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50
RODENT CONTROL
(Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949).
Throughout the year there were only 153 complaints of rodent infestations
in private dwellings and 45 complaints from commercial premises. This
gradual reduction in the number of complaints throughout the year is conclusive
evidence that work of sealing off all disused drains carried out
efficiently and effectively is a handsome insurance against rodent infestations
in the future. Again one must report that surface infestations in the
Shoreditch area have never been so low. The rat populations in the sewer also
are at a minimum.
There has been no evidence over the last year of the black rat in
Shoreditch and surface infestations of the brown rat have been few and far
between. So far as sewer treatments are concerned it is considered that the
"residual population" is as low as one can achieve using the present poison
bait, Warfarin. Some thought has been given as to how this residual population
of rats in the sewers can be further reduced, and on the Ministry's
recommendation plans are formulated to carry sewer treatment in 1962 using
1081 (Sodium Fluoracetate).
Whilst the Ministry recommends direct poisoning with 1081 four times per
year with a test bait to be laid immediately before the last application, it
has been agreed with the Ministry that because of the low infestation of rats
in the sewers in Shoreditch three direot poisonings may be made. It will,
however, be necessary to bait 100% manholes during the year, and the result
of the test baiting at the end of the last treatment will provide evidence as
to the number of manholes to be treated in the following year.
From the excellent results observed by the use of 1081 in neighbouring
local authorities it is confidently hoped that the residual population of
rats will be even further reduced in the years to come.
The effective sealing of all disused drains as demolition takes place
has continued in the Borough as usual, and has received assiduous attention
as this is considered to be one of the most important functions of the Public
Health Inspector working in close harmony with the rodent control officer as
an insurance against the multiplication of rats in the sewers together with
the resultant surface infestations.
The relatively complete absence of surface infestations throughout the
year is direct evidence that every effort made and all the time taken to
ensure the effective sealing of disused drains is very well worth while.
The mouse continues to be the villain of the piece in so far as
factories and offices are concerned but the local authority contract scheme
continues to be the most effective method of dealing with this problem. At
the end of the year contracts were operative in respect of 74 premises
yielding an annual income of £1,713. 37 single treatments were carried out
amounting to £265.
The employment of mechanical means for lifting manhole covers has
proved to be entirely successful and the consequent reduction in labour costs
for this work has been 50% with only an expenditure of £60 for equipment.