Memorandum on the bed-bug and how to deal with it / Ministry of Health.

Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memorandum on the bed-bug and how to deal with it / Ministry of Health. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    be found where the upholstery is fastened to the framework, though there may be deeper penetration. Other common hiding-places are Backs of pictures, especially under the paper. The underside of seats of chairs, Crevices and cracks in chests-of-drawers, wardrobes and the like. Folds at the tops of curtains. Trunks and boxes which he undisturbed for some time. V.—SOURCES OF INFESTATION. The main sources of infestation and channels of distribution are :— (1) Removal of infested furniture, bedding, etc. from house to house. (2) Secondhand furniture, bedding, etc. (3) Migration of Bed-bugs from room to room or from house to house. (4) Firewood from infested premises. VI.—PREVENTION OF INFESTATION AND METHODS OF EXTERMINATION. In order to deal successfully with the Bed-bug problem it is essential that there should be close co-operation between the various departments and officers of the Local Authority, and that habits of cleanliness should be inculcated in tenants, without whose interest and active participation little can be done. The appropriate method of extermination will depend mainly on the degree of infestation and whether the premises are in occupa- tion or not. General cleanliness. Hixcellent results have been obtained by an organised system of cleaning and scrubbing carried out systematically with the active co-operation of the tenant. If, on inspection, Bed-bugs are found to be present a thorough spring-cleaning ’’ should be instituted. It is here that a sound knowledge of the habits of Bed-bugs is necessary. There are no agents more effective in destroying Bed-bugs than soap and water to which a little soda has been added. Some disinfectant such as cyllin may be used with advantage, but not in place of soap and water. Fabrics and upholstery should be well brushed and beaten to dislodge Bed-bugs and their eggs. The process should be carried out as far as possible by the tenants themselves. It must be explained and supervised and the 66