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36
Rodent Control.
During 1947, the special scheme of the Ministry of Food was operated in St. Pancras.
This entailed the inspection and treatment area by area of the whole Borough. In parts
predominantly commercial, every building, open space and bomb site was examined by the
Investigators; elsewhere visits were made to all business premises, to dwelling houses where
complaints had been received in the past and to "typical" dwelling houses. No unexpected
information was received from this survey, but the results of the "block treatment" which
followed were very satisfactory.
So far as rats in private dwellings are concerned, it can be said that in the majority of cases
the infestations are linked with defective drains or sewers. The work of the Rodent Operatives,
especially in sewers, no doubt keeps these infestations to a minimum, but re-infestation is always
likely. Frequently it is impossible to locate the exact position of the defect, or even the drain
concerned, or to prove that a defect exists. The intention in 1948, is to concentrate on rats
in relation to drainage.
The number of operatives employed varied, but averaged 10. A little over 10,000
investigations were made and 1,211 premises were treated. In a few additional cases the
occupiers of business premises employed private pest control companies who co-operated in the
time and method of treatment used by the Council in other parts of the area receiving attention.
710 complaints of rats were made to my department and 578 notices were served.
Every manhole in the Council's sewers was treated twice during the year—in March and
November. Treatment consisted on both occasions of pre-baiting for two days with sausage
rusk and poisoning on the third day by adding zinc phosphide. On the first occasion there
were complete takes of poison in 155 manholes, part-takes in 227 and no takes in 16. This
indicated a kill of 5,360 rats. The corresponding figures for the second treatment were—
complete takes 213, part-takes 164, no takes 13—indicating a kill of 5,900 rats.