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11
Rodent Control.
There were 272 notifications of rat infestation at premises in the Borough, a reduction of 71 on the
previous year's figure of 343. This follows the trend of a steady annual decline since the Council's
rodent control service was started in 1949, when the total was 840. Only four cases of infestation by
black rats were recorded. One particularly large pocket of this type of infestation was satisfactorily
treated by a pest control firm in the early part of the year and there have been no further reports of
rats from this source. Notifications of mice totalled 264, 23 less than during the previous year, and
again during recent years there has been a gradual decline.
Block surveys as a method of rodent control were continued throughout the year, 37 blocks involving
1,091 premises being dealt with. Infestations discovered in this way were of a minor character and
few in number. This can be taken as an indication that occupiers of the premises concerned are
responding well to their statutory responsibilities to notify the local authority of the presence of rodents.
The incidence of rats in the borough sewers during 1957 and 1958 gave cause for concern, and it
was decided that firmer measures of control should be undertaken in this direction. In co-operation
with the Borough Engineer, research work was started to discover the most satisfactory method
to employ and this was continued throughout 1959. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
were consulted from time to time about the matter and they have shown special interest in the particular
line of research which has been followed. In St. Marylebone the sewers are entered at many points
from "side entrances" which give access from the pavements. It was felt that there would be obvious
advantages if control could be established from these points, especially if bait could be laid and
"takes" recorded from the surface. This would avoid the necessity of lifting manhole covers in busy
streets and the time-consuming business of men going down into sewers to lay bait and record
"takes," so leading to a financial saving. Thus the same expenditure will now enable baiting to be
carried out at shorter intervals. With those objects in mind a covered baiting-tray was developed
for lowering into side entrances and subsequently polythene bags were substituted for the trays.
These were filled with bait and suspended by wires. This latter technique does not appear in any way
to deter the rats from taking bait and has therefore been generally adopted. It is not only easy to
apply but also makes the assessment of "takes" a very simple matter. In addition, since the
polythene bag keeps the bait in reasonable condition for a considerable time, it is always available
to the rats at the selected points. Another advantage of the method is that "takes" can be recorded
with an accuracy not possible with any method of sewer baiting previously tried.
Statistics of rodent control are shown in Table 14, page 35.
Disinfestation.
The insecticide used to rid dwelling houses of bugs is Kerosene with 5 per cent. D.D.T. and 0.1 per
cent. pyrethrins applied as a spray either by hand or under pressure from a motor compressor, according
to the circumstances. This treatment is also given for flea and similar infestations which occur from
time to time. During the year, 231 rooms were disinfested, including four requisitioned premises.
Furniture, more particularly that of people removing to fresh accommodation, is dealt with by
hydrocyanic acid gas in specially constructed vans. The Council continued to have this work done
by a contractor and during 1959 the furniture of 14 families, of whom 13 were being rehoused, was
treated by this method. In addition 456 verminous articles of bedding were disinfested by steam.
A small steam disinfector situated in the cleansing of persons section of Welfare Centre No. 2 is
used for the treatment of all articles up to the size of a single mattress. Arrangements with the Council
of the Royal Borough of Kensington for articles above this size to be steam treated in their plant at
Shepherd's Bush have worked most satisfactorily.
Verminous Persons.
The Council's Cleansing Station in Lisson Grove dealt with 600 verminous persons: adults 552
(men 522, women 30); children 48 (boys 7, girls 41).
Shelter.
It was not necessary during the year to make use of the shelter accommodation provided at No. 217,
Lisson Grove, under Section 195 (4) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, for families temporarily
dispossessed of their homes. The room set aside for this purpose was, however, utilised for other
public health work.
Air Pollution.
The co-operation of the owners and occupiers of premises within the Borough to prevent unnecessary
pollution of the air is worthy of comment. Residents of St. John's Wood Terrace Ward continued