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A considerable amount of rat-proofing work was done, due regard being paid
to the fact that the buildings are to be entirely reconstructed in the near future.
The actual list of suggestions detailed by the Rat Officer was as follows:—
(1) Roofs and Kitchen.
Cut away part of wood casing surrounding c `istern on roof, clear away refuse under cistern,
make good the woodwork throughout, repair the cover and fix a zinc rim around the edge.
Fill in the apertures between wall and at bottom with wood covered with zinc. Fix a wire
guard of small mesh (½-in. or less) in front of ventilating fan.
Make and fix wire guards to ends of all overflow pipes from cisterns in loft discharging
on to roof. Cut out and reinstate the broken glass in skylight. Ease, overhaul, oil and adjust
all opening gear to ventilating lights, ease lights to admit of same being tightly closed. Refix
and renew the broken ones. Clean out the loft by the side of the tanks on the top floor and
lay poison as directed. Remove the large cupboard in vegetable store, clean away the rubbish
deposited at back by rats, make good all holes in floor and cupboard and replace in position.
Examine the well-hole of service lift in scullery and stop the runs in woodwork and walls.
Lay traps as advised in all places where traces of rats can be determined.
(2) Lift and Basement.
Examine the well-hole of the passenger lift and fill in the holes around electric cables and
pipes with cement and broken glass.
Fill in the spaces between the sashes and pavement lights in the street with small mesh
wire or expanded metal. Make and fix a metal grid to front of open air shaft and fix wire
guards to other openings in area. Protect the bottom of door leading to area where gnawed
by rats with a zinc shoe at bottom and sides. Search for and fill in all holes in basement
walls and ceiling with cement and broken glass. Cut up a part of the flooring close to skirting
showing a rat run, seal off the run and make good. Cut off the batten from potboard of
racks and remove the packages on the bottom tier, repair if necessary and replace the packages.
Note.—The cook was instructed that all food should be securely placed beyond the
reach of rats. Also, that the refuse bins should not be overfilled which prevents the lids
fitting properly. This is important, as also is the tight closing each night of all ventilators
and windows leading on to the roof, otherwise the other suggestions to exclude rats would
be useless.
The whole of the above work has been carried out with the result that the
premises have been freed from rats.
Mr. Engineer informs me that during the year the following sewerage and
drainage works, all of which tended to reduce the number of breeding places for
rats, were carried out by his Department:—
Pipe sewers reconstructed 6
Pipe sewers in course of construction 1
Pipe sewers substituted for old brick sewers 1
Brick sewers re-inverted 4
Brick sewers in course of being re-inverted 1
Brick sewers reconstructed 1
Brick sewers in course of being reconstructed 1
Disused sewers filled in 3
New drains constructed in connection with new buildings 44
Drains of existing buildings reconstructed 137
New gully drains constructed 3
Gully drains reconstructed 49
Disused drains bricked up 393
It was not found necessary in any case either to serve statutory notices or to
take legal proceedings.
I am indebted to Messrs. Dalton & Sons, professional rat-catchers, for the
information that they have, during the year, caught 18,430 rats in the City area.
In May, 1922, in accordance with the instructions of the Court of Common Council,
I presented a report on this subject, which appeared in printed report No. 249 of
the Medical Officer of Health. I then made the following suggestions:-
"l —That rat investigation and repression should be regarded as coming under the
heading of general sanitary work, and be referred to the district and factory and workshops
inspectors who will report on rat infested premises. There should be attached to the department
an inspector competent to supervise the execution of the remedial measures necessary.
"2.—Remedial measures should be the responsibility not of the occupier alone but of
both the occupier and the owner. Of the owner when structural defects exist such as favour
the harbouring of rats and prevent the occupier dealing effectually with infestation. The
occupier should be responsible for ridding his premises of casual infestation when structural
conditions are such as enable him with reasonable care to rid the premises of casual rats.