Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
PHILIPPINE RAT CATCHERS.
Bounty Offered for Their Capture in
Manila,
From the Buffalo Express.

From the Buffalo Express
The Manila rat is much more in demand
than is the Buffalo rat. Since the Amer!-
can occupation of the Philippines rat
catching has become a big industry. 1t has
thrived much under a paternal form of
government that $4,000 of the animals
were caught in Manila during the last year
Incidentally, that meant 10000 deaths in
the rat colony, for the only good rats in
Manila are dead rats. This wholesale
slaughter of rats is carried out under the
direction of the Philippine board of health.
1t is one of the means used to prevent the
much-dreaded Asiatic plague.
In an informal discussion that some Buff
falo physicians We're having the other night
DR.. K. II. McMullen, recently returned from
the Philippines, told about the inroads the
United States government had been making
on the pest-carrying rat of Manila Dr.
McMullen was attached to the board of
health there.
Although it Is an established fact that
rats are carriers of the infection of the
dreaded Asatic plague, yet comparative
few Americans in Manila are alive to the
Importance which the board of health au-
thorities attach 10 the trapping of rodents
or are aware that the city has an organized
corps Of seventy-five rat catchers, and that
they trap about $4,000 rats year" said
the doctor. such is the case, neverthe-
less, and were it not for this rat brigade it
would be difficult to say where the pest
would stop.
IF one pauses to think that bubonic
plague is epidemic in Hongkong and other
Asiatic ports which are brought in close
relationship with Manila by reason Of the
immense freight and passenger traffic be-
tween the mainland of Asia and our new
possessions, while in Manila there Is only
an occasional sporadic case, he will readily
realize that every precaution must be taken
TO prevent the spread of the disease In the
iSla ndS
ITO what extent the system of rat-catch-
ing holds in check the plague is only a
matter of conjecture, but ii is undoubtedly
great, and as well, under conditions ante
dating American occupation this active ro-
dent was largely responsible for the de-
slructfon of an immense amount of prop
erty.
The corps of rat catchers is divided into
seven sections, one being assigned to each
of the health stations. Each man, who in
turn hires small boys to do the actual work
receives a monthly salary of 10 pesos
which is So and, in addition three centavos
I1@ cents for every rat he catches. This
bounty amounts to about pesos a month.
So he receives income of 10 pesos a
month-an average Manila clerks salary
A rat catcher must be industrious. He Is
hired by the district medical inspector, and
If he fails to corral a certain number of
animals he is promptly succeeded by new
aspirant
This oriental professional resorts to
many ingenious ways in attempting to fool
the officials and, incidentally. Increase his
revenue. When the trapping was started
the officials were none too strict and 1t was
soon noticed that some Of the trappers were
making quite amount Of money Inyes-
tfgation revealed the fact that oftentimes
one rat was made to do duty several times,
being kept on the rounds earning bounty
for its captors until decomposition set in
To remedy this the inspectors now make
each trapper bring his rats to the station
every morning, and there the right front
foot Is chopped off, and the rat is labeled
with the street and the number Of the house
from which it came. All rats are then
taken to the crematory.
But the clever native found a new means
Of evading the law. He conceived the idea
of starting a rat farm, and before the au-
thorities were aware Of 1t the business of
breeding rodents. in order to collect the
bounty, assumed goodly proportions.
Once month an auditing is made. at
which time all the traps which are fur
nished by the authorities must be account
ed for by the catchers.
Before being sent away for cremation
each rat Is carefully examined, and IL It
shows the slightest evidence of disease 1t IL
taken to the bureau of laboratories for a
diagnosis. If the LESSONS prove to be plague.
the house from which it came is thoroughly
out and caught by means of surrounding
screens
"One of the principal acts in this rat
drama is enacted at the water front, where
every precaution is taken to prevent rats
from coming ashore from ships arriving
goes are closely watched, and while they
are being discharged tin tunnels are placed
on the hawsers to prevent the rodents from
reaching the wharf.