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21
In his report on rodent control work during 1961, Mr. Phillips,
the senior public health inspector, states:— “The number of rat and
mice complaints showed an increase over the previous year. Mouse
infestation increased in houses in multiple occupation where insufficient
care and lack of proper storage of food exists. Baiting, normally with
warfarin, was reasonably satisfactory but would have had greater success
had there been no other food supply. Several infestations were dealt
with in shops where more careful storage of food would have obviated
this trouble. Rat infestation also was higher during the year in spite of a
successful treatment of the sewers in the beginning of the year with
sodium fluoracetate and later with sodium fluoracetamide. A considerable
number of the infestations was traced to defective drains
which were put in order after action by the public health inspectors
under section 40 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Many of
the complaints, however, were due to the scattering of food by the
general public, particularly in parks and other open spaces. Many of
the complaints pointed to rivers, and the baiting of rivers was carried
out as in previous years."
The undermentioned table gives a summary of the work on the rivers
and ditches, prebait being laid on 3/4 days :—

For the past two years continuous baiting of manholes has been
undertaken by a permanent rodent control gang, and after some 4,000
manholes had been baited four times over a period slightly longer than
a year a complete pre-baiting and poisoning control was exercised to
ascertain the result.
Under the old system of undertaking rodent control twice a year
the position was becoming static and some 27% poison takes were being
recorded from the number of manholes baited. The pre-bait and
poison check which was undertaken in 1961 showed quite encouraging
results, recording a total of poison takes of 22½%.
Continuous baiting is once again being undertaken, the rodent
control men having nearly completed the second phase.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
A copy of the report covering the calendar year 1961 submitted to
the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as required by the
provisions of the above Act, is appended :—