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58
The treatment of house refuse was successfully accomplished
by arrangement with the Borough Engineer, whereby at each weekly
collection a small quantity of' Gammexane ' powder was introduced
to each refuse bin by means of sprinkler-top tins. The collecting
vans were periodically sprayed with DDT in kerosene.
The dust-chutes in the numerous blocks of flats all receive
fortnightly treatment with ' Gammexane ' powder as soon as possible
after the dust collection.
Static water sites, ponds, ditches, etc., were sprayed with DDT
and in certain instances ' Gammexane ' powder was used.
Offensive deposits, such as old mattresses, dead animals, food
waste, etc., deposited on vacant and bombed sites are an occasional
source of nuisance, in these cases the articles are sprayed with DDT
and either burned on the site or removed and destroyed centrally.
The site is again sprayed.
Food shops and cafes are difficult subjects to deal with and
great care has to be exercised in the use of DDT and ' Gammexane '
but these premises were treated with good results.
Disinfestation or Verminous Premises.—DDT in kerosene
oontinues to prove the most effective vermicidal agent in dealing
with verminous houses.
During the year the Sanitary Inspectors dealt with 66 cases
of dirty and verminous houses compared with 127 for 1953. The
Disinfestation staff sprayed 237 rooms and contents as compared
with 380 last year.
In 3 cases the bedding and effects were removed to the Council's
Disinfecting Station for steam disinfection.
Other pests, such as cockroaches, ants, moths, earwigs and
wasps, were again troublesome and 286 houses comprising 823 rooms
were treated effectively with DDT, as compared with 840 last
year. This service is more and more appreciated by residents of the
Borough.
Pharaoh's Ants.—This pest has given rise to a number of complaints
being received from one of the large hospitals in the Borough.
Regular spraying with D.D.T. has kept the infestation down to a
minimum.