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36
Allotments, bombed sites and dumps providing suitable harbourage
have all been test-baited, and where found necessary, treatments
have been given. The bombed sites continue to be troublesome
sources of infestation, and in one particular case the house drains
in a block of demolished properties were found to be open to the
sewer.
Arising out of the investigations 68 drainage defects were
discovered. Many of these entailed much excavation and hard,
laborious work, and a great deal of patience in tracing the rat runs
to the ultimate drain openings.
The two major infestations by brown rat were systematically
dealt with and in both cases excellent results were obtained by the
usual methods of treatment.
(1) Badcock's Wharf, Banning Street.—A considerable amount
of difficult work was encountered owing to the continuous movement
of stores ; it was also suspected that rats were coming from a defective
drain which, after persistent effort, was discovered and repaired.
(2) Woodland Walk.—A" complaint of rat infestation in this
area followed the demolition of a block of houses. Rats were
coming up from the open drains buried beneath the brick rubble.
With the assistance of the Borough Engineer's Department the
drain connections were sealed off at the sewer. Rats which remained
in the rubble were finally cleared by a system of baiting and poisoning,
and the area is now clear.
(3) Of three infestations, where the black or ship rat had been
seen, only one proved to be of a major type ; this occurred at
Messrs. Hugh Baird's, and the assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture
was sought. Three treatments were given, using sausage rusk
and 2½% zinc phosphide, soaked wheat and 10% arsenious oxide,
and bread mash and 2½°/0 zinc phosphide. The general behaviour
of the rats throughout the treatments was that typical of the ship
rat. A few points remained unvisited during pre-baiting, but rats
fed from them during poisoning. At other points the reverse
behaviour was shown. The feeding pattern was erratic, except at
a few favourite points which were regularly visited throughout the
three treatments.
1st
treatment
2nd
treatment
3rd
treatment
No. of pre-baits 273 102 88
No. of poison baits 271 101 88
No. of poison baits takes 93 32 30
No. of poison baits complete takes 1 0 0
No. of post-baits 262 101 —
No. of post-baits takes 18 25 —