The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-07-10
STATE BOARD Of
hfALTHASKSRAT
DETERMINATION
Sends Representative to Cairo and
Other River Cities of South
ern Illinois.
TO INTEREST PEOPLE IN
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
To Prevent Introduction From New
Orleans of the Dreaded Bu-
bonic Plague.

"A crusade against the rat is
good thing at any time, and a pre-
concerted action against the pests
would result in benefit, irrespective
OF the fact that they are responsible
for the Introduction and spreading
OF bubonic plague" said DR.. c. s.
Nelson. of, Springfield, last night at
a special meeting of the Cairo Board
of Health. which was called for the
purpose of considering the question
OF the determination of rats as sug-
gested by the State Board of Health.
Dr.. Nelson will cover what are
considered the most vulnerable
points In Southern Illinois. which
include the river towns and cities
and interior points where through
freight shipments are handled from
New Orleans where there are several
cases of the dreaded disease
Dr. Nelson made a brief talk to
the members of the board explain
ing the situation and that he want
ed the cooperation of the city
health board in the matter and sug
gested that the mayor issue a proc
lamation requesting every citizen
to inaugurate a crusade against the
rat.
Dr. Grinstead who had been in
Nted to the meeting, at the request
OF Mayor Wood made an interesting
talk on the subject, telling why the
rat carrying the -fieas,
was the cause of the spreading of
the disease when the disease had
gotten started. He said the bubonic
plague was one of the Oldest known
diseases, history tells us he said that
in ancient Egypt, thousands of years
ago the plague swept the country
and completely wiped out the in
habitants of many cities and towns.
He thought it would be good
thing to exterminate the rat and
suggested how it might be done
through the efforts of the city
health department at the least ex-
pense
1t had been generally supposed
that the real danger of the spread
of the disease from New Orleans
was most likely from rats that were
passengers on board the steam
boats. But no boats landing at the
Cairo wharves come direct from New
Orleans. once in great while a tow
boat comes here from that port, but
stops here out in the river to lay
in the supplies. The real danger,
it is said would be from the rail
roads that bring freight from New
Orleans. There is seldom a ship
ment received in Cairo from that
city. The Illinois Central brings
huhdA Cuo oh Val d Va iiCi6hA ilcl III,
but none of the through freight is
stopped at Cairo, the first stop this
side of the river is at Mounds.
Mayor Wood explained that he
did not think at present it was
necessary to issue proclamation but
that the city health department
would do what was necessary to in
terest the people in getting rid of
as many rats as possible. He said
| that before the rebuilding of the
stone wall on the river front he
| counted as many as thirty rats one
| evening seeking places of refuge in
the crevices between the rocks of
tn wall; but now there was no har-
Dor for them there since the wall
| had been rebuilt.
DR.. Nelson will leave this morn
ing for Thebes. From there he
| goes to Mounds, Mound City and on
| up the Ohio river and the Wabash.