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was made to the difficulties experienced in ridding dwelling-houses of
bugs.
Although this is a problem which affects Local Authorities-both as
Sanitary Authorities and Housing Authorities, owners of dwellinghouses
and tenants—it is only within recent years that the attention of
scientists has been directed to the problem, but most of the work done
has been carried out in laboratories, or in connection with insect pests
in foodstuffs.
For the destruction of bugs, many insecticides are being tried,but it
would appear that none of them up to the present have been entirely
satisfactory, although Hydrocyanic Acid gas promises to be more effective
than any, but more experimental work on bug-infested dwelling-houses
will have to be carried out to ascertain what general control is necessary
before this gas can be used with safety.
The whole question of disinfestation and fumigation requires further
investigation.
The problem of ridding dwelling-houses of bugs is surely of sufficient
importance to receive the consideration of the Ministry of Health who
might institute an enquiry; if necessary, conduct investigations, and
issue an authoritative statement for the guidance of Local Authorities
and others concerned.''
The Committee adopted the statement of the Medical Officer of Health
and agreed to recommend the Council to submit the suggestions to the
Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee with a view to that
Committee approaching the Ministry of Health.
Subsequently, the Committee were informed that on the 18th August
a letter was received from the Ministry of Health referring to a Departmental
Committee which had been recently appointed to review the
position and, if necessary, to submit proposals for further experimental
work with a view to devising a satisfactory method which could safely
be recommended to Local Authorities for the eradication of bugs in
working-class houses generally, and in houses which had been provided
by local authorities under the Housing Acts.
This Departmental Committee had decided to ascertain what information
was available as to the extent of the problem of infestation by