View report page

15
Enquiries.—As usually happens during Rat Week, many enquiries for
information were received in the Department, and the Inspector (Mr. Willis) who
devotes special attention to this branch of the Council's work was able to offer
advice and guidance in a number of cases, though it may be added that no serious
instance of rat infestation was encountered during the week."
Pigeons.
In relation to the nuisances caused by these birds, the Borough Council was not
given what may be called an official position until after the coming into operation of
Sec. 52 of the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1927. In this section the Council
was empowered to seize and destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of, or cause to be
seized, etc., house doves or pigeons in excessive numbers, if they believe them to be
without an owner. Three complaints were made in 1936, as against ten in 1935,
relating to private dwellings. As in other years, as much assistance as possible
was given by the inspector in charge of this work to reduce the nuisance.
Vermin Disinfestation.
The arrangements made last year for dealing with bugs in the Council's flats
were continued, and during the year under review, new blocks of flats in private
ownership were dealt with. Of 216 flats containing 521 rooms, vermin were
found in 126, comprising 296 rooms. In 72 of these cases where the infestation
was serious, the whole of the furniture and effects were removed and treated
with hydrogen cyanide, and whilst the furniture was away the rooms were
thoroughly sprayed with insecticide. In the remaining 54 cases, where the
infestation was not so gross, tenants were instructed and encouraged to cleanse
their rooms and furniture, insecticide being provided and sprayers loaned by the
Council.
The routine "following-up" work of the 303 London County Council and
Borough Council flats was continued. Rooms and effects in 96 flats shewed
evidence of new infestation or re-infestation. For the greater part the infestation
was slight, and at the end of the year only 38 of these showed signs of bugs.
A block of 60 flats on the London County Council estate was occupied in
December, 1935. The furniture and effects of all the families were removed,
treated with cyanide and delivered to the new homes. During the re-inspection
this year, in 17 of these flats live bugs were found. In 12, second-hand articles
showing signs of vermin were discovered. At the last re-inspection, live bugs
(very few) were found in only 3 of these flats.
Many fluid insecticides have been used with some degree of success in
tenement houses, but their construction and age render all spraying and treatment
difficult and expensive. Excellent results have been obtained in good class
houses and flats with the use of ethylene oxide.
Cleansing of Verminous Persons.
The number of Adults and School Children using the Baths, originally provided
under the Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897, during the period 1st January
to 23rd June, 1936 was 1,134 and 1,273 respectively. During the month of June
the building at No. 27, Grove Road, which housed the Shelter and Cleansing of
Persons Baths, was demolished to make room for a new Health Centre, on the
same site, comprising maternity and child welfare, massage, artificial sunlight,
orthopaedic, minor ailments and dental clinics; cleansing of persons baths; and
shelter for dispossessed persons. At the end of the year the work of reconstruction
was in hand and the new building will be ready for occupation towards
the end of 1937. While re-building operations are in progress, arrangements
have been made for adults to attend the cleansing stations in neighbouring
boroughs. In the case of school children a temporary centre has been provided
by the London County Council at Emmanuel School, Aberdeen Place,