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53
has made up the prescription except the one who prepared
the rat poison used by the Borough Council.
In connection with the arrangement with the Works'
Committee to plant during Rat Week 1,000 baits per
day in the Council sewers, 3,668 baits were laid throughout
the week in 68 sewer manholes in the areas where the
sewers are old and thereby likely to be infested with
rats. Two kinds of baits were used, some made of meal
and Barium, and others meal and Barium on bread, and
experience has shown that bread baits are the more
attractive. Careful records were made by Inspector
Shaw daily with regard to the number of baits that were
removed. It will be appreciated that there is difficulty
in ascertaining whether the bait is effective, in view of
the fact that the rats disappear and die in their nesting
holes (assumed to be on the sides of the sewers), the
sewer being used only as a means of communication. It
has been found that in the branch sewers which would
be practically dry during the night the largest number
of baits were taken, but on the main sewers, where there
is always a large volume of sewage, the results were
practically negative.
The following is the summary of results for each day:—
Monday (1st Nov.).—288 baits were laid in 12 manholes.
Tuesday (2nd Nov.).—202 of these baits had been
removed, and were replaced in the same manholes.
Also 792 baits were laid in an additional 33 manholes,
making a total of 45 manholes, with 1,080
baits remaining that evening.
Wednesday (3rd Nov.).—Of the 1,080 baits left, the
previous day, 392 had been taken and were rereplaced,
in addition to which 552 baits were laid
in a further 23 manholes, making a total of 68
manholes and 1,632 baits left.