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52
in the extermination of rats during Rat Week. He found
in many instances that rats are regularly dealt with at
these premises throughout the year. In some cases a
man's time is fully occupied, and in other cases professional
rat-catchers periodically call at the request of the
firms whenever any rats are seen. On enquiry at a large
warehouse on the riverside during the Rat Week in
January, 1920, it was found to be overrun with rats. At
these premises a large quantity of horse fodder is stored,
but as a result of our action in January the occupiers
were stimulated to deal systematically with the rats,
and as a result the premises are now practically clear.
In the week previous to Rat Week an advertisement was
inserted in the local Press. It pointed out the obligations
on the occupiers of premises with respect to the destruction
of rats, and also invited any complaints relative to
negligence. Inspector Shaw finds that people now appreciate
that they are responsible for rat destruction on their
premises, and this possibly accounts for the fact that
during the week only 11 complaints were received with
respect to rats on premises, as compared with 45 in January
last. While investigating these cases, it was found
that 14 adjacent premises were involved. It is interesting
that complaints are now only made when it is believed
there are a large number of rats.
In addition to the advertisement, a bill prepared by
the Medical Officer of Health, giving instructions relative
to the destruction of rats, was distributed throughout
the Borough. The chemists in the Borough were furnished
with the prescriptions issued by the Ministry of Agriculture
for the manufacture of rat poison, and the bills
stated that the poison could be obtained from the local
chemists. An inquiry has been made of various chemists,
and it has been found that proprietary poisons are preferred,
and we have not been able to find any chemist who