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Housing
The housing situation is steadily improving, and the Council have in view the erection of
another large estate.
As before, I have pursued throughout the year the policy I commenced last year of dealing
with the representation and demolition of unfit houses as single individual units, and not under
any clearance or improvement area.
One of the things which are causing anxiety is the steps that must be taken to ensure that
families entering Council houses from verminous property do not transfer the vermin with them.
In dealing with this problem, it must be borne in mind that for the vast majority of those
who live in verminous houses, the fault is not theirs. They have been forced by circumstances to
inhabit houses which were already verminous by reason of the financial burden of more expensive
or newer property.
EXTERMINATION OF VERMIN.
The disinfesting of dwelling-houses for the extermination of the bed bug (cimex lectularius)
has received attention by the Department during the year and from the demands made on our
services, it would appear that this is likely to become a prominent feature of the work of a Public
Health Department. The problem of the verminous house is generally providing a basis for
considerable scientific research into the best and most practical means for securing positive results,
having regard to safety in use.
120 inhabited rooms were disinfested during the period of the report. In addition, 56
entire houses were disinfested prior to being demolished.
Tenants who previously accepted bugs as part and parcel of their habitation are now taking
a more enlightened outlook in the matter and to a greater extent are realising the possibilities of
getting rid of their unwelcome company, hence the call for greater service from the Department.
Owners and Agents are becoming equally concerned in the problem of exterminating bugs and
now voluntarily seek the aid of the Department to disinfest property under their control.
The rule has become established that before any assistance is given, steps must be taken
to strip all papers from the walls and ease away or remove from their attachments, all skirting
boards, architraves, picture rails and other woodwork. Except in special circumstances (chiefly
for pecuniary reasons), a small charge is made to cover the actual cost of labour and material.
Spraying with a well-known insecticide with comparatively low volatile properties has been
the principal medium used and has proved by results to be the most suitable from the point of
view of efficiency, safety and cost. It has been found in practice that the specious guarantees
put forward by interested parties of total elimination in one application have, with the exception
of "Hydrogen Cyanide", proved rather a myth owing to the difficulties attendant in rendering
sterile the eggs and attacking the vermin secreted in deep cracks and pockets. To overcome this
feature of the bed bug, resort has been had to a process of following up the infestation and
spraying at intervals over a stated period. In most cases, this consists of three applications over
a period of twenty-one days during the summer months. In certain cases it has been found
necessary to continue the applications for a longer period. Fumigation, which necessitates the
effectual sealing of the rooms and putting the rooms out of use for an excessive time can, on the
grounds of cost, onlv be considered a factor if one application will prove effective. Results so
far have not proved this to be the case.
The disinfestation of personal clothing, bedding, etc., has received consideration for the
purpose of finding a medium other than " Hydrogen Cyanide" or steam, to ensure greater safety
and less risk of damage to the articles, but so far without any measure of success.
In dealing with inhabited houses, there are several points which must be considered in
using an insecticide—
1. It must have a lethal effect upon vermin, but at the same time be harmless to human
beings and domestic animals, provided reasonable and simple precautions are taken.
2. It should not have any damaging effect upon the contents of the room.
3. It should possess considerable penetrating properties.
4. It should be relatively low in cost.
5. It should be easy of application and not require the engagement of specially trained
staff.
6. It should be possible to carry out the process of disinfestation and the subsequent
ventilation of the premises during the normal hours of daylight so that the bedrooms
can be used again the same night.
The ideal insecticide, capable of fulfilling all the above requirements is still to be produced.
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