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This work of disinfestation with hydrogen cyanide is carried out by the council's own skilled
operators, who were trained at the Imperial Chemical Industries' works at Billingham.
It is interesting to observe that this service is not one which is shunned by the working classes ;
it has become exceedingly popular, and working-class families voluntarily removing from one address
to another in the borough frequently ask the council to move their furniture and disinfest it en route.
The council's stipulation that no family shall enjoy a new home under a housing scheme unless
their effects have been disinfested is a wise one, for it means that all families, whether they think
their furniture is verminous or not, are treated alike. It is further interesting to note that furniture
coming from condemned houses, even though it looks clean and has been cared for by a reasonably
clean housewife, is more frequently infested than is thought either by the general public or by the
housewife herself.
Summary of disinfestation of furniture carried out during the year.
Number of families whose furniture was transferred by the council from
old to new homes 541
Number of loads treated with hydrogen cyanide 505
The weight of furniture removed and treated with hydrogen cyanide was 638 tons 15 cwts.

During the past few years the council have entered into contracts with St. Marylebone, Fulham,
Hammersmith, Willesden and Holborn councils to remove and disinfest the effects of families
moving from condemned houses in those areas to new housing estates. The Kensington council
make a charge of £3 7s. 6d. for each load of furniture dealt with. During 1937, however, the
council were too busily engaged with removals in their own area to be able to allow much use of
the disinfestation service by the authorities mentioned above. Foot Holborn families and one
family from St. Marylebone were moved; these removals comprised six loads of furniture.
The weight of the furniture removed for these boroughs was 5 tons 15 cwt.; and 76 articles,
weighing 6 cwt. 0 qr. 27 lb., were treated by steam at the council's disinfecting station.
Inspections and re-inspections of premises.
The officer in charge of disinfestation, in addition to supervising the work outlined above, paid
2,030 visits during the year and served 25 notices. He also spent a considerable amount of time in
research work.