Daily camera., 1901-02-04
EMBARGO on RATS.
Measures Adopted by the Health
Board of Louisiana.
REGULATIONS Governing the Un1oAA-
lag of ships to Keep the Pest-
Breeding Rodents from Land
inE-Fears Of the Plague.


plague made its appearance the cause
of it's spread and means to prevent
infection from it has been the study
of scientific men all over the world.
One theory has been to.erably thor
ouphly established and this is that
the ordinary ship rat has been and is
the chief factor in the spread OF the
infection. says the St Louis Globe
Democrat.
When the disease made its appear
ance in Honolulu, and while efforts
were being made to stamp it out, this
fact was recognized, and strict meas
ures were employed to guard against
the transfer of rats from ships which
had touched at infected ports to the
island.
Now the attention of'the people OF
the United States is directed to the
coast cities of Brazil where the dis
ease has been reported. Our close
commercial relations with that coun-
try, particularly in the importation OF
great quantities of coffee. make an
absolutely close quarantine against
the ports almost an impossibility.
To devise and put in force system
of careful disinfection, the Louisiana
state board of health has frr mulgated
regulations governing the unloading
of coffee ships from the suspected
South American ports, which. almost
from first 10 last, are aimed against
the rat. The board proceeded, in
framing the rules. on the theory that
the rat family is the medium of in
lection from plague-st ricken ports
most to be feared. and these are the
regulations which were evolved as a
result of this theory:
Coffee Ships from infected ports
shall hr thoroughly d,sinfocted at the
quarantine station and detained there
five days, being disinfec;ed on the
fourth day. The vessel may then
come tc the city and anchor 100 feet
from the wharf il being calculated
that rat which tried to swim this
distance would drown.
After daylight the vessel may be
hauled in to within not less than IS
feet of her wharf by means OF haws-
ers. each of which shall he provided
with system Of metal 'unnels and
disks. To prevent tie ~ re OF rats
These funf els must be OF lin, zine or
gai,anizcd iron. with a diameter of
not less han % inches, and must have
sharp scrratsd edges. ard must be
hinged. to permit of close adaptation
TO the hawsers The metal disks
must be of the same material, and
must also he fitted with sharp edges.
When within i5 feet of the wharf, the
regulations provide that stagings
shall lie p,aced. across which the un-
loading must be done. While unload
ing is going on the regulations pro-
vide that "men with shotguns" shall
watch the stagings and holds for
rats, and shall kill all rats on sight.
The man in charge must also keep
men with shotguns in skiffs on each
side of the vessel" lest the unfortu
nate animals should attempt TO escape
by jumping overheard. Not later
than sunset each day the hawsers
must be hauled on board and the YES
sci draw off to her anchorage. The
rules significantly state that rubber
gloves shall be used in handling dead
rats" and that dead rats shall be
cremated"
The secretary Of the board was
busily engaged in seeing the agents OF
coffee ships and securing their ac-
quiescence in the regulations. 1t is
provided that all the expenses of the
quarantine are to be borne by the yes
sci.
The rules are effective at once.
Their publication caused great deal
Of comment, especially the portions
referring to rats, which caused as
much laughter as criticism. The
board says that the rat is the most
dangerous factor in the spread of the
plague, and that unless the rules are
complied with the importation of cof
fee must stop.