The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-01-14
ETFHHE guB0RlllG PL AalE
NAY INVADE STATES.
War Departments Preparing for
Possible Campaign.
Special to The State.

Washington, Jan. 8.-Although there
is little apprehension that the numer-
Gus cases of bUbonie plague which
have recently appeared at Mazatlan and
other towns in Mexico will spread to
this country, the war department. has
been supplied with detailed informa-
ton by the board of public health of
Manila as to the most effective means
of eradicating the plague, which will
prove of great value in the event OF an
emergency. The FIRST case OF the
plague was discovered in Manila, Dec.
rs, 1899, and from that date until
March 6, 1902, when the disease was
finally stamped ont, there were 745
cases In the Philippine city. De-
struction Of all the rats in the city,
or as, many as possible, was early
determined upon by the health officials
in view OF the association between the
plague and the rodents. From Sep
tember, 1901, until the disappearance
of the plague an active war vas waged
against rats, body of FiIipinos known
as the Rat Catchers Corps being
organized for the purpose, under the
direction of the chief health inspector.
Armed with rat traps and rat bane
the corps divided into squads Of two
were distributed throughout the vari-
ous sanitary districts Of Manila, each
squad being In command of chief
who became responsib bic for the placing
Of traps and bane and the collection Of
material In addition per capita fee
of 5 cents, Mexican, was paid for
every rat sent to the government labor
atory by persons not in the regular
rat eatchers corps. AS result of this
warfare $1,000 rats we're caught alive
and several hundred thousand by
poison. Rules and regulations were
drawn up for the governing of the rat
catchers and infraction Of them was
followed by dishonorable dismissal
from the CORPS. Each member Of the
corps was required to wear prescrib-
ed uniform consisting Of a blouse,
trousers and cap of uniform material
selected by the commissioner OF. public
health and brass shield over his left
breast bearing the insignia of the
corps and the number Of the wearer.
This uniform had to be worn whenever
the catchers were on duty, though
they were permitted to appear IN civil
ians clothing at other times.
Members of the corps were required
to report daily at 10 a. m., to the
offce Of the chief sanitary Inspector Of
each district for the purpose Of receiv-
ing instructions and submitting re-
ports. Each squad was provided with
two galvanized iron buckets with COW
ers, one for carrying the disi1fection
solution and the other for receiving
these dead rats. One hundred rat bane
tins and receptacles for carrying the
same completed the kit of each squad.
The rat bane used was prepared fresh
every day at the municipal laboratory,
whittier the dead rodents were return
ed for examination and cremation.
The catchers went on duty at s p.
NJ, every evening and came off at
$50 a. NJ, covered the entire city dis
tributing rat bane. Beginning not
later than $50 the next morning this
bane was removed by the morning
relief. In making their rounds the
corps collected all the dead rats on
the premises visited, disinfecting them
in the solution furnished, after which
they were tagged and turned over to
the laboratory for final disposition. In
distributing the rat bane which was OF
course deadly poison the members OF
the corps were charged to warn the in
mates Of the various houses visited OF
the danger involved, advising them
to keep domestic pets and children
closely guarded during the prescribed
hours for batting rats.
OF the $4,000 rats sent to the labor
atory, D,666 were examined micros-
cropically for bacilli and Of these only
242 were infected with plag1e. In
February of last year the number OF
traps set aggregated IS, $40. In addi-
tion to batting rats in traps with
bacon, fish, cheese meat scraps OF
boiled rice, the corps caught a great
number by hand. The rat catchers
would run their arms into the holes,
rat runs and sewers and catch the
rodents after they had been driven
out from under shacks that were re-
moved. Several of the catcbers were
severely bitten by the more vigorous
rodents, though none of the injuries
resulted fatally. A third method
employed was by means Of nets placed
over holes and sewers into which the
rats had been driven by hot water car
bolic solution of the fumes Of sulphur.
Among the poisons used with success
| were prepared rat cheese; rat-bane;
mixture of ground glass, -four, corn
meal, strip, with per cent. OF
strychnine; ground rusty bacon OF
boiled rice with so per cent. of arseni-
Gus acid; and equal parts of -four and
| plaster of paris with a dish Of water
on the side.
Because of the character of the
Manila buildings and their crowded
| condition, the rodents were afforded
every opportunity to flourish. All rats
sent to the municipal laboratory were
microscopicatly examined and as each
rodent was tagged it was possible tc
trace back the infected ones to the
houses where they were caught. Al
such houses were treated as if the in.
mates had been infected with the
plauge. Since the plague appeared in
Manila cases have occurred or rats in.
fected with the disease have been
caught in 800 houses and the owners Of
eaeit-eff ssSasssse sassssee were FFssS::-ca Fs;3 The