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14
formerly), the staff were called upon to deal with fli es,
mosquitoes, beetles of many varieties, cockroaches, ants,
fruit flies, clover mites and wasp's nests. Investigations
were also carried out at the request of hospitals in
connection with patients suffering from skin eruptions.
In one such case a tiny blood-sucking mite found on
budgerigars was found to be the culprit. With the removal
of static water tanks, which in the early post-war years
provided a ready breeding ground, the mosquito nuisance
has much diminished. Fly breeding is also not as conspicuous
as it was in the previous quinquennium. In 1954
the number of rooms disinfested was 1507; this may be
compared with the figure of 557 during the current year.
Rats and Mice
The work carried out by the rodent control staff is
shown on page. The number of complaints received has
averaged about 1,200 over the past twelve years: there is
little variation each year. About 1,000 of the complain ts
relate to dwelling houses. During the past three y ea rs
two thirds of the complaints relate to infestation by
rats; one third by mice. The fact that the numbers show
no evidence of falling, despite energetic treatment using
modern techniques (one of which has been developed in the
department by the Rodent Officer), may be accounted for
by a combination of the following circumstances:-
An increase in building land development and demolition
of properties which causes a disturbance and scattering
of rats and mice, e.g. from old drainage syst ems.
The construction of modern buildings can provide
harbourage for rodents possibly allowing them to
explore the buildings. As a result of health education,
householders are becoming more conscious of the
need for prompt reference to the rodent control staff
when there is evidence of infestation. There are
topographical considerations in an area with ma n y
large open spaces, hilly country, allotments and large
gardens with rockeries and bankings. Cemeteries,
railway embankments and disused railways can resdily
harbour rats. (During the year rats in and around a
disused railway embankment furnished a particularly
difficult problem of control.)
In a certain type of house and family, the usual
pattern is reversed and two thirds of the complaints are
of mice. Inadequate facilities for the preparation and