The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-07
RATS AND THE PLAGUE.

by common consent of scientific men,
are the most certain agents for the dis
semination of the bubonic plague.
Rats take the plague easily and carry
Il for a considerable time before they
die. After being stricken they retire
To their holes, where they hide for
days until pain and terror drive them
out TO court the society of human be-
ings. They enter kitchens where cook
ing Is going on; they seek occupied
beds at night; they get under foot in
ones drawing-room; they enter the
nurseries where children play. In this
stage OF the disease infection goes
with them like an atmosphere. When
dead and not destroyed by human be-
ings. they are likely to be eaten by
rowing members of their own species,
thus increasing rat mortality, or they
may be eaten by the family pet cat.
SO long as rats are in city where
the bubonic plague has taken lodgment
every one will be in danger. The only
safeguard Is to get the rats out OF the
way. They must be killed to keep the
pestilence from travelling into the pri
vaGy of homes and into the publicity
of stores. AZ the same time one must
have a care. in killing and disposing
OF them, not to run the risk of catch
ing the disease by contact. We hear
that the late Mr.. Robertson lost his
life by too much carelessness in ere
mating some twenty rats which were
killed by Immigration in the store where
he was employed. He probably hand.
led them; he certainly stood close to
the fire into which they were thrown.
The man might be living today If he
had gathered the rats with a long
handled shovel and thrown them into
a shallow tank of coal oil, where they
could have been quickly consumed.
His carelessness In a matter where the
average man is careless, cost him his
life and his family OF motherless chill
dren the care and support of father.
Nevertheless 1t Is more risk to leave
the rats alone than TO kill and destroy
them. The only thing to do If we are
co remove the present blight from Ho-
nolulu-assuming, OF course, that sani-
tary rules continue to be observed both
IN to homes, stores, streets and per-
Sons--is TO begin a crusade against the
dangerous rodents and keep It up I'M
I'll the ordinary house rats are as
scarce as white mice. Then Honolulu
may begin to breathe freely.
How are the rats to be caught? We
Go not much believe in traps, for traI
which has held plague-smitten raj
may itself convey the plague. There 1.
great good In fumigation provi0ing the
house or store where 1t is undertaken
can be tightly sealed. The twenty rats
reported to have been killed in thai
way In the store where J. Weir Robert
son worked, tell their own story.
you have an infected cellar or attic :
uaOngoosemightbe useful In 1t for few
days, after which he too should be killed
and cremated. But the great destroye
In the right kind of poison on the RICH
kind OF bait. In Kobe the best result
were had by putting Rough on Rats OF
bits Of raw fresh meat. The meat wa
temptation the rats could not resist
the poison drove them out of tn
houses to the rain puddles, streams
open sewers and taps in search of waite
whore they died and were gathered an
burned In pools of kerosene. It is In
teresting to note that dead rat, befor
being taken up on a shovel, was en-
tirely covered with quicklime.
Considering the danger Honolulu /
in from its rodent population we urg
the Board Of Health to adopt the fo
lowing measures and any others of tn
same kind that body may regard a
beneficial:
U Issue circular to the publ
urging an immediate crusade againi
rats and stating the best methods
killing them. Frame this circular
the Eve prevailing languages.
GU A bounty for dead rats bein
now offered. avoid the danger of ha-
ing them brought to a central Off,
as vouchers by giving each sub-il
Epector authority to burn such rats
are produced and to issue an order c
the Board OF Health for the bount
The honesty OF each order the sub-ii
spector may be required to attest af
erward.
CD Provide poisoned meat in prop
quantities, take II through the city
wagons and have special agents s
that It Is placed In every house.
the question Of laying poison Is left
N private hands II will be only half dor
. IL these or similar measures only r
duce the number OF rats fifty per Ger
that would. II the famous Dr. Mans,
i -. 4