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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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As a routine check and in compliance with international requirements, specimens of rats
caught are sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory for bacteriological examination.
Records for 1959 include:—
Number of lighters inspected 2,217
Number without evidence of rodents 1,797
Number with negligible evidence of rodents 293
Number of lighters treated for rodents 127
Number treated voluntarily for insects by owners with Methyl Bromide, which
would also exterminate any rodents present 44
Total number of dead rodents recovered from lighters after treatment 723
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS (APPLICATION TO SHIPPING) ORDERS 1951-56
Since 1951 the Port Health Authority has been issuing Rodent Control Certificates to coastwise
shipping as provided for by the terms of the Prevention of Damage by Pests (Application to
Shipping) Order, 1951.
During the year 1959 the Port Health Authority issued 86 such Certificates.
TABLE E
(1) On vessels
| Number of | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rats | 116 | 296 | 294 | 195 | 63 | 222 | 286 | 142 | 252 | 340 | 184 | 122 | 2,512 |
| Brown Rats | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Rats examined | 3 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 54 |
| Rats infected with plague | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
(2) In Docks, Quays, Wharves and Warehouses
| Number of | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rats | 108 | 61 | 65 | 126 | 182 | 288 | 93 | 125 | 239 | 188 | 213 | 126 | 1,814 |
| Brown Rats | 43 | 48 | 68 | 85 | 80 | 82 | 88 | 49 | 63 | 27 | 92 | 40 | 765 |
| Rats examined | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | - | — | — | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 27 |
| Rats infected with plague | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mice: 2,516 mice were also destroyed; 698 in ships and 1,818 in shore premises. | |||||||||||||
TABLE F
| No. of Deratting Certificates Issued | Number of Deratting Exemption C ertificates Issued | Total Certificates Issued | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Fumigation with | After Trapping | After Poisoning | After Trapping and Poisoning | Total | ||||
| HCN | Other Fumigants (state Method) | |||||||
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 4(a) | 5. | 6. | 7. | |
| 13 | Methyl Bromide 1 | NIL | "1080" | 112 | NIL | 129 | 1,052 | 1,181 |
| Warfarin | 3 | |||||||