Volume 1

Report of the Committee on Bed-Bug Infestation : 1935-1940.

Date:
1942
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee on Bed-Bug Infestation : 1935-1940. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the bionomics of the bug can only be considered complete when the sanitary officers can recognise the signs of the earliest stages of infestation. CONDITION OF INFESTED HOUSES In old property invaded by the bed-bug a serious degree of infestation is usually found, and this very often has been aggravated by the insanitary nature of the house, in which such grave faults as lack of light, deficiency in ventilation, cracked and crumbling plaster, and worn woodwork may exist. These contribute to the nuisance, by creating for the housewife an impossible task in cleansing. The bug readily finds shelter under these conditions. In spite of such difficulties, however, the industrious and cleanly tenant can overcome the bed-bug to the extent of maintaining a fairly reasonable degree of comfort and freedom from its attacks. Much help can be given to these _ willing ones by well-trained and sympathetic inspectors and health visitors. SYSTEM OF INSPECTION AND PREVENTION A complete: system of house-to-house inspection for vermin, in the areas most likely to be infested, would require a larger staff of trained inspectors and health visitors than most local authorities are prepared to support. Nevertheless, all sanitary inspectors should be so trained that, wherever their housing and other public health duties may lead them, they can readily observe the presence of the bed-bug and give advice and help. Only when they know where to detect the insect, and understand much of its life-history, will they find themselves sufficiently well-equipped to ensure good results from whichever method of extermination may be favoured. Their manner of approaching the backward and lazy tenants must be carefully cultivated. An officious attitude is bound to fail, whereas a sympathetic though firm handling of even the most careless tenants will ultimately in most cases gain their willing co-operation. Sanitary officers should also remember that the campaign of attrition will extend over a considerable period of days or even weeks. They will find that, as the standard of cleanliness rises, the number of bed-bugs steadily diminishes. Therefore, they should exercise patience and never forget that the task set the housewife is a severe one, which will also make a great demand on her energies. As the good results appear, the hope of final peace from the enemy usually calls forth a greater effort, and all the while the inspector must co-operate until the desired result is obtained. THE UNINHABITABLE HOUSE When houses are so hopelessly infested that they cannot be cleansed, it is time to consider their demolition. Such houses more often than not have many other defects which bring them into the category of the uninhabitable insanitary dwelling. An inspection of the houses while in process of demolition will readily prove the hopelessness of success from disinfestation, even by hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which is probably our most potent chemical weapon for killing vermin generally. The extent of the infestation in such cases can rarely be gauged by surface evidence. Nevertheless, many heavily infested houses can be successfully tackled by methods other than demolition. Having pointed out the distribution of the bed-bugs on beds, furniture, and in their other shelters, the inspector should instruct the tenant in what needs to be done, This usually amounts to an intensive “spring cleaning ’’, although the method is sound at any season of the year. THE METHOD Washing and scrubbing with soap and water wherever these cleansers can be applied is the simple prescription. Many, however, will find it difficult to
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