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16
nuisances, might also become rat harbourages. On the other hand, some
accumulations, unsightly though they may be and of which removal on
general grounds may be so desirable, frequently cannot be dealt with
under the nuisance sections of the Public Health Act, but as rat breeding
grounds they can be removed. Similarly, the keeping of poultry or
collection of food waste for pigs may give rise to such nuisances as need
to be dealt with by the sanitary inspector, while, in addition, these
conditions encourage rats. Again, one of the first lines of investigation
of rodent-infested premises is ar, inspection of the drainage system.
Because then of the closeness of this association, it was decided that the
administration of this work should be brought into line with the routine
duties of the sanitary inspectors.
On receipt of a complaint of rat infestation then, the first enquiries
are made by the inspector who refers the case if need be to the rodent
officer if any work of extermination needs to be undertaken. It is
impossible at this stage to judge what number of operatives ultimately
will be required. These additional duties on the sanitary inspectors
undoubtedly will necessitate an increase in their numbers.
Apart from difficulties in staffing, the assumption of these duties is
made more onerous today for reasons arising out of war conditions,
There are far more people keeping poultry in their back gardens. Of
these, even those who know what is necessary in the way of rat-proofing
the runs find difficulty in undertaking this because of shortage of material.
Another factor increasing rat infestation in the area is the keeping of pigs
by numbers of clubs, and the salvaging of waste food for pig feeding.
Apart from domestic infestations though, there are collections of rats in
other sites. Reference has already been made to the classification of the
two tipping grounds as major infestations, understanding by this that
here rats breed and multiply so that these areas act as sources of infestation
for other parts. A partial inspection of the sewers showed that
while those in the more recently developed parts of the district are
apparently free, the sewers in the older established part of the area are
infested. Again, water courses are infested, even those where the source
need not be assumed to be the surface water sewers. The present teaching
is that the line of approach is first to destroy those sources of major
infestation, and then continue to the individual instances. The reverse
procedure, while it might result in the freeing of premises from infestation,
effects this only temporarily as, as long as the reservoirs are alive,
infestation must shortly recur.
Inspection of other premises.
These premises include those at which nuisances might be anticipated
and to which 857 visits were paid.
Another group of premises which are the subject of periodical
inspection and to which 531 visits were paid consisted mainly of public
and private conveniences and air raid shelters.
Smoke Abatement.
Thirteen observations for smoke nuisances have been carried out,
but on only four occasions was smoke observed. During the 130 minutes
observations, no dense smoke was recorded, but 40 minutes of moderate
smoke.