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"I have found no certain cure for infestation; in fact, I would
go further and say there is no cure without the complete co-operation
of the tenants themselves. It is well known in housing circles that
even with the treatment of hydrocyanic acid gas, which is a very
serious weapon not only for the eradication of bed bugs but also
for human beings, a tenant can very quickly become infested again
unless constant attention to cleanliness is maintained. I am
definitely opposed to the use of this poisonous gas for eradication
purposes, even with the strictest supervision and care.
"An experiment has been made with a form of non-poisonous
gas which certainly has many advantages, but the experiment made
was not completely successful. This without question satisfied me
that it would eradicate the bug pest, but not the bug in embryo
in all cases. The experiment was carried out in an empty house,
and after treatment some of the eggs which the bugs had laid were
collected and placed in an incubator. These eggs hatched out,
but I am of opinion that subsequent death was caused not necessarily
by the gas treatment, but was more probably due to lack of nutrition
which was unobtainable in the incubator.
"A spray solution has proved reasonably satisfactory, but
here, again, constant application is necessary over a long period,
together with the co-operation of the tenant in constant scrubbing
with carbolic soap and water. It is rarely possible to obtain this
co-operation, and the Department, of course, is not staffed to
supervise this type of work.
"Only two really bad cases have come to my notice during the
year. One was treated with non-poisonous gas by diffusion in the
burning of a proprietary article. The other case was treated extensively
by means of a spray.
"Spray solution is more expensive than treatment by nonpoison
gas, but can be used with absolute safety even though tenants
arc living in the house during the whole of the period the spray is
in use. It is not recommended to use even non-poisonous gas unless
vacant possession is obtained.
"The application of a blow-lamp to eradicate vermin is also
a useful palliative, but here, again, the blow-lamp can only be
applied in accessible positions, whereas more often than not the
bug is in hiding in such positions as to make it impossible to apply
the blow-lamp flame. There is also to be considered the danger
of fire and the damage caused by removal and subsequent refixing
of woodwork after the flame has been applied.