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own separate homes, present domestic problems which in many
cases have far reaching effects on family health and welfare.
Much important action is recorded in the endeavour to protect
the food supply and the circumstances under which food is
handled and processed. Constant attention has been given to
the cleanliness of milk under the Special Designations Orders. In
February, 1946, the Ministry of Health drew attention to the
need of examining occasional samples of milk for the presence of
hypochlorites. The use of hypochlorites has been permitted and
controlled by regulation, and sodium hypochlorite, though not
harmful in itself, rapidly destroys the Vitamin C in milk, thereby
reducing its nutritive value. This special examination need
only be made occasionally, and our routine now is always to
make the test on the installation of new washing plant and otherwise
at regular intervals. Examinations were made in April,
1946, all with negative results.
The practice of fortnightly sampling of the public water
supplies was continued and the results passed to the respective
Water Companies, while also the Water Companies submitted
periodically their results. The water supply remained
bacteriologically satisfactory and sufficient in quantity. There
are no inhabited premises known to be without an internal water
supply.
An intensive campaign to eradicate rats from the Corporation
sewers was commenced on the 7th August and brought to a
successful conclusion on the 8th December. The work was performed
by 10 Italian co-operators accompanied by 4 men recruited
as casual employees, the whole team being directly supervised by
Mr. Kluth, Sanitary Inspector. The recommendation of the
Ministry of Food was strictly adhered to and the results were
very satisfactory. There are 3,320 soil sewer manholes throughout
the Borough. Of these it was found impracticable to bait 206
owing to lack of benching, temporary flooding, 'etc. 3,114 manholes
therefore received a first treatment revealing the further
necessity of poison baiting in 658. The estimated number of rats
killed was 4,361. A second treatment after an interval of three
weeks was given as circumstances revealed necessary, and a
further 713 rats are estimated to have been poisoned. The
number of visits to manholes for the purpose of loosening, baiting,
inspecting results in the campaign was 23,159.
The work of rat destruction throughout the Borough is
detailed in the appendix.
G. As the Report for 1944 was compiled just at the end of
hostilities in Europe opportunity was taken then to refer with
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