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57
The following reports were submitted by the individual Inspectors:—
(i) Mr. I. M. G. Farries, who is responsible chiefly for the disinfestation
of properties owned by the Poplar Borough Council.

The remaining 15 tenements will be dealt with when transfer to
other premises is effected.
(2) The methods employed for freeing infested houses from bed bugs:—
Notification of all Council tenements becoming vacant or believed
to be infested is sent to the Public Health Department by the Housing
Department, with a request for inspection and, if necessary, disinfestation.
Where vacant premises are found to be infested, orders are sent
to the Works Department and Electricity Department for such stripping
of woodwork, etc., as appears necessary, this work being supervised by
a Sanitary Inspector. All woodwork which is removed is treated with
a blow-lamp, the premises are then fumigated with sulphur dioxide
for a period of 24 hours, and finally sprayed with a liquid insecticide.
Occupied premises believed to be infested are inspected, and the
Housing Department is notified of the result of inspection with a
recommendation as to the treatment to be carried out in accordance
with the extent of infestation found.
Very slight cases are treated by stripping of woodwork followed by
spraying of the structure and furniture; more severe cases are recommended
for transfer to another tenement, the furniture being treated
with HCN in transit and the bedding steam-disinfested. The premises
thus vacated are then inspected, stripped and fumigated with sulphur
dioxide, the procedure being the same as for ordinary vacated tenements.
Where premises are fumigated with sulphur dioxide, the gas is generated
by burning a mixture of sulphur 95%, potassium nitrate 5%. The
chemicals are bought in bulk and mixed thoroughly before using.