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DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
In spite of a continued drop in the number of reported instances of verminous
premises, there is a steady demand for the treatment of dwellings affected by a variety
of insects. By far the greater number of requests received were for the destruction
of wasps' nests, 166 in all. During the hot spells it is sometimes difficult to answer
all calls for assistance promptly. Often there is disappointment that the disinfectors
cannot undertake structural work to reveal the site of a wasps' nest or accept risks
in potentially dangerous situations. In the latter case the use of slow acting, long
lasting insecticides placed at a point remote from the nest often has the desired effect.
An irritating problem arose at the Sewage Disposal Works in May when swarms
of tiny harmless flies emanated from the clinker filter beds as these became disused
and, carried by the wind, invaded nearby houses. Luckily the fly had a short natural
life and this fact, together with the activities of the affected householders and the
concurrent complete drying out of the filter beds, soon abated the nuisance.
Terminal disinfection of rooms and contents after most infectious diseases is best
performed by the use of soap and water, fresh air and, if possible, sunshine. Where
sterner measures are deemed necessary, as in the case of serious infectious disease such
as smallpox, the premises are subjected to special disinfecting treatment.
Bathing facilities are provided at the Disinfecting Station for the cleansing of
verminous persons. In the case of females, treatment is carried out under the supervision
of a woman attendant specially employed for the purpose. During the year,
two persons were treated.
The department maintains a high pressure boiler with vaccum producing and
hot air apparatus for the disinfection and disinfestation of clothing, linen and other
articles. Library books, fabrics and other articles liable to damage by steam are
treated by formalin spray in the disinfecting chamber. Four hundred and sixty-three
articles were treated; a large number of these were, in fact, parcels of used clothing
for despatch abroad to those countries which require a certificate that this treatment
has been carried out.
In March the Council agreed to undertake the disinfection of library books and
parcels of clothing for abroad on behalf of the Hendon Borough Council, payment being
by way of an annual lump sum. In addition, other articles are dealt with on a time
and materials basis of charge. The service commenced on the 1st April.
A charge is made for disinfection and disinfestation with the exception of terminal
disinfection carried out after a notifiable disease and the cleansing of verminous persons.
Statistical table—see page 87.
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