The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-31
WAGE WAR
ON RODENTS
Board OF Health
Plans a New
Crusade.
CITIZENS ASKED
TO COOPERATE
Rats viii Be Given No Op7or-
tunitv TO Spread the Plague
Rats viii Be Given No Op2or
tuuity to Spread the Plague
in Hawaii.

The Board Of Health at its regular
meeting yesterday determined to in
augurate a war of determination upon
rats. on the ground that the rodent was
a means of communication for plague,
and for that reason Hawaii should take
no chances now, and act before it is too
late This action was taken upon the
suggestion of Executive Officer Pratt
who argued that an ounce of prevention
was worth a pound of cure. and with
the conditions now prevalent in the
Orient, it was imperative that every
preeautfon be taken in the Hawaiian
Islands
In Japan the rat has long been recog-
nized as a purveyor of plague. and the
war of determination is being relent-
1essly waged against it. While there
is no danger from plague in Honolulu
or the territory, at present. it is held
that nothing should be left undone to
have these conditions continue, and the
wisest course is to double the precau-
tions against it now. on this account
the Board of Health feels that il is the
imperative duty of every citizen to aid
in this work of determination, for as
there are no funds Immediately avail
able for the purpose, the board has re-
Quested that as individuals every citi-
zen aid in the warfare.
The matter was called to the atten
ton of the board by the reading of the
following letter:
Honolulu, October %. 1901.
To the President and Members of the
Board of Health:
Gentlemen; There is a matter which
desire to bring to your attention with
the hope that some action can be taken
which will be of benefit to this county.
1t seems TO me to be a fitting time 10
start in on a rat-kilIipg campaign
No plague is at present in Honolulu. or
any part of the Territory, as far as Is
known; but we have reports of cases
by every steamer from Hongkong. &C.
casionally from San Francisco, and now
by last steamer we learn it is in Bris-
bane.
Just so long as there are cases in these
places we are open 10 the danger of hay-
ing il get ashore, from one of those ports.
| The United States Marine Hospital serv-
| ice with whom we are working in per-
! feet accord, is doing all in their power
to prevent it getting ashore from yes
sells, but there is always chance that
rats, ana infected ones a that. may
manage TO get ashore and so infect 9th
ters.
/ That plague is spread principals
through agency of rats is a fact recogniz-
ed by all countries where it has exist
ed. and it Is only few months ago that
| Japan having a few cases of plague
| started in on a general rat crusade. AND
thousands were eXtarmirated. |; is not
! my desire to he considered an alarmisT
for L thoroughly believe that the sooner
The people Of this community take :
calm view of plague and educate them
| selves to the fact that this being SEA
port city, we are always open o. ,h'
danger of contagious and infectioas dis
eases, just so much quicker viii the com
merciaI and shipping interests be best
/ conserved 1t is not only the fact that il
plague should again appear we would
be likely to have some deaths, but the
fact that If it does come the commercial
and shipping interests of the community
are at once affected and every body ssuf-
fers.
The old saying. AN ounce Of proven
ton is worth a pound OF cure was nev-
or truer than in this instance.
In other words, it is better to start tax
ing precautions before 1t does appear
With the coming on of the rainy season
we are very likely to have sporadic cases
OF plague and If before this time comes
we can diminish the number of rats OF
exterminate them by the concerted &C
ton of the whole comm unity. then the
danger OF its spreading will be greatly
diminished.
1 would respectfully request that {
committee Of three he appointed to TAKE
up this matter and outline plan o
action, and that public 4 whole
, through the press, be requested to giv'
} the Board their support in this matte
as soon as the committee has reached
decision.
Respectfully submitted
j. S. Z. PRATT,
Executive officer
Mr.. Dole thought that the matte
should be laid before the public in IN