View report page

25
Antifly and antimosquito campaign
The campaign held last year lasted from May 5 to September 25,
and as in previous years four men were employed working as two pairs,
using motor cycles with sidecars as transport at the commencement of
the campaign and during the later stages a light van and one motor cycle
with sidecar. 1,254 sites and spraying points were visited, showing a
slight decrease from the previous year's figure of 1,274 occasioned
mainly by the redevelopment of some of the bombed sites. Regular
visits were paid to these sites and treatment carried out as necessary.
Grass verges, etc., were visited on 9 occasions and special sites (i.e.
stables, allotments, dust chutes) were each visited on 22 occasions.
Altogether 21,053 visits and treatments were made and in addition
treatment by spraying was carried out in 12 houses by staff from the
disinfecting station following complaints from the householders concerned.
In a number of cases a supply of insecticide containing 5 percent
DDT was also left with the householders for use in their own sprays,
a total of 7 gallons of insecticide being dispensed in this way.
In his report, Mr. Phillips, the deputy senior sanitary inspector,
who is in charge of anti-pest work, says : " Measures were also taken to
deal with offensive deposits such as old mattresses or dead animals,
found mainly on bombed sites, either by destruction on the site by
burning, or by collection and destruction centrally. 50 gallons of
paraffin were used for destruction of such items on site and 90 mattresses
and sundry other items of discarded clothing and useless furniture
were dealt with in this manner.
" The cooperation of the Borough Engineer's department was once
again available for the treatment of dustbins with a powder supplied
by the health department. This powder contained gammexane and was
applied to dustbins at the time of refuse collection. Altogether 4 tons
of powder containing 0.5 percent gamma benzene hexachloride was
used.
"Caretakers of blocks of flats belonging to the council were provided
with sprayers, insecticide and powder, for use in connection with dust
chute containers, particularly after these had been cleaned out, and
for the sites of bins used for the storage of kitchen waste. cwts.
gammexane powder and 80 gallons of 5 percent DDT were used.
"Materials used in the main campaign were as follows
General spraying — 1,040 gallons tip dressing (approximately
4i percent DDT in aqueous suspension).
Static tanks and stagnant water on river edges — 80 gallons
of 5 percent DDT in kerosene.
Accumulations of rubbish, dog excreta, etc. — 561bs. of 10
percent DDT powder and 81 lbs. of gammexane powder."
Laboratory facilities
Specimens for examination concerning bacteriology and epidemiology
in relation to the diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious
disease are sent to the Southern Group Laboratory at Park Hospital.
This service is provided by the Public Health Laboratory Service which
is directed by the Medical Research Council, and apart from examinations