View report page

CONTROL OF INSECTS
The incidence of bed-bugs and fleas has reduced very
considerably since the introduction and development of
contact insecticides of which D.D.T. was the first.
Nevertheless, the services of the officers of the Public
Health Department are still called upon frequently to
deal with infestations of these pests and also to assist
in the eradication of other insects such as cockroaches,
ants, flies, beetles and so on. The following table
shows the number of premises visited and the total visits
during 1959 to deal with such pests.
Type of
Infestation
No. of
Premises
No. of
Visits
207
251
Bed-bugs
30
Fleas
26
2
3
Lice
6
Cockroaches
5
17
34
Beetles
74
67
Wasps
12
12
Slugs and maggots
42
47
Ants
5
7
Moths
10
14
Clover mite
18
24
Flies
8
9
Silver fish
8
Other insects
8
519
Totals:
427
These figures indicate that a considerable amount of
work is undertaken by the local authority to reduce vermin
and insect infestations, although under the provisions of
section 123 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the
responsibility for ridding dwelling houses of vermin rests
with the owner or occupier. In order to encourage
residents to take steps themselves to deal with any such
pests it has for many years been the practice to make
available to them at the Public Health Department tins of
insecticide and sprayers which they may purchase at cost
price. A number of ratepayers take advantage of this
facility every year.
Mosquitoes.
Three or four years ago mosquito larvae were found