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drains were found to be the cause of infestations and were dealt
with by the Borough Engineer and the Sanitary Inspectors.
In only one instance was an infestation found to be of a major
character and in this case, a ratting company had been employed
for many years before the trouble was brought to the notice of
the department and the infestation cleared. Indeed, it is safe to
say that there need be no major infestations in the borough to-day
except in cases where there is a failure to enlist the aid of the
Council's staff.
The black rat is still confined to the northern end of the borough
and in far fewer instances than in previous years has its presence
been confirmed.
The sewers throughout the borough were baited by the Borough
Engineer's staff in June and December, and throughout the year
the practice of sealing disused drains has been continued by the
sewer staff.
In consequence of the co-operation that has existed between
the two departments since the commencement of the present
scheme, the position in the borough is really satisfactory, and in
addition to the immediate results obtained, the work of a
permanent character that is now being carried out will
prevent future infestations.
The means by which rats are successfully controlled are much
less ambitious in character and much less expensive than those
encouraged by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Prevalence and Control Over Infectious and
Other Diseases
The mortality frorh infectious disease was again comparatively
insignificant, scarlet fever, 0, diphtheria 1, measles 0, and whooping
cough 2. The number of notifications shewed little change over the
previous year, but the degree of morbidity has fortunately been
even lighter than before.
The one case of diphtheria was an infant aged two weeks who
was registered as having died from laryngeal diphtheria.
Measles is much less of a danger to life than it was between the
wars. In 1938 there were 19 deaths and in 1928 no less than 61
deaths, while the single death in the last two years occurred in
1946.
Whooping cough on the other hand seems to retain much of its
virulence, the deaths in the ten years 1928-37 averaging 23.4
every year, highest 58 in 1929, and lowest, 2 in 1930.