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28
In presenting these facts to the Sanitary Committee your Medical Officer
pointed out that it is claimed that the use of each of these viruses brings about
the same result, viz., the destruction of rodents and also that they are
innocuous to domestic animals and human beings. As these claims,
however, cannot be substantiated, it is extremely undesirable and even
dangerous that they should be allowed to be sold and purchased by any
person. If they are to be used they should be placed about with the greatest
precaution and under skilled supervision. The Sanitary Committee directed
a copy of your Medical Officer's Report to be sent, together with the Report
of Dr. Klein's bacteriological examination, to the Local Government Board
urging the desirability—in the public interest—of putting restrictions upon
the sale of such poisons to members of the general public.
In view of the above it may be interesting to quote a statement made in the
House of Commons on the 4th November last in reply to the following
question:—
Mr. Ridsdale asked the President of the Local Government Board “ If his
“ attention had been called to the report of Dr. Collingridge, Medical Officer
“ of Health for the City of London, to the effect that a vermin poison,
“ advertised as harmless to human beings but as disseminating bacteriological
“ diseases to rodents, has caused serious illness to many persons ; and whether,
“ in view of the danger to the public of the unrestricted sale of such poisons,
“ he will consider the desirability of placing restrictions upon their sale."
The President of the Local Government Boardreplied that the administration
of the Acts relating to the sale of poisons rested with the Privy Council, and
he would communicate with the Lord President.
Full details of Dr. Klein's analyses of these viruses are given in the Medical
Officer of Health's Reports, Nos. 116, 117 and 118.