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measure the room is also sprayed with a vermicide, which also acts as
a deodoriser.
Tenants are advised as to the precautions to be taken against
re-infestation, periodic visits are made to ensure that the premises remain
free from vermin, and further treatment is applied, if necessary.
It will be seen from the data appended that the percentage of
re-infestation in premises revisited is 18.6; the re-infestations are due to
the following causes:—
1. Vermin being carried from an infested to a clean room in
the same house.
2. Purchase of second-hand infested furniture.
3. Vermin brought in from outside places.
4. Indifference on the part of some tenants to the presence of
vermin.
5. The limited scope of treatment that can be applied where
premises are occupied and for the reasons given below.
The presence of match-boarded walls, partitions and ceilings, cracked
and bulging walls with open-jointed brickwork and defective floors in
so many of the premises to be treated has meant that a successful and
safe fumigation is impossible. Sulphur dioxide is an irritant and is
dangerous to use under such conditions, having regard to the fact that
it is but rarely possible to fumigate whole houses and that the remaining
rooms of the house are occupied whilst fumigations are carried out.
Treatments have been applied to 298 premises, but only in 17 cases has
the whole house been fumigated.
Number of premises reported to Public Health Committee
(P. H. (L.) A., 1936) 437
Number of premises treated without service of notices 62
Total number of premises treated .. .. 499
Total number of treatments applied .. 1,480
Fumigations to 608 rooms in 298 houses; number of
treatments .. .. .. 683
Sprayings to 390 rooms in 201 houses; number of
treatments .. .. .. .. .. .. 797