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VERMINOUS ARTICLES AND PREMISES:
The Council's Disinfestation Service continues to provide for the
destruction of all insects and pests, but in particular beg bugs, cockroaches
and fleas, etc.
In the majority of cases one spraying with a 5% solution of D.D.T. or
other insecticide has had the desired effect, and where necessary a follow
up treatment has been carried out to ensure success.
The slight increase in bed bug, cockroaches and beetles, was without
doubt due to the exceptional prolonged summer experienced during 1964.
In one particular case a persistent infestation of BLAPS MUCKONATA
(1) otherwise known as the cellar or Churchyard beetle, was successfully
dealt with by concentrated efforts using a Malathion based insecticide and
pressure blower.
During 1964, a wide range of pests were dealt with and 397 premises
were treated including
Bed bug 89
Cockroach 19
Plies 7
Beetles (Various) 34
Ants 16
Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act 1936 enables the
Council on a report from the Medical Officer of Health to cause to be
cleansed, disinfected or destroyed, any article in a house which has become
verminous, filthy, dangerous or in an unwholesome condition that health is
affected. During 1964, 52 such representations were made and spraying was
carried out before any article was removed.
The routine spraying was also carried out at 104 Council properties
that for various reasons had become vacant.
Scabies and Other Verminous Conditions:
The Borough Council continued the operation of the Bathing Centre in
the Health Centre for the treatment of verminous conditions, including
Scabies.
Arrangements were also continued for the treatment of cases on behalf
of the Shoreditch Borough Council.
The evidence of both scabies and body lice has remained low.
Home visiting has only been carried out in connection with the somewhat
rare cases of persistent or recurrent infestations in the same family.

Nearly all the cases of body lice were casual residents from a common
lodging house, some of whom were sent on suspicion only as being infested.
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