The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-06

minating law and to begin the syste-
matte work OF destroying the pests
which scientists credit with being the
greatest agents in spreading deadly
diseases. among mankind England IS
preparing to follow the example thus
set and America and other nations are
only waiting to be aroused to definite,
concerted action. In San Francisco
already war has been made on the
rat, for 1t is no longer matter Of
doubt that the threatened scourge OF
bubonic plague in that city was due
to the work of rats
Ever since last May when the first
cases Of what was declared to
be bubonic plague made their
appearance at San Francisco 1t
was proved by the United States
Marine Hospital service that the
the rats were responsible for the
seourge, the war has been carried on
relentlessly against the rodents THE
rats must 60, has been the slogan
Of the health authorities and all the
methods known for the determination
Of the pests have been employed, and
It Is only a question Of time when
other cities Of this country, or the ma
tional government itself, will take up
this question and inaugurate a concert |
ed campaign against Sir Rodent.
In view Of the growing prejudice
against the rat, the history of the
anti-rat movement under the Danish
rat law presents an interesting chap
ter in economic zoology and hygiene.
The inspector cuts of the tail Of each
rat to avoid double payment The hand
barrow carries air-tight receptacles for
the bodies.
It also serves to show how a man,
having taken hold Of truth and pos
e sessing unbounded energy and enthu-
j siasm, may, single-handed. fight the
D most merciless ridicule. an appalling
9 lethargy, and a fierce and powerful
opposition, and yet in the end emerge
=. VIGOROUSLY with the whole civilized
. world rallying to his support
u That is, in sober truth, what has
n happened to Zuschlag, the Danish
II civil engineer. who is the author, chief
IS apostle, and undisputed generals
8 simon Of the worlds crusade against
g the rat When first, ten years ago, he
t raised his voice, calling his country
D. men to arms" and demanding the i'm
n mediate passing Of a law for the
It wholesale determination Of the rat,
q there was much merriment in the
Be state Of Denmark. But presently Zusch-
ii lag published book; The Rat and
Civilization" 1t contained terrible
indictment Of the brown rat. and grad
ually brought about a radical change
Is in the pubic opinion. For Zuschlag
- had proved by overwhelming evidence
p that the rat fulfills no useful func
q ton, that each rat costs at the lowest
estimate one farthing day ITO keep.
e and as there were at least as many
d. rats in Denmark as people, the need
ve less loss in food alone-to say nothing
Ne OF the material destroyed by them
al would in one year amount to some
e400. 900. He further showed conclu
sively that the rat is the chief agen
IN spreading trIchinosls-a disease lit
30 tie known IN England and America
ss but a very real danger in Denmark
and with rare intuition he saw tina
"a the rat is also primarily responsible
nv for the fearful rayages Of the buboni
"a plague in India and other countrie
within the plague belt. because
forms the vehicle by which the plague
flea is transferred from a plague
stricken native to healthy one.
This latter statement appealed t
the sentiment Of the Danish people
the second fact was in wide circles
powerful argument ad hominem, bJ
served also to arouse bitter hatre
among those interested in.the Danis
pork export trade, who did not scr
ple to dAnonnee Zuschlag as al enen
to his own country; but the "slmp
sum" contained In the first count
the indictment gave the thrifty Dan'
"furIously to think" And zuschli
never tired of pointing out, If "
will take the trouble to pass la
through your representatives, grantiI
q premium of one penny to everyoi
who brings a dead rat, you viii sa'
collectively seven shillings and fiy
pence on that rat for each year
its natural life you prevent 1t fro
living. And-and this Is a very b
and you will also save number
people, maybe yourself among the
from dying Of trichinosis Now,
the rats do not cause you personal
any loss, perhaps you viii suppC
tie movement on the grounds Of ps
old lie utility. If the public interest Is
ard concern OF yours, then, perhaps, t
7 danger 10 your health and life "
.a.s .a convince you Of the necessity for Il
- - crusade