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
Heston and Isleworth 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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The Council employs a Rodent Officer who is responsible for systematic inspection, planning of treatment, supervising the work of the rodent operatives and checking results. A summary of the work done in recent years is shown below:-
| 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints received | 533 | 692 | 634 | 629 | 676 |
| Block inspections | 43 | 66 | 53 | 89 | 93 |
| Individual inspections and re-inspections | 4,381 | 4,541 | 4,162 | 4,441 | 4,631 |
| Other visits | 503 | 419 | 561 | 645 | 720 |
| Premises treated - | |||||
| (a) By occupier | 18 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| (b) By local authority | 883 | 1,004 | 982 | 1,052 | 1.191 |
Test baiting and where necessary, treatment is carried out to sewers, watercourses,
tips, etc. Destruction of part of the rat population by chemical or other
poisoning may increase the food supply and improve the chances of survivial of the
remainder. Eradication requires environmental conditions which hinder survival, i.e.,
no food and no shelter and occupiers of premises should bear this in mind.
SHOPS ACT, 1950, SECTION 38. Shops require to be reasonably ventilated, heated
and lighted, and there should be suitable and sufficient sanitary and washing facilities
for the persons employed therein. In this connection 31 inspections were made
during the year.
No certificate of exemption re provision of sanitary accommodation was granted.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER PILLING MATERIALS ACT. 195L This Act is designed to ensure
that filling materials used in upholstery, etc., comply with prescribed conditions
of cleanliness. Premises using filling materials have to be registered and
premises where rag flock is manufactured or stored have to be licensed. It is an
offence to sell articles containing unclean materials. Certain records have to be
kept on registered and licensed premises and authorised officers of a local authority
have powers to enter, inspect and take samples. Under this Act, five premises in the
Borough have been registered and the Public Health Inspectors made 5 visits of inspection.
SWIMMING BATHS, Three swimming baths are provided by the Council. The size and extent of useage of the three municipal baths are shown below:-
| Hounslow | Heston | Isleworth | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area of bath | major | 75' x 30' | 100' x 48' | 100' x 48' |
| minor | 50' x 25' | - | - | |
| Capacity of bath (gallons) | major | 71,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| minor | 36,000 | - | - | |
| Total number of persons using swimming bath in 1958 | 139,178 | 199,877 | 158,798 | |
| Maximum number of persons using swimming bath on any one day | 895 | 1,852 | 1,013 | |
| No. of slipper baths | male | 15 | - | 11 |
| female | 9 | - | 11 | |
| No. of persons using slipper baths during 1958 | 36.329 | - | 24,280 | |
The baths waters are treated by continuous filtration and breakpoint chlorination.
While baths' staff do everything to maintain a 'safe' standard of bath water
and bathers could assist very materially by the observance of strict personal hygiene.
During the year 4 samples of baths water and 2 from a paddling pool were taken and
all were found to be satisfactory.
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