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43
Eradication of Bed Bugs.—During the year 12 Council
houses and 73 other houses were found to be bug infested. All
of these were successfully disinfested.
The method employed for freeing infested Council houses
from bedbugs is by stripping the paper from the walls, removing
or loosening all woodwork, the application of a blow lamp to the
seats of infestation and spraying with a contact insecticide. In the
case of privately owned houses a notice is served on the owner or
occupier to do the necessary stripping of walls, etc., and the rooms
are then sprayed with a contact insecticide. Bedding from infested
rooms is treated at the Council's steam disinfector.
In all cases where there is the slightest suspicion of infestation
with bugs in the belongings of people about to remove to a Council
house disinfestation with hydrogen cyanide is carried out, this
work being done by a contractor. During the year the furniture
and belongings of ten families were treated by this method.
As regards Council houses, the Housing Department make
particular enquiries regarding possible infestation and take steps
to make a thorough inspection if infestation is suspected and adopt
remedial measures when infestation is confirmed. The tenants
are encouraged to report at once any suspected or actual infestation
so that remedial measures can be taken early. As regards other
houses the tenants are advised to inform the Public Health Department
when there are any signs of re-infestation.
Nuisance from Noise.—Section 56 of the Middlesex County
Council Act, 1930, provides that a noise nuisance shall be liable to
be dealt with in accordance with the provisions relating to nuisances
of the Public Health Act, 1875, with the proviso that if the noise
is occasioned in the course of any trade, business or occupation it
shall be good defence that the best practicable means of preventing
or mitigating it, having regard to the cost, have been adopted.
Only one complaint of noise nuisance was received during
the year. This was found to be justified and after appropriate
action was taken the noise was reduced to a minimum.
Schools.—A thorough inspection of the sanitary arrangements
of all the public elementary schools and private schools is made at
least once a year by the Sanitary Inspectors, and on their report