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54
Rodent Control.—Since the inauguration of the Rodent
Scheme approved by the Ministry of Food there is direct evidence
that the public have become rat conscious. No doubt this is in some
measure due to the house-to-house campaign commenced toward the
end of last year and to the wide publicity given to this problem.
Before the introduction of the Scheme complaints averaged 12
monthly and are now in the region of 65 per month.
The Scheme which was due to be terminated at the end of June
was extended to the end of the year owing to the number of infestations
still in hand at that date. From June to Deoember the Staff
comprised 3 Investigators and 6 Operatives only.
From the inception of the Scheme until the end of the year
17,937 dwellings, bomb sites etc. and 491 business premises were
visited. 1,123 were found to be infested, of which number 899 were
cleared.
Allotments, river banks, bomb sites and dumps of all kinds have
been baited and where necessary treatments carried out.
Arising out of the investigations a considerable number of
infestations were traced to defective drains, some of which entailed
weeks of hard work investigating and digging to locate the source of
the trouble. In one case a defective brick barrel sewer was found
passing under a house. In other instances, where infestations were
reported in or near prefabricated houses, it had been discovered that
these dwellings had been erected, in some cases, on old bombed
sites where drains had not been effectively sealed off.
Major infestations were discovered in the undermentioned
areas and block treatments carried out:—
Orlop Street; Blissett Street; Blackwall Lane; Woolwich
Road; Woodland Terrace; Lewisham Road; Diamond
Terrace.
Business Premises.—Many large and important Factories etc.
sought the aid of the Department's Operatives and 7 major rat
infestations were discovered and dealt with as follows :—
Blue Cross Kennels.—Pre-baiting and poisoning as laid down by
the Ministry of Food was commenced in February 1947 and
continued with the necessary lapse of time between treatments
until November 1947. During the month of August, 810
pre-baits were laid followed by 210 poison baits and in addition
25 rat holes were gassed—54 poisoned rats were found suggesting
a greater number having died in their runs. Poisoning was carried
out alternatively with Rusk and Red Squill, Bread Mash and
Zinc Phosphide, Soaked Wheat and Antu, Sugar Meal and
Arsenic, Rusk and Zinc Phosphide and Rusk and Arsenic.
From August to November the work was done under direct
supervision of the Ministry Officials. Results obtained, as shown