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Disinfestatlon.
Visits paid re vermin or suspicion of—
For bed bugs 120
For other vermin 176
296
Verminous premises disinfested—For bugs 47
For other vermin 33
80
Council houses disinfested 39
(method employed: liquid insecticides)
Verminous articles destroyed 3
Some time before D-Day it was expected that, the Empire
Pool might be required for war refugees, and anxiety was felt
regarding the possibility of introduction of insect spread disease
(typhus fever especially, perhaps). Accordingly preparations
were made to provide means of disinfestation of clothing and
bedding on a large scale. The demand seemed likely to be too
heavy for the Council's normal disinfestation services, so a mobile
field apparatus (Millbank Disinfestor) was installed near the
premises, and the Council's sanitary inspectors gave intensive instruction
on the problem and the working of this special apparatus.
In fact, this special war demand did not materialise, but
as a result of damage by flying-bombs in London and around, the
building was utilised for the reception of operatives drafted to
the London area to assist in war damage repairs. The sanitary
inspectors instructed a team of workers in the use of the apparatus,
and its routine use did much to prevent any spread of
accidental infestation. At one time some ,12,000 sets of bedclothing
were treated every five days, this large number being
necessary because of the constant daily change of personnel.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
As from the 1st February, 1944, duties under this Act were
delegated by the Middlesex County Council to the Borough
Council. Information regarding infestation may be obtained
from complaint to the Public Health Department, or revealed in
the sanitary inspectors' visits in their districts to premises or
factories or waste dumps or lands, etc. Two rodent control
assistants work under the direction of the district inspectors in
their areas, each inspector being responsible to the Chief Sanitary
Inspector for rodent infestation work and control. A real preventive
attitude in the campaign against rat and mice infestation
is adopted, largely on the advice of the Infestation Department
of the Ministry of Food. Mere alleviation of infestation
is not considered enough, actual elimination of all rats and all
mice is the aim, and is largely achieved. At the present time
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