CO129-299 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [5-6] — Page 168

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Enclosure

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(ReαC 19 JUN 00

Sanitary Board Offices,

HongKong, 24th. April, 1900.

Experiments on Rat poisoning in Sewers;

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sir,

Please lay before the Board for their in-

formation,with a view to ascertain if they are desirous of

these experiments being further continued. I am of opinion

that no success can be expected for rats apparently do not

inhabit these, small glazed pipe sewers with their steep

grades and rapid flow, particularly when they get ample food

above ground. The overseer who has been on these sewers for

some 13 years has never seen a rat in them, and taking into

account the fact that the cleaning discs are passed through

the Sewers about once a month it rather suggests a proof

that they do not frequent them at all.

Mr.Wild the Acting Government Analyst and

myself have experimented in 2 lengths of the High Street 9

sewer from Eastern Street to Centre Street and from Centre

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· Street to Pokfulum Road,450 and 850 lineal feet respectively, (a neighbourhood which is reported to be greatly frequented

by rats) and with no results.

The lengths tested were hermetically sealed;

wire nets were placed in the manholes next to the tested

lengths to catch any rats that might havebeen killed and

brought away by the flush after opening the tested portions. Experiment I.

Material used: - Potassium Cyanide 12 lbs; Sulphurie

The Secretary Sanitary Board.

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