View report page

14
Brentford and Chiswick, or in Richmond and Barnes, according to the
wind direction and weather conditions prevailing at any particular
time. Fortunately, the prevailing wind is from the South West so that
usually smells are dissipated over the River and there is the advantage
of the longer distance between the works and the dwellings and the
natural turbulance of air currents along this stretch of the River
Thames. When the wind direction changes, especially when it is
from the North West, such odours as emanate from the works tend
to be held near ground level and cause complaints. The Board is
actively pursuing the question of remedies but it should be realised
that any departure from the natural processes of purification adds
greatly to the cost of the treatment.
VERMINOUS PREMISES ETC.
Rodent Control.
The routine treament of the sewers, on a six monthly basis, was
continued, using warfarin bait. The number of takes was negligible.
It can now be said that the sewerage system is virtually free from rats
and that only check treatments will be necessary in future.
Complaints of surface rat infestations were again a reduction on
previous years, on average, only one or two a week being reported and
these were often concerned with one stray rat.
This is indeed a satisfactory state of affairs especially as the time
of the General Assistants is being increasingly taken up with other
duties.
Pigeons.
The question of instituting a service for the eradication of wild
(Feral) pigeons, where they have been found a nuisance, was considered
by the Public Health Committee. However, in view of the
many difficulties involved in operating successful methods of destruction,
involving the use of narcotic baits, it was decided not to provide
such a service at the present time. Public reaction to the spectacle of
pigeons, squirrels etc. being destroyed is likely to be so varied that the
application of modern techniques, however, painless, is likely to be
severely restricted.
Other Pests.
As will be seen from Table 17, many types of domestic pests
were dealt with including a large number of wasps nests. This service
was provided without charge. To deal effectively with a wasps nest
often involves work on the structure of a building which we cannot
undertake. Wasps are no more of a public health problem than are