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Sanitary Inspection.—The total number of complaints received was 933 as against 1,298 in 1940. Details of the
various nuisances detected and remedied, to the total number of 671, are set out in Table 4. In 262 cases the nuisances
were abated by the persons responsible for their removal after receipt of a preliminary (intimation) notice advising
them of the existence of the defect. Statutory notices were issued in 21 instances, and referred to such matters
as dirt, dampness, verminous rooms, unsatisfactory water-closet accommodation, inadequate water supply, defective
drains, and to other defects and conditions. In no case was the institution of legal proceedings called for.

Shops.—Inspections under the Shops Act, 1934, numbered 282. In no instance was the service of notice necessary.
Bed Bugs.— A mobile hot-air disinfestor, loaned to the Council by the Government, was erected on the site of the old
Public Mortuary in Paddington Street and used extensively for the treatment of verminous bedding from air-raid shelters,
no fewer than 4,705 bundles being dealt with from the beginning of August (when the apparatus was installed) to the
end of the year. The shelters themselves were under constant supervision and were regularly sprayed with an
insecticide. To assist in the early detection of bug infestations, practical talks and demonstrations to shelter marshals
and others concerned, were given by the Sanitary Inspectors. During the year no Council houses were reported to
be verminous ; 36 other houses where bugs were found were disinfested. Verminous furniture belonging to 62 families
dishoused as a result of enemy action and 12 loads of bunks and wooden strengthening material from 5 public airraid
shelters were disinfested by the hydrogen cyanide process.
Verminous Persons.—The numbers of adults and school children using the cleansing station during 1941 were 394
(295 males, 99 females) and 422 (78 boys, 344 girls) respectively.
In a report on the prevalence of lousiness in the Borough, submitted to the Central Government Departments
following the issue of a joint circular 2306 (Ministry of Health) and 1544 (Board of Education) dated the 17th March,
1941, stressing the importance of an active campaign against lice infestations, it was shown that during the Easter
term (1st January to 17th April, 1941) 13.4 per cent, of the school children attending the Council's cleansing station
had verminous heads but no body vermin, while 6 per cent, of the children examined in public air-raid shelters were
verminous.
Scabies statistics are shown separately at the foot of page 11.
Rats and Mice.—Under a Ministry of Food Circular (F.I.G. 463), dated the 9th December, 1940, wide powers were
conferred upon Food Control Committees to secure the destruction of rats and mice in all places where stocks of food
are held. Special officers have been appointed by the Ministry of 5"ood to deal with infested premises and there has been
close co-operation between the Public Health Department and the Ministry's officials, whose attention has been drawn
to premises where evidence of rat infestation has been found. A campaign against rats and mice was inaugurated by
the Ministry of Food at a meeting held in London on the 4th March, 1941, which was attended by the Council's Rat
Officer appointed under the Destruction of Rats & Mice Order No. 2069, dated the 3rd December, 1940. Regular
inspections of all food premises have been made during the year and since April, 1941, monthly reports have been
submitted to the Rodent Officer of the London Divisional Food Office. The following is a summary of the work
done : 89 complaints were received and 68 food and 168 other premises were found to be infested. Of the 68 food
premises, 37 were shops, 29 hotels and restaurants and 2 dwelling houses ; the 168 other premises included 129