[Report 1938] / Medical Officer of Health, Rugby Borough.
- Rugby (England). Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1938
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1938] / Medical Officer of Health, Rugby Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
10/30 page 8
![(2) The methods employed for freeing houses from bugs have varied according to circumstances. Sulphur fumigation has been employed in unoccupied houses prior to demolition, allowing 51bs. of sulphur to every 1,000 cubic feet of air space, measures being taken against leakage and infiltration of air. The atmosphere in the houses was first humidifed and the treatment period 24 hours. For occupied houses, mouldings, architraves, etc., have to be eased off or removed from the walls and all surfaces cracks, etc., thoroughly sprayed with a vapourising vermicide of proprietry manufacture. (3) The methods emplo^^ed for ensuring that the be¬ longings of tenants are free from vermin before removal from Clearance Areas, etc., to Council Houses are as follows :— (i) All furniture and effects other than bedding are collected in removal vans owned by the Corporation and are taken to an open spot well removed from dwellings or other occupied buildings, and treated with HCN. After treatment, the vans are opened and well aired and the goods returned to their owners at the new houses, all soft furnishings being tested for the presence of HCN and given further airing as required. (ii) All bedding is removed separately and steam treated at the steam Disinfector, and after airing, returned as above. (4) Sulphur fumigation, spraying with a vapouring vermicide and steam treatment are carried out by the Corporation, but the HCN treatment is carried out by a Contractor. (5) Periodic visits of inspection are made to all houses occupied b}/ tenants from Clearance Areas, and enquiries made as to further infestations, and so far no single in¬ stance has been found. One instance of reinfestation of a privately owned house has occurred, but enquiries showed that rcinfestation had taken ])lace on account of some second-hand bedding having been purchased and later found to be infested. There have been a greater number of infestation by bed bugs reported this year, and as usual it was during the earlier warm spell that tlie majority of complaints were received. The methods referred to above proved effective in all cases, the only apparent failure being that previousl} explained.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30046233_0010.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
