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36
Eradication of Bed Bugs.
''During the year under review, it has been necessary to deal
with nineteen eases where vermin infestation has been found.
"The methods at present being utilised, by the Department
are:—
(a) Cymex Candle Treatment. (Three cases have been dealt
with under this heading.)
(b) Bono Spray. (Sixteen cases have been dealt with by
this method, as the extent of infestation was not so extensive as
the three cases referred to above).
Welfare Work.
"Previous reports have suggested the need tor instituting an
extension of social service, and in July, 1937, the Council appointed
a woman Welfare and Social Worker, primarily for the benefit of
the Council's Housing Estates.
"The need for such service has been obvious for many years, and
there is no doubt- whatever, that the engagement has proved a real
service, not only to the tenants in particular but the Town in
general.
"Innumerable requests are received from tenants for the Social
Worker to call, and many and varied are the subjects discussed. I
have reason to consider that the Welfare Worker has been welcomed
in almost every house at which she has called and certainly this is
the case after the second call .
"It is part of the duties of the Social Worker to visit all
prospective tenants and to inspect their houses and effects. In
instances where vermin is found, advice is given on the best methods
for the housewife to adopt in order to rid herself of these pests,
and at the same time careful notes are made of all rooms or articles
infested.
"When a Council House is allotted to a family, the Social Worker
again visits—even if in the first instance the present house has been
accounted clean and free from vermin—and reinspects the furniture.
All articles noted as vermin infested at the first visit, and
any others which have also become infested, or are merely suspect,
must be disinfested. Articles unlikely to benefit by this treatment
are recommended for incineration. The Social Worker draws up a
list, agreed upon by the tenant, to have the selected articles disinfested,
or where necessary destroyed. The latter precaution is
taken in order to prevent a further spreading of the vermin to
other houses by disposal of the infested furniture in the open
market.