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
Hackney 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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78
There is an arrangement with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for
receiving bodies from the Bethnal Green area, the cost being shared on a
population basis.
Details for 1969 are set out below:-
| Residence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackney | Bethnal Green | Elsewhere | Total | |
| Number of bodies received | 392 | 92 | 76 | 560 |
| Number to await postmortem examination | 386 | 90 | 74 | 550 |
| Number of inquest cases | 64 | 13 | 15 | 92 |
ANIMALS
The Council has various responsibilities under Acts relating to the
protection and diseases of animals and arrangements have been made for the
Corporation of the City of London, who employ a Veterinary Officer and inspectors
to undertake the duties in respect of these Acts on an agency basis, except in
the case of the Pet Animals Act, 1951, which this Department administer
direct.
The action taken under two of the five main Acts dealing with animals is
given below: -
Diseases of Animals Act, 1950
The Corporation of the City of London inspectors make routine visits to
butchers and poulterers but no infringements of the regulations were reported.
Pet Animals Act, 1951
No new licences were issued. Licences were renewed in respect of 10
premises. Regular visits were made to the premises licensed and conditions were
reported as satisfactory.
No action was called for under the Riding Establishments Act, 1964,
Performing Animals (Regulations), Act, 1925, or Animal Boarding Establishments
Act, 1963.
RODENTS
For a variety of reasons mice infestation has become a major problem
particularly in houses in multiple occupation and blocks of flats. Every effort
is being made to comply with the Minister's suggestion that it is essential to
carry out block control policy. This has increased the work of the Public
Health Inspectors and Rodent Operatives under their control, particularly in view
of difficulties involved in being unable to gain access as and when required in
order to deal adequately with every letting in the premises. Another serious
handicap is the lack of effective safe poisons which may be used in this type of
dwelling.
The position regarding rodent control continues to present problems.
Following representations by this Council regarding the increasing ineffectiveness
of Warfarin against mice, a communication was received from the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stating that every effort was being