View report page

22
Adulteration.
The Kent County Sampling Officers took 108 samples of various foods and
drugs in this district.
Included in the total were 29 samples of milk, 20 drugs and 10 of spirits.
One sample of salad cream and one of tincture of quinine were reported to
be of inferior quality, but further samples in these cases proved to be satisfactory.
Your Inspectors obtained 42 informal samples of milk, the Analyst reporting
all samples to be genuine.
Factories Act, 1937.
Visits paid to factories totalled 155 and in addition to verbal intimations
regarding small defects, 20 written notices were served and complied with. These
dealt mainly with minor defects.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 and Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
Complaints numbering 318 were received from all parts of the district and
investigated. In no case was a major infestation discovered and there is no doubt
that the employment of a rodent operative during recent years has resulted in a
decrease in the number of rodents in the district. Rats are such prolific breeders,
however, that constant action against them is necessary.
In several cases defective drains and sewers were the cause of rat infestation
and the keeping of animals contributed to the number of infestations. When
considered necessary the drains of premises were tested with smoke and colour and
all defects found made good.
The foul-water sewers were treated during June and December, pre-bait
and poisoned bait being laid in the manholes and side entrances.
In June 314 manholes were bailed and pre-bait takes recorded in 108. The
figures for December were 316 manholes baited and pre-bait takes recorded in 141.
One full-time rodent operative is employed and the following is a summary
of the work carried out by him at premises in the district:—
Inspections and re-inspections made 2,785
Premises reported infested with rats 338
Premises treated for rats .. .. .381
Premises where rat poision bait taken 352
Premises re-treated for rats .. 326
Estimated number of rats poisoned 1,658
Number of rats trapped 16
Premises treated for mice 158
Premises re-treated for mice 86
It was necessary to treat some premises on three or more occasions and the
total treatments for the destruction of rodents numbered 951.