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Council houses to improve in this respect. In general, Council
houses were disinfested by means of heavy naphtha which proved
consistently satisfactory.
The Council may remember that much of the initial work in
connection with the method of disinfestation by means of heavy
naphtha, was carried out in Enfield, and I have reason to believe
that the successful results we have achieved have increased its use
throughout the country.
The procedure in the use of Heavy Naphtha is easy. The rooms,
having been draped with tennis cloth, are brought up to as high a
temperature as possible by the use of Primus stoves and partially
sealed; the Primus stoves are removed, and the rooms sprayed. A
similar procedure, except that blankets instead of tennis cloth are
used, is adopted for the loft. The rooms and house are sealed and
left for twenty-four hours.
We have not found it necessary to use the more newly suggested
method whereby tennis cloth is hung throughout the premises on
frames specially erected for the purpose, nor to intensify the concentration
of heavy naphtha by means of a delayed action spray.
Heavy Naphtha can be used in houses that contain furniture
and/or bedding, but it is essential that the house should remain
unoccupied for two days whilst the process is being carried out.
For this reason it is not easy to obtain permission for its use in
occupied premises, and in these cases resort has had to be made to
spray methods, chiefly the use of Pyagra. This has achieved such
success as can be expected, under the circumstances, of its employment.
Name of Fumigant and/or Insecticide used.
Sulphur Dioxide as a detector, followed by the use of Heavy
Naphtha.
Pyagra.
Zaldecide.
A small charge is made by the Council where disinfestation of
empty Non-Council houses is carried out for the owners.
(3) The methods employed for ensuring that the belongings
of tenants are free from vermin before removal to Council
houses.
No routine has yet been adopted in this connection. In a few
cases the belongings have been disinfested in the Heavy Naphtha
van.