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101
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, 171 tins of treated biscuits and 7 bottles of
Squill being issued in this way, while 411 tins of biscuits
were used as baits in the sewers in the quarterly
campaigns described later.
It is clear that spasmodic efforts to deal with the
rat nuisance are futile. With this in mind, arrangements
were made during the year to carry out planned
measures for rat destruction for one week every three
months and this scheme was also adopted by the four
neighbouring boroughs. Particular attention was
devoted to the sewers at the boundaries, so as to
ensure that anti-rat measures within one borough
should not result in a mere transfer of the nuisance to
another area. Accordingly, in co-operation with the
Medical Officers of Health and Borough Engineers of
Hackney, Poplar, Shoreditch and Stepney, the systematic
laying of rat poison at selected points was carried
out in February, May, July and November. Other
methods adopted included the use of a specially
designed galvanised iron sewer rat trap in the shape
of a large dustbin. Owing to the probable percolation
of the sulphur gas into the sewers of the London
County Council, the use of the Clayton Disinfecting
apparatus in the Borough Council sewers has been
discontinued. So far as it is possible to estimate the
result in figures, the following statistics concerning
Bethnal Green illustrate it:
Baits laid (in 1,104 manholes) 15,253
Baits taken 12,421
Percentage of baits taken 82
For the whole of the 5 boroughs, it would appear
that about 64,000 baits were laid, and approximately