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conditions were as follows: 180 for head lice, and 16 for scabies. The
total number of attendances of school children for baths at the
disinfecting station was 1,204. Articles of clothing disinfected numbered
604.

Fumigation of Furniture.—In the Report for 1934, reference was made
to the steps being taken by the Council to deal with the problem of the
bed bug, particularly in relation to the re-housing of families in the Council's
new dwellings. A van of special design for the fumigation of furniture was
ordered and was delivered in the latter part of 1935. This van consists
of a metal body of some 700 cubic ft. capacity, mounted on a trailer
chassis for transportation by "mechanical horse" units in use by the
Highways Department. Double doors are provided at the rear end and
a porthole some 2 ft. by 1 ft. in front for the purpose of ventilation after
fumigation.
In order to gain experience of the various methods of fumigation by
hydrocyanic acid gas, three firms specialising in this class of work were
invited to undertake a number of fumigations in the Council's van. The
furniture and effects of some 17 families were dealt with, bedding and
similar furnishings being removed to the Disinfecting Station for treatment
by steam disinfection.
The Council, having considered reports of the results of these experimental
fumigations, decided to invite tenders for the removal and fumigation
of the effects of some 128 families proposed to be rehoused in the Council's
new dwellings which were nearing completion at the end of the year. The
firms concerned were asked to quote for the complete operation of
removal of furniture from the old dwellings, fumigation and transfer to
the new dwellings. A contract was entered into on this basis with a firm
who carry out the fumigation by means of a special plant housed in a
(9069)
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