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26
does arise between visits a telephone call is all that is needed
to obtain the services of an operator. The majority of those
whose premises, by nature of the business carried on, are prone
to infestation, have come into the scheme. The result is that a
very satisfactory and efficient service has gradually been built
up aimed at getting the co-operation of all concerned rather
than basing our course of action on the threat of proceedings
with consequent hostility of the public and the tendency to hide
infestations or to try and deal with them privately and individually.
This latter method is doomed to failure. It is generally
hopeless for one occupier to take active steps whilst his neighbour
remains quiescent. To inform and allow us to deal with
the trouble enables all the houses or buildings in the area to
be visited and dealt with, thereby making sure that the whole
area rather than a small part of an infestation is taken in hand.
The risk of reinfestation is thereby minimised.
The art of rat destruction is no longer one of simply obtaining
the services of a rat-catcher to lay poison haphazardly
and trust to luck or to hunt out a rat or two with a dog and
ferret. To deal successfully with an infestation an appreciation
of all the circumstances has first to be made such as the degree
and extent of infestation; the predisposing causes so that these
may be removed if possible; traces left such as smears,
holes and scrapes, runways, droppings, footmarks, gnawing
marks, etc., so that pre-baiting and poison baiting may be done
at the places where they are most likely to be taken. A further
important point is to find out whether or not the infestation is
connected with a sewer or drains. Prebaiting (non-poisonous)
is done at carefully selected points and continued daily or every
other day until it is being readily taken. Then the same bait but
this time containing poison is laid so that the rats readily eat
it and suffer the penalty. Special methods are needed in dealing
with infestations associated with poultry keeping, so often the
case, or places where domestic animals might gain access. The
experience and skill of the operative is tested in these circumstances
and, although occasionally the loss of a hen or two
occurs, this is very rare and can generally be attributed to circumstances
beyond the control of the worker. Besides private
and business premises, sewers throughout the area have to be
periodically test baited— a rather long and arduous procedure
—to make sure that they are not infested. Should any portions
show signs of rats these are dealt with by special methods.
Allotments, refuse tips, council depots, etc., are all given their
share of regular attention.
I hope I may be excused from going into some detail regarding
this section of public health administration, but the