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No special exhibitions or lectures were given, but at its November
meeting the Public Health Committee considered the terms of the Circular
of the Ministry of Food dated 24th October, dealing with Dogs in Food
Shops, Restaurants, etc.
The terms of the Circular are rather remarkable in that the Minister
of Food stated that he agreed that dogs should not be allowed into food
shops, the taking of animals into shops being a most unhygienic practice,
yet he follows on by saying that he could not feel that he would have any
success if he tried to stop it by prohibitive regulations. The Minister
considered the problem might be better solved by voluntary action, and
therefore appealed to the public and the food trade to co-operate in keeping
dogs out of shops.
The Circular in its appendix sets out a form of notice for exhibition in
shops. The Council accepted the recommendation of the Medical Officer
of Health to provide and distribute such notices, which were distributed
by the Sanitary Inspectors. In travelling about the Borough one saw that
the notices were exhibited in the shops, and some multiple firms exhibited
those of their own design.
In considering the Circular one wonders if the Minister of Food
was really convinced that the taking of a dog into a food shop, etc., was
really unhygienic, for surely had he been he would have taken steps to
prohibit the practice.
No reference was made to the cat, which in many cases has not only
the freedom of the shop to run and jump about in, but the privilege of
sitting on the serving counter, sacks of food, etc. Surely the presence of
this animal can be most unhygienic, yet it has escaped criticism.
As the matter is now left to the co-operation of the public and the
shop keepers one feels satisfied that not every member of the public
considers taking their dog with them when shopping in food shops to be
unhygienic.
Rodent Control
The Council employ a rodent operator on a full time scale. The
infestations, although spread throughout the Borough, do not in any case
reach the proportions of major infestations. As is often the case, infestations
occur in or around chicken runs, and whereas rats are not always
found nesting in such runs, the presence of poultry attracts the rats from
surrounding gardens.
The poisons available are still very effective, but a new one was added
during the year to those previously used, and is known as "Warfarin".A
circular concerning this poison was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries in November, 1951, and describes it as a blood anti-coagulant
which, when ingested regularly in small doses over a period of time, induces
fatal hæmorrhage in rats. It is slow in action and death occurs on the
average after 5 to 8 days.
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