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ERADICATION OF BED BUGS.
The total number of Council houses found to be infested with bugs
during the year was seven, while one other house was found to be infested.
These houses have all been disinfected.
The work is carried out usually by the Public Health or Surveyor's
Departments, various methods being adopted according to the degree
of infestation. In most cases all mouldings, skirtings, picture rails and
other wooden fixtures, such as cupboards, are removed, and all surfaces
and crevices are treated with the blow lamp, or are sprayed with an
insecticide, after which the rooms affected are treated by fumigation
with sulphur.
Further similar treatment is carried out 10 days or so after the
first disinfestation.
Occupiers sometimes complain of the appearance of isolated bugs
and are allowed liquid insecticide with a spray for use if the necessity
arises. The co-operation of the tenant is an important factor in the
final disappearance of the vermin.
Special fumigants have been tried, but the most effective methods
are those set out above.
On a few occasions the work was carried out by a Firm of Contractors
who used their own materials, which did not include hydrogen
cyanide gas, but the result was not a marked success, it being found
necessary to spray with insecticide on several occasions after the Contractors
had completed their work.
The homes of applicants for Council houses are inspected with a
view to obtaining some knowledge as to their suitability as tenants,
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