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The following report was submitted by the Inspectors, Messrs. I. M. G.
Farries and C. H. Medland:—
Fumigation by sulphur dioxide and spraying with a commercial
liquid insecticide are still the principal methods employed for freeing
infested houses from bed bugs, and such methods are substantially the
same for both Council and private properties.
Although fairly effective, the greatest disadvantage of sulphur
fumigation is the amount of stripping of woodwork, wallpaper, etc.,
involved and the consequent additional expense. For this reason, efforts
are being made by many authorities to produce a fumigant as safe as—
but more effective than—sulphur dioxide, and the Council's Special
Inspectors for Disinfestation have attended various lectures and demonstrations
dealing with the latest developments in methods of disinfestation.
The most promising results appear to have been obtained with heavy
naphtha fumigation, which is claimed to be safe and effective, but there
are some difficulties in the technique of its application to be overcome
before this method of fumigation is perfected. Its use at present would
entail either an increase in staff or a great decrease in the number of
private properties treated. Consequently there is, in the opinion of the
Special Inspectors for Disinfestation, no justification for recommending
any alteration in the present disinfestation procedure until other methods
have been sufficiently developed as to obtain comparable results with
sulphur fumigation from a practical and economical point of view.
Van-fumigation by hydrocyanic acid gas remains the most efficient
method of freeing infested furniture and is used in cases of severe infestation
or in cases where a penetrative treatment is necessary, as in the
fumigation of upholstered chairs, etc.