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Verminous Persons and their Belongings.
The department has under consideration the possibility of using naphtha
in routine disinfestation work. Experiments are still being carried out and
carefully watched with a view of determining the relative value of this process
of disinfestation. It is hoped that in the near future that naphtha disinfestation
will be given a trial and from reports that have already been received it will be
safer and more economical to do the disinfestation by heavy naphtha than the
method already adopted by this authority which is disinfestation by HCN gas.
Eradication of Bed Bugs.
Statistics for the year:—
(a) Number of Council houses
(1) found to be infested 15
(2) disinfested during the year 15
(b) Number of other houses
(1) found to be infested 18
(2) disinfested during the year ... 18
Methods employed for Disinfestation.
For houses it is considered that fumigation by hydrocyanic acid gas is
the only really effective method of dealing with the serious degrees of infestation.
With slighter degrees of infestation general cleanliness only may be sufficient,
but in any case which comes to the knowledge of the department some form of
spray with insecticide is used. HCN gas for use in the ordinary concentration
of 1½- to 2 per cent. for six hours will penetrate the egg capsule and kill the
germ inside. HCN gas is extremely poisonous to all animals including man, so
great care has to be exercised in the management of this gas. When HCN gas
is used in a house all the furniture excepting bedding is allowed to remain inside
the house. The bedding is removed to the Isolation Hospital and disinfested
by steam. This is in order to avoid any localised accumulation of gas in the
bedding.
Disinfestation by Insecticide.
Disinfestation by spray is carried out by the Health Department at a
charge of 5/- per room. The owner or occupier is required to loosen the picture
rails, skirting and architraves and after the room has been thoroughly sprayed
with this insecticide they are inserted at the expiration of 24 hours.
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