[Report 1934] / Medical Officer of Health, Dunbarton County Council.

  • Dumbartonshire (Scotland). County Council.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1934] / Medical Officer of Health, Dunbarton County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by a trained man, is being used at the various refuse coups of the County Council. Within the Eastern area a trap known as “ The Pied Piper ” has, during the past year, been employed with gratifying results. After setting for two nights only, the destruction of 43 rats at a coup was effected. Experience of the efficiency or otherwise of this trap at a stable is meantime being gained, and results appear to be satisfactory. In the event of further trials and experience, under varying conditions proving the efficacy of this trap, Consideration may be given to the advisability of hiring out the apparatus at a small fee, to farmers and others. Reports from the districts indicate that although large “ kills ” were not made, the co-operation of the public was secured to a greater extent than formerly, that there are no premises in the area which may be termed “ infested,” and that the rat population is decreasing, largely in consequence of the Continual vigilance of the Department, and the pro- paganda connected with the yearly “ Rat Week.” B. HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING. The importance of housing in relation to health has become more and more obvious during the last decade. This is specially noticeable if reference is made to previous Annual Reports. In the year 1921 no special notice was taken of housing conditions, but through the following yearly Reports the subject is dealt with in steadily increasing detail and last year the Report gave an indication that the end of the slum- clearance schemes was in view. There are, of course, the larger areas such as Alexandria, Bonhill and Renton which still require the building of houses to replace unfit ones. The Committee, however, has agreed to supply these, and it is merely a question of time before the slums are completely wiped out.