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93
50. CLEANSING AND DISINFECTION OF VERMINOUS
PERSONS.
In Barking there is no particular station which is known as
the Cleansing and Disinfecting Station, but at the Central Clinic
there is a small steam disinfector, in which the clothing of children
is disinfested, and, to make security double sure, blankets, etc.,
which are returned to us from the summer camps, are disinfected
in the large steam disinfector at Upney Hospital.
With these facilities available we could undertake the disinfestation
and/or disinfection of any person. The Council are
willing to do so on request and a public notice to this effect has
been posted.
The disinfection of premises is carried out by routine.
Where any serious verminous condition of premises is found
as a result of inspection or complaint, the Authority arrange for
the most effective disinfestation to be carried out, and for this
purpose any fitments in the room which might provide habitat for
the vermin are removed and the room sprayed with a suitable
vermicide.
In many of the old houses which have become seriously
infested it is entirely impossible to disinfest the premises so as to
remove all vermin.
51. RATS.
Owing to an unfortunate smallpox epidemic which was prevalent
during Rat Week we were unable to undertake any special
activities in this regard.
However, the general public, as a result of propaganda over a
number of years, are now very much alive to the fact that the
presence of rats should forthwith be reported to this department,
so that we are now throughout the whole of the year dealing, when
occasion arises, with this pest.