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130
APPENDIX Q.
Submitted to the Health Committee on December 10th, 1935.
MEMORANDUM BY MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
Disinfestation of Privately Owned Houses.

From the foregoing figures it would appear that it may be necessary to deal with some 400
tenements per annum or approximately 1,000 rooms. The ocular evidence of the inspectors would
make it appear that in approximately 70 percent. of cases only the rooms are infested, vermin not having
been seen in the bedding or furniture at the time of the inspector's visit. It is, however, rather difficult
to reconcile this evidence with the known habits of the bed bug and for that reason it would appear
likely that in practically all cases the bedding will require to be disinfected and the rooms and furniture
disinfested.
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
Bedding.—The bedding would be removed to the Municipal Hospital for steam disinfection.
Rooms and Furniture.—The disinfestation of rooms is by Section 46 of the Public Health Act
1925, the responsibility of the landlord where the landlord is responsible for the repairs. The disinfestation
of the furniture and bedding is by Section 45 of the Public Health Act 1925, a responsibility
which the Council are empowered to assume. (N.B. Sees. 45 and 46 of the P.H.A. 1925 are appended
hereto).
In order that there should be thorough disinfestation of the rooms and furniture, it is necessary
that the local authority, the landlord and the tenant should act in co-operation, and the consents of
the parties concerned would therefore require to be obtained in connection with any assistance that
the local authority may determine to offer to them. In respect of the disinfestation of rooms it is
suggested that a fee of 5s. per room be payable by the landlord to the local authority should he agree
to their doing the work outlined in this report.
It would appear to be practicable to disinfest the rooms and the furniture in situ by the use of
ortho-dichlor benzene and the various stages in the process are outlined as follows:—
First Day.—Landlord to strip the paper from the walls and to remove or loosen the woodwork
on the walls or other wooden fixtures in the rooms.
Second Day.—8 a.m. Bedding to be removed for steam disinfection at the Municipal Hospital
8 a.m.-10 a.m. Rooms sprayed and sealed by Council until the following morning.
Third Day.—8 a.m.-l p.m. Rooms opened up by Council and thoroughly aired. 1 p.m.
Bedding returned and tenants re-enter the rooms.
After a lapse of ten days it may be necessary, if bugs reappear, to repeat the process of disinfestation
as on the second day. If no bugs are seen within the ten days the landlord would then
proceed to refix the woodwork and distemper.
* Estimated from actual figures for 3 months ended September, 1935, namely 89 cases and
221 rooms.