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result no mosquito larvae were found. When necessary the Fire
Brigade was requested to pump the water from the tanks and
the Borough Engineer & Surveyor then arranged for the removal
of any accumulations of refuse. In this way nuisances were
prevented and the public health safeguarded.
Rodent Control
The scheme which was put into operation in July 1957 for
the treatment of sewers at three-monthly intervals with block
bait containing "Warfarin" was continued throughout the year.
Since 1949, there has been a progressive reduction in the
number of complaints of rat infestations received at the Public
Health Department, and the fall in the figure for 1958 (962
against 1,205 the previous year) is most encouraging. It would
appear that the improved methods of sewer treatment were
largely responsible for this substantial reduction, because
surface treatment was curtailed considerably throughout the
year owing to shortage of staff caused by absences through
sickness and injury.
In August of the year under review, a Circular was received
from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food drawing
attention to the advantages of carrying out rodent control treatment
in sewers by the use of sodium fluoracetate in four directpoisoning
treatments per year. Sodium fluoracetate (commonly
known as "1080") is a particularly deadly poison to which
there is no known antidote, and its sale to a representative of a
local authority for use as a rodenticide is only permitted on
production of a prescribed certificate signed by the Medical
Officer of Health. It is extremely important, therefore, that
every precaution should be taken in handling this dangerous
substance. Experiment in Camberwell has shown, however,
that with proper control at the bait-preparing depot, the mixing
and preparation of baits containing sodium fluoracetate can be
carried out safely. Their successful application in the sewers,
however, presented a difficult problem which the Rodent
Officer solved by devising a bait which is made in a patented
block form and sealed in a paper packet. This method obviates
any danger by avoiding the necessity for the operator to handle or
come into direct contact with the bait in any way. A record is
kept of all baits made and issued from the depot, and the
operator is required to account for all baits used on his record
sheet, returning any unused baits to the Depot the same day,
where they are kept in locked containers.
At the end of the year a meeting took place between Officers
of the Ministry and this Council, following which a letter was