The Detroit times., 1914-10-09
THEY'RE MAKING
A RATLESS CITY
OF new ORLEANS
Case Of Bubonic Plague There In
June Stirred Up Local Au-
thorities and u. S.
MORE THAN 200 MEN NOW
ENGAGED IN THE WORK
Cases of Infant Mortality. Sum-
mer Complaint and the Like \
Show Marked Decrease

NEW ORLEANS. Oct. 9.--The fed
.eral government Is helping this city
70 rid itself OF rats. those carriers Of
the neas that carry the bubonic
plague.
On June 19 a case OF bubonic plague
was discovered here. A hurry call
was sent 10 the public health SER
vice. and strenuous campaign was
started TO stamp II out. The govern
ment was concerned In preventing Its
spread to other sections Of the coun.
try. And the task Is costing the gov.
eminent $4,000 month.
There are three kinds OF rats, but
the worst Is the Norwegian rat. He
Is the nomad or the rodent family.
militant brute that soon cleans out
all others OF his tribe II IL he who
carries the flea whose bite causes
bubonic plague. And he carries II
everywhere Plague is thought TO
have reached New Orleans from the
Orient via Liverpool, which trades
largely with the east =
The rats are being exterminated
with poison and with traps. Several
expert psychologists were brought
from San Francisco and they have
trapped as many as 7.724 rats In .
single week
Thousand OF rodents have been ex.
|amined for infected fieas. and In all
121 plague stricken rats have been
found. About twenty-five cases OF
plague among humans have develop.
ed. with six deaths. No new cases
have been reported among humans
for some time. but infected rats are
constantly being trapped. A few days
ago Chinese restaurant was con.
demLed and demolished. and In the
process no less than thirteen rats
bearing plague parasites were found,
The fight has been going on since
early June. and the situation In now
well In hand. Various bodies plan
ming to hold conventions In New Or
leans have been notified that the city
Is quite safe But the battle n by
no means over. The Norwegian rat
Is a hardy brute and there IL always
danger OF fresh outbreak.
II Is q herculean job TO ratproof an
ancient rabbitwarren Of city like
New Orleans. The city has been
divided into districts. each under the
charge OF doctor OF the public
health service. and q survey has
been made OF each district, OF all rat.
breeding or rat-harboring places
noted: and now they are cleaning up
the place. Holes are being stopped
lup: buildings raised or lowered 30
that they clear the ground sufficiently
tn allow free circulation OF air and
sunshine or else hug II too closely
to AFFORD shelter to the rodent: walls
and foundations are being fixed to
keep the rats from getting through.
Nuissnces have been abated In over
1000 places and disinfectant and
lfumigation chemicals are being used
literally. Standing garbage, stable
refuse and the like are anathema-
Permits for keeping chickens are be-
ing revoked. for chicken feed II .
great attracter OF rats.
The wharves and docks and the
railway freight yards are being gone
lover. Every ship before leaving the
port Is fumigated with sulphur or
carbon monoxide. An attempt II be-
Ing made to ratproof the wharves, but
II Is only partially successful, for .
really ratproof wharf must be almost
entirely of concrete,
NcW Ohhcdhb uciuB y kToal uBtflOut
ing center for freight for the west
and southwest. an enormous number
of freight cars must be inspected, rat
PROCEED IL necessary, or fumigated. IN
one week over 5000 were inspected. Of
which seven were condemned.
Infant mortality, particularly from
summer bowel complaints and the.
like. has fallen greatly since the
beginning Of the anti-plague crusade:
SO has the general death rate.
The federal public health service
has over two hundred men engaged IN
the work here under the leadership or
DR.. William c. Rucker. Surgeon-0en.
Blue visited the city at the beginning
to look the situation over, BRINGING.
with him DR.. Creel, who stamped out
the plague at Porto Rico.