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The complaints received during the year are classified in the table below and they
reflect a pattern similar to that of previous years.
Nature of Complaint. Number Received
Housing Defects 332
Choked and defective drains and sewers 567
Defective water closets 83
Accumulations of offensive matter 75
Unsound food 87
Verminous and other Infested premises:
(a) Bugs 16
(b) Rats and Mice 1360
(c) Wasps 3
(d) Fleas 27
(e) Others 86
Keeping of Animals 18
Nuisance from Pigeons 9
Smoke Nuisances 78
Noise Nuisances 31
Fumigation of Rooms following Infectious Diseases 7
Miscellaneous 208
Total 2987
Every effort is made by inspectors to carry out their work through informal action,
and to seek co-operation by interview and letter; in certain cases recourse to statutory
proceedings is unavoidable, and a summary of notices served during the year is given
below:—
Subject of Notice. Public Health Act. Food and Drugs Act.
Number of Informal Notices served 330 26
Number of Informal Notices complied with 245 5
Number of Statutory Notices served 78 —
Number of Statutory Notices complied with 47 —
6. DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
Disinfection of premises and articles after infectious disease is carried out at the
expense of the Local Authority and in cases other than after infectious disease at the
cost of the individual.
Disinfestation of premises for the eradication of bed bugs, fleas, etc. is carried out
and the cost charged to the individual.
There is no provision for the destruction of wasps, ants, cockroaches, beetles and
ether insects whose treatment requires a specialist service.
By arrangement, all persons suffering from scabies or infested with lice are sent
to the Hammersmith Medicinal Baths for treatment. During the year 16 persons
suffering from scabies, and 5 persons infested with lice were treated compared with 1
and 3 respectively for the previous year.
Disinfestation treatments were carried out at 44 premises during the year and
costs amounting to, £54 1s. 0d. were recovered.
7. PEST CONTROL
The rodent control staff have continued to do much useful work in eradicating
rats and mice from premises.
No. of complaints received 1,360
No. of infestations found 901
Total number of visits 6,206
The treatment of foul sewers in the Richmond town area was carried out in May
and November. The anti-coagulent, "Warfarin", was used and baiting was concentrated
in those areas known to be infested.
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