View report page

49
KILL THE RAT
Rats are pests which do incalculable damage : they destroy and foul food
materials and are destructive to all kinds of property. They are prolific breeders
and a continuous war against them is necessary.
NOTES ON PREVENTION AND DESTRUCTION.
Prevention.—Cut off their food supply, destroy garbage and waste food by
burning. Rubblish hea ps and all P laces that m ay afford shelter for rats to breed
should be cleared away. Receptacles for refuse should be covered and preferably
constructed of metal.
Buildings should be rendered as rat-proof as possible by means of concrete
flooring, proper construction, protection and repair of drain pipes, ventilators and
basement windows.
Destruction. The methods usually employed for the destruction of rats are:
trapping, laying of poison baits, and the employment of rat catchers.
There are many varieties of traps and poisons. The ordinary wire trap is
recommended as it does not cause squealing and thus warning to others. Poisoning
can be done safely and simply by means of preparations of Red Squill (liquid extract
and biscuits are specially recommended). These products are harmless to human
beings and domestic animals yet deadly to Rats and Mice.
Red Squill baits are supplied free to householders on application
to the Public Health Department, Town Hall, Camberwell, S.E.5.
DUTIES OF THE PUBLIC.
Section 1 of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, imposes a duty upon
the occupiers of land and buildings to take all necessary and reasonably practicable
steps to destroy rats and mice on or in any land and to prevent such land from
becoming infested with rats or mice. Penalties are imposed in default.
The expression "land" includes any buildings and any other erection on
land, and any cellar, sewer, drain or culvert in or under land.
If you desire further information on the subject of rat and mice destruction
you are invited to apply to the
Medical Officer of Health,
Town Hall,
Camberwell, S.E.5.
H. W. Barnes,M.B., B.C.H., D.P.H.
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Camberwell, S.E.5.
2,218 personal letters were sent to proprietors of business
premises in the Borough where such premises were suspected to be
peculiarly liable to infestation by reason of the nature of the
business carried on requesting that a special effort be made during
Rat Week to exterminate these pests.
Additional supplies of rat poison baits were obtained for
distribution from the Public Health Department, and the
sewers of the Council as well as the sewers of the London
County Council in the Borough were baited during the period
of Rat Week.
D