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RAT REPRESSION
In 1945 the Beckenham Council instituted an organised free
service to assist householders in the extermination of rats and mice.
At the same time there was introduced a scheme for business
premises, but a charge was, and is, made for the service provided.
These schemes necessitated the appointment of two whole-time
employees. The cost of the employment of the "private dwelling s"
operator was to be borne entirely by the Council, and that of the
"business premises" operator to be recovered, partly by the charges
made, and partly by grant from the Ministry of Food. At a later
date the "private dwellings" staff was increased to two, mainly to
comply with grant requirements of the Ministry of Food, arising from
the general private dwellings scheme which that Ministry wished to
be instituted. Further reference will be made to this matter later
in the report.
In order properly to appreciate the better position created by
the operation of the present schemes-, we must fully understand the
circumstances existing before their inception, and the real nature
of the problem which caused these circumstances; and, in addition,
the various difficulties of procedure, which were then found to
provide an insurmountable barrier to any effort to control the
vermin.
In one respect the Borough has, so far, been fortunate. Infestation
is confined, so far as rats are concerned, to one specie—the
common Brown or Sewer rat. Fairly near neighbours in the
Metropolis have, in addition, moderate infestations of Black rat,
whilst, in Central London, this latter specie predominates. Of the
two, Black rat lives in closer relation to mankind, and for that
reason must be considered more dangerous as a menace to health.
Regard must be paid to the rapid breeding of the vermin. The
period of gestation is twenty-one days, each litter may number up
to fifteen, and one female will produce from six to nine litters in
a year. At the age of three months the rat is sexually mature. All
the young do not survive. Rats are cannibalistic, and the size to
which a colony will grow depends largely on the food supply and
harbourage facilities readily available.
It may be apparent from these few brief facts that apathetic,
unskilled, and unorganised control, which results only in creaming
the surface of an infestation, will assist the continued existence of a
colony.
The complete extermination of rats causing an infestation is
therefore essential.
All rats must be regarded as a potential danger to health, and
it is suggested that the responsible public health administrat or
should have this aspect uppermost in mind. The conservation of
food is of great importance, and even if we in Beckenham cannot
agree that, locally, this aspect is of supreme importance, we need not
have any doubt that considerable damage is done to food stocks in
more vulnerable areas ; but, in any case, the knowledge of undesirable
conditions indicated and produced by the presence of the rat is
alone sufficient to justify proper remedial action.
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