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Sanitary Inspector and disinfestation is again carried out by the
Council's Disinfectors. Whenever disinfestation is asked for by
builders or landlords, a nominal charge is made except in exceptional
cases.
In the cases of infestation of the Council's housing property, the
woodwork of the rooms was removed, a blow-lamp was used, and the
woodwork was treated with carbolic acid before being replaced.
(3) The methods employed for ensuring that the belongings of
tenants are free from vermin before removal to Council houses.
In the case of all families removing to the Borough Council's
"Westcroft" Housing Estate, the following procedure is adopted.
Arrangements are made whereby a specialist firm undertakes the
removal and disinfestation of the effects of all families removing to
the Estate, and for other necessary work to be carried out by the
Council's disinfecting staff. Bugs are eradicated from furniture, bedsteads,
etc., by subjecting them to a 2 5 per cent. concentration by
volume of Hydrogen Cyanide for four hours in specially constructed
vans. Ventilation is then carried out until a series of tests made with
Sieverts and Hermsdorf reagent show no dangerous concentration of
H.C. remaining. Generally the procedure adopted is as follows:—
Early in the morning of the day of removal, the bedding,
mattresses, curtains, clothing, etc., are collected and brought to the
Public Health Station, where they are subjected to superheated steam
(temperature 275° F.) for twenty minutes in the disinfecting chamber
at a pressure of 15-20 lbs. per square inch, and are afterwards dried.
Furniture removal vans collect the furniture, household effects, carpets,
etc., and on arrival at the Public Health Station, the vans are
hermetically sealed after hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid gas) has been
released. After the expiration of four hours the vans are re-opened
and ventilated. The household effects are then transported to the new
home. Upholstered furniture is beaten in the open air before being
taken into the house.
It was decided that this procedure should apply to all families
removing to the Westcroft Estate, and no objection has been met with