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In this Circular, the Ministry stated that they were prepared
to make a grant of 60 per cent. of the cost of rodent control at private
dwellings, where certain conditions of operation were observed.
The Council agreed to participate in this scheme, and a detailed
plan for the systematic treatment of the entire district, using the
poisoning and baiting methods recommended by the Ministry, was
immediately submitted to them for approval.
The Council's proposals were accepted by the Ministry, and the
treatment which commenced in October, was carried out by operators
in teams of two, under the supervision of selected sanitary inspectors.
The Borough was divided into small workable areas, which
could be covered in the period of a week; a full week being necessary
for pre-baiting, poison baiting, and the reading of poison baits.
All types of premises were treated—private dwellings, shops and
factories—but in the case of business premises, a charge was made.
Operation.
Before treatment was commenced in any area, a letter-questionnaire
was delivered to the houses. This was collected two days after delivery,
and any necessary treatment commenced the following week. In this way
the campaign was based on actual information provided. The "points"
baited included drains or sewers serving the houses (this being distinct
from the main sewers in the roadways), and is known as block control. A
maintenance treatment of the public sewers was also carried out in conjunction
with the block control system.
Results.
The area covered up to the end of the year commenced with the London,
Midland and Scottish Railway at South Tottenham, and extended northwards
as far as the Edmonton boundary and eastwards from the High Road
to the London and North Eastern Railway. From thence southwards to
Lordship Lane and bounded on the east by the High Road, and on the west
progressively by the Council's Housing Estate, Tottenham Cemetery and
Bruce Castle Park. In this area, a total of 7,398 houses were circularised,
and rats were indicated in 1,002 instances.