View report page

140
(Solution "D") is issued at the Disinfectant Distributing Depots on the
presentation there of a requisition from a Sanitary Inspector, and sprayers
are occasionally loaned to tenants to assist them in dealing with the
nuisance.
In July, 1929, when submitting the Lady Sanitary Inspector's
Quarterly Report on Council houses, the Medical Officer of Health, in
an introductory statement, drew attention to bug-infested premises, and,
among other things, he then said:—
' 'The destruction of bugs in occupied premises is one of the most
difficult problems with which a Public Health Department is confronted.
This is due to the life history and habits of the bug.
The most powerful disinfectants can only be effective if and when
they are applied directly to the bug so that the mere spraying of the
surface with solution "D," or any other disinfectant, whilst doing
a certain amount of good, cannot be expected to be a remedy.''
To enable the Committee to appreciate-more fully the difficulty in
ridding premises of bugs, the following brief outline of the habits and
life history of the bed bug, together with a reference to some of the
remedies which may be used is given.
Habits.
Although bed-bugs are usually associated with old and dirty premises,
they are occasionally found, in spite of all precautions, in houses which
are kept scrupulously clean.
Bed-bugs, although unable to fly, walk rapidly and can migrate
from one house to another, passing along crevices in walls, pipes, and
electric light wires; they may also be introduced with boxes and clothing,
which have been left standing in a bug-infested place.
It is stated that a bug can travel a considerable distance in order to
suck its victim's blood, returning later to its resting place.
The bed-bug is nocturnal in its habits. During the day it lives in
crevices and cracks of all kinds. It is found in and behind woodwork,
walls and floors of rooms; behind wainscoting and loose wall-paper
frequently near a bed. It may also be discovered actually in the framework
of the bed itself. At night these insects come out in search of food—
which is the blood of warm-blooded animals—particularly that of man,
although it is stated they will also feed on the blood of rats and mice.
It is important to note, however, that they are able to live for quite long
periods without food.