Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-18

a rapidly fatal affection which would
be called an acute Infectious dis
ease. II is probable that this rela-
tionship Is already partially estab-
lished in the case of the rat and the
bacillus OF plague, for, although the
disease plague is usually fatal in the
rat, yet number OF eases of chronic
plague have been found in that ami
NAL. In man. on the other hand,
plague has no chronic form. For
these reasons It is not to be expected
that we will find an infectious disease
that will sweep the rat out OF exist
ence. do not mean to say that the
artificial production of a fatal infec-
tious disease among rats is not a good
thing, but only wish to call attention
to the fact that extermlnation is not
to be looked for from such measures.
II must be regarded as measure like
the use OF poison. II plague, to
which the rat Is markedly suscept-
ible, has not externiinated the spe-
cles there is little hope Of finding a
disease which will. ..sf.
Total destruction of the rat being
practically impossible, what pros
pect is there OF partial destruction?
This can be brought about in various
ways. IL must not be forgotten that
II Is not a simple matter, such as
picking loose stones of road. Every
species of animals, In the long run,
tends to attain a numerical equili-
brium in a given region. This nor
nal number of individuals OF a given
species for given locality is deter
mined by number OF factors, promi-
nent among which lie the food supply.
This being the case, II a given region
Will support 1000 rats and we kill
500 OF them, In the case Of such
prolific animal. the normal number
will be produced in n relatively
short time. or course II we could
kill the rats faster than they could
breed we would steadily reduce the
number as long as We keep up the
process. Experience teaches, howev-
er, that this cannot be done. In
Kobe the Japanese killed almost S.
100000 rats in the course OF five
years and at the and OF that time
the animals were as numerous as
ever! A moderate Killing Of rats
only makes Il easier for the residue
to make a living.
One might reasonably reply that
IL this is the case the whole game Of
rat-killing is not worth the candle,
and In certain narrow sense this is
true. This is not true. however, In
a wide sense, particularly in Hawaii.
and for this reason. In endemic CEN
tiers OF plague. such DIS Honolulu and
Hilo. every dead rat means a possible
dead plague rat and hence bit OF
control OF the disease, For this rea-
son alone II Is worth while to emu
merate the most efficacious means for
killing rats, bearing In mind that all
means from blow with half
Brick to the most subtle poison are
good II they only XIII rats. ,us..
]. Poison.-A large number OF
rats can be destroyed in this way, but
the campaign must be In responsible
hands and be carried out systemati-
cally, 1t is TO be remembered that
much valuable information win be
lost II the dead animals are not col
lected and examined by n competent
bacteriologist to determine whether
or not they are infected with plague.
This applies also to all rats killed by
any means and particularly those
found dead To make the examina-
tion OF rats OF real value the animals
should be tagged to show the locality
where they were found. II this Is
done and plague rat is found. II
Will be possible to concentrate upon
that place and possibly prevent the
formation of plague focus.
do not go into the question of
merits OF different sorts OF rat poison.
This matter had best be left to those
in immediate charge OF the work.
2. Trapping.-This is particular
ly valuable. as all the rats killed can
be examined, Trapping is more ex-
pensive than poison. but is good
accessory .'H.Hf Z ''.h
| 8. Artihcially Induced Epidemics
The widely advertised viruses. OF
which Rattine and Danny's Virus
may be taken as samples. are certain
ly able to XIII large number oil
rats. The difficulty In their use In
Hawaii is that. like many pathogeniC
bacteria, the virus becomes Inactive
that is, unable to produce disease In
rats. II transported over great dis
tances unless means are taken" e
guard the Virus from all external In.
huences. such as heat. that will In
actiyate II. IL must be remembered
that these viruses are Of the natur,
OF poisons and have the limitation
lof poisons Such good accounts ar,
given OF these viruses that II Nigh
be worth while to attempt to get {
lvirulent culture here In good condi
ton, even IL II required a special triI
by messenger. SAL. :
4. Cutting ON Food Supply. :
This is to be brought about by in
sisting upon the rat-proofng OF con
tainers OF foods sought by rats. Tn,
rat proofing OF feed stores,iof swil
harraIa and of domest Ia ma trya ai,e