arriving in the Port during the Year.
| Total Number of such Vessels arriving. | Number of such Vessels fumigated by S02. | Number of Bats Killed. | Number of such Vessels fumigated by HCN. | Number of Rats Killed. | Number of such Vessels on which Trapping, Poisoning, &c., were employed. | Number of Rats Killed. | Number of such Vessels on which measures of Rat Destruction were not carried out. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. |
| 2,550 | 67 | 1,467 (264 mice.) | 66 | 1,208 (188 mice.) | 1,184 | 1,967 | 1,366 |