Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-03-05

mlnatlng law ana 10 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 it 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 it
was proved by the United States
Marine Hospital service that the
the rats were responsible for the
scourge, the war has been carried on
rolcntessly 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 concert
cd 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 off the tail of each
ret to avoid double payment The hand
| barrow carries air-tight reccptaclcs for
| the bodies.
1t also serves to show how man,
having taken hold of truth and pos
scssing unbounded energy and enthu-
siasm, may, single-handed, fight the
most merciless ridicule, an appalling
! lethargy, and a fierce and powerful
opposition and yet in the end emerge
VIGOROUSLY with the whole civilized
world rallying to his support.
That is, in sober truth, what has
happened to Xuschlag, the Danish
civil engineer who is the author, chief
apostle. and undsputed generals
simo" Of the worlds crusade against
the rat When first, ten years ago he
raised his voice, calling his country
men to arms" and demanding the inn
mediate passing of a law for the
| Wholesale determination of the rat,
there was much memiment in the
state of Denmark. But presently Zusch-
lag published a book: The Rat and
| Civilization" 1t contained terrible
Indictment of the brown rat, and grad
ually brought about a radical change
i'm the public opinion. For Iuschlag
had proved by overwhelming evidence
that the rat fulfills no useful funC
ton that each rat costs at the lowest
estimate one farthing a day Ito keep"
and as there were at least as many
rats in Denmark as people, the need
less loss in food alone-to say nothing
Of the material destroyed by them
would in one year amount to some
C 1000 He further showed conclu-
Sivcly that the rat is the chief agent
in spreading trichinosis-a disease lit
tie known in England and America,
but a very real danger in Denmark
and with rare intuition he saw that
the rat is also primarily responsible
for the fearful ravages of the bubonic
plague i'm India and other countries
within the plague belt, because it
forms the vehicle by which the plague,
flea is transferred from a plague,
stricken native to Il healthy one.
This latter statement appealed to
the sentiment of the Danish people
the second fact was in wide circles a
} powerful argument ad hominem but
served also to arouse a bitter hatred
, among those interested i'm the Danish
pork export trade, who did not scru
pie to denounce Zuschlag as an enemy
, TO his own country; but the simple
sum" contained in the first count o.
, the indictment gave the thrifty Danes
/ "fuUously to think" And Zuschlal
never tired Of pointing out III yol
r will take the trouble to pass a law
: through your representatives, granting
4 q premium of one penny to cyclyon,
, who brings a dead rat, You will say,
Y collectively seven shillinEs and five
| pence ON that rat for each year O
its natural life YOU prevent it from
2 living, Aud-and this is very bil
. and-you will also save a number c
Q people, maybe yourself among them
r from dying of richinosis. Now, /
!, the rats do not cause You PERSONAL
r any loss, perhaps you will supper
5 the movement on the grounds OF pul
n Tic utility, II the public interest is n
concern of yours, then, perhaps, tn
S danger to your health and life wi
g convince YOU of the necessity for rhi
y | cyusedt."