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108
Number of beds, mattresses, blankets, etc.,
treated in cyanide gas chambers 504
Number of articles disinfested by other
means 3,549
Number of van loads of furniture treated in
cyanide gas chambers 248
During the year the Council undertook at the request of the
Tottenham Borough Council the treatment by cyanide gas of the
furniture and effects of persons removing into housing accommodation
on the Council's estates. A total of 179 van loads (included
in the figure of 248 mentioned above) were dealt with under this
arrangement.
In addition, 66 van loads and 215 dustbins of verminous and
unwholesome articles were removed to the Disinfecting Station for
destruction.
The cyanide gas chambers were also used for the destruction
of weevil in seed beans and maggots in cummin seed.
The following additional work was also carried out at the
Disinfecting Station, namely:—
Disinfection of 498,413 items of clothing for export.
The depositing of rubbish on bombed sites has been a constantly
recurring nuisance, and removal by the staff of the Public
Health Department has often been necessary in order to avoid
danger to the health of the public. During 1950 the staff of the
Disinfecting Station removed 3 van loads, and 123 dustbins of
rubbish and 108 miscellaneous items from these sites, in those
cases where responsibility for the deposits could not be placed
upon the owners of the land or upon any other person.
RODENT CONTROL.
When I first took office, rat and mice infestation of premises
was dealt with under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919,
which came into operation on the 2nd January, 1920, and required
the destruction of rats and mice by occupiers of land and premises.
Local authorities had power in cases where they were of the opinion
that an occupier had failed to take the necessary action to serve
a notice requiring such steps to be taken and could, after 24 hours,
take such steps as were necessary and reasonably practicable for
the destruction of rats and mice and for the prevention of infestation
by them.
Local authorities were also empowered to give instructions as
to the most effective measures to be adopted for the destruction
of rats and mice. Accordingly, notices setting out the penalties