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In May 1934 this Council acquired the right to use a proprietary
method of disinfestation known as Cimex-Azet Phume.
This method was simple in application and required no expensive
apparatus, and though the lethal agent used was poisonous to
human beings, after quite an extensive personal experience of its
properties, I regarded it as being safe for general use in our
Borough. My attention has, however, been drawn to the fact
that in certain continental countries the same re-agent has been
used, and that its use is not by any means free from danger to
human beings. A report was made in this sense to the Public
Health Committee, with a certain degree of reluctance, and the
use of this method has been discontinued. Since July 1934, this
re-agent has been used in 584 cases with a very small proportion of
failures, and without a single complaint of ill effects following its
use, either from tenants or from operators. We have carefully
considered the question of using Hydrocyanic Acid Gas, having
also had the expert advice of Mr. McKenny Hughes on the matter,
and it appears to be quite clear that this gas could not be used
with safety in this Borough. The use of this gas for the disinfestation
of furniture in specially constructed vans was also considered,
but it was decided that even this could not be done with
safety in our present station owing to the congestion and lack of
space in the depot. At present we are, therefore, thrown back
upon Sulphur Dioxide and the use of the blow lamp, but we are
experimenting with other re-agents, and in particular Heavy
Naphtha, guided by the advice of Mr McKenny Hughes and
Mr. Ashmore, and the experience of the Medical Officers of Health
of Liverpool and Woolwich.
In every case where vermin are discovered the Inspector is
required, as part of his duty, to explain to the householder the
need for keeping the house free from vermin, and the methods by
which the tenant himself can assist in this matter. The Public
Health Department possesses a series of lantern slides and a film
on this subject, and lectures and talks are frequently given,
expecially during the summer months.