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113
The fact that noise produces no immediate or
obvious ailment and that the adaptable human body
gets used to it as to other bad conditions is no argument
for accepting it as a disagreeable but necessary evil.
As was pointed out by the distinguished doctors who
took part in the deputation to the Minister of Health,
noise has an insidious but very definite prejudicial
effect upon health, and it contributes to a great deal of
nervous disease as well as complicating or retardin'g
recovery from other ailments. The time has come
when public health authorities should insist that active
steps be taken to reduce the amount of noise from
which the public suffers, much of it preventable by the
exercise of a little intelligence. It is to be hoped that
engineers and transport administrators will devote some
of their skill to devising machinery and vehicles which
will operate with the minimum of nervous injury to
the public at large.
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
No formal notices were served under the Act during
the year. A number of complaints as to rat infestation
have been investigated and dealt with and occupiers
of premises have been advised in the matter. Poor
occupiers have been assisted by the supply of rat poison,
143 tins of treated biscuits and 39 bottles of Squill
being issued in this way. The investigation of rat
complaints has in many cases led to the discovery and
repair of defective drains. During "Rat Week" the
Clayton Disinfecting apparatus, jointly owned by the
Works and the Public Health Committees, was brought
into use, and the sewers in (certain streets were
thoroughly cleared of rats.
STORAGE AND COLLECTION OF
HOUSE REFUSE.
Steps have been taken during the past year or two