View report page

116
Specimens of suspected food and a great many specimens of faeces from
patients and contacts were sent to the Public Health Laboratory for examination.
The fullest co-operation of the Laboratory staff was always available and gratefully
accepted.
Disinfection and Disinfestation
There was a marked increase in the numbers of complaints of fleas,
mostly animal fleas, but it was not possible to find the cause.
In addition to the work summarised below, the staff of the Disinfecting
Station dealt with 1,318 infestations of insects, including ants, cockroaches,
silver fish, woodworm, mites, carpet beetles and lice. 129 wasp nests were also
destroyed.
Disinfestation Bugs Fleas
No. of premises visited 297 188
No. of rooms treated 957 882
Disinfection
No. of premises visited 113
No. of rooms treated 201
Library books disinfected 346
Other articles disinfected 9.541
Rats and Mice
1,185 complaints of rats and 1,828 of mice were investigated by the
Rodent Officer and his staff, resulting in 5,950 baitings being made in dwellings
and business premises. 46 visits were made by Public Health Inspectors and 5
notices were served.
The increase in complaints of mice was partly due to the better service
offered by the Council and partly to the difficulty found by the public using
proprietary poisons on mice resistant to "Warfarin".
Baiting of sewers to reduce the rat population was carried out by the
Borough Engineer's Department. Some 3,500 manhole covers required to be
lifted and baits laid, the work frequently being hampered by traffic. The task
is a large one and unfortunately can never result in completely rat-free sewers.