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vation and the fourth was, unfortunately, lost sight of, no reply having been received from her
general practitioner.
The discovery of these early lesions would certainly justify the continuation of the scheme
for a further period, when a larger number of results would be available, enabling a more statistically
significant appraisal of the value of this type of examination to be made.
RODENT CONTROL, 1964
In compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, it is the
duty of every Local Authority to take such steps as may be necessary to secure as far as may be
practicable that its district is kept free from rats and mice and in particular:—
(a) from time to time carry out such inspections as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid.
(b) to destroy rats and mice on land of which it is the occupier and otherwise to keep such
land free from rats and mice.
(c) to enforce the duties of owners and occupiers of land under Part 1 of this Act and to
carry out such operations as are authorised by those provisions.
(d) to keep such records and make such reports relating to functions under Part 1 of this
Act as may be required by any directions given by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food.
Implementing the aforementioned provisions of the Act comprised inspection on the block
principle to ascertain the presence of rats and/or mice, treatment of properties found to be infested,
recommendation and supervision of structural and incidental proofing, and periodical control
measures for the destruction of rats in the City sewers.
A total of 2,943 occupancies and properties were subject of inspection, comprising comprehensive
re-development sites, riverside food wharves and warehouses, public and private catering
establishments, offices, shops and factories.
Altogether 556 complaints were received either by notification, or as the result of inspection
and of this number 487 infestations were subject of control measures. In 69 instances no action
other than advice was necessary.
The total of 487 infestations treated comprised 5 major and 60 minor infestations of rats, and
2 major and 420 minor infestations of mice. Of the rat infestations, 5 major and 54 minor were
common rat (Rattus Norvegicus) character, and the remainder, 6 minor infestations came under the
Ship (Black) rat or Rattus Rattus classification.
The major infestations of common rat, which occured on building sites were of sufficient
numerical density as to be excluded from the minor scale (1-20) although low in the major category
(21-200).
Treatment of these infestations entailed 4,590 visits for operational purposes, and in the
application of control measures 10,086, initial baiting sites were selected for both rats and
mice. In the control of rats 5,058 pre-baits, and 452 poison baits were laid.
These measures resulted in a minimum estimated kill of 507 rats, and of this number 304
bodies were recovered and removed from the sites of the operations. Others not included in this
figure, were found on elimination of structural harbourage, or removal of incidental harbourage
providing nesting facilities.
Treatment of mice infestations entailed the application of 9,173 anti-coagulant poison oaits
and 704 bodies were recovered.
In 16 instances structural rat-proofing was carried out by owners or occupiers and in 2 cases
defective drainage resulting in common rat infestation of surface properties were remedied. Incidental
rat and mouse proofing in the nature of removal of harbourage provided by unnecessary
and undisturbed accumulations has again received unremitting attention and the assistance and
co-operation of the Director of Public Cleansing and his Inspectors in this respect has been
invaluable.
A major factor in the control of common rat is the periodical treatment of sewers, and during
the year under review, four "Direct" poison treatments with Fluoroacetamide as the toxic agent
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