The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-07-19
WAR AGAINST
PREDATORY RAT
Methods of Killing Off
and Starving the Ro-
dent Enemy.
KEEP HIM OUTDOORS
Trapping and Exclusion More
Efficient Than Poison
Methods Is Said.

of destroying and prooting against
rats are outlined In literature pre-
pared by the United states public
health servicee for use by state and
municipal health officers over the
country In the campaign which they
have been asked by Surgeon Cen
crai Cumming 10 inaugurnte in or
der to protect the nation against bu-
bonic plague. The activity OF the
health service results from the ap-
pearsnce OF the plague In Mexican
and American gulf ports and at
points In the Mediterranean.
RAT destruction" says the health
service bulletin. "can bo accomplish
cd by individual effort to a limited
degree, but TO be successful In a
largo city there must bo rat-proofing
Of buildings. No spasmodic or In
dividuai efforts will result In the de-
sired end.
Rats can be destroyed by trap.
ping, by poisoning. and by using nat
urai enemies, such as certain breeds
Of cats and dogs. To insure the sue
cc~s of these measures II In neeos-
sary TO eurtall the rat food supply
by properly disposing OF garbage and
table refuse, and by preventing rats
from gaining access TO such foods
as 10 contained In pantries. groccr-
les. markets, stables and the like.
"success in trapping In proper
tional to the attention and industry
tho trapper devotes to his traps and
the protection OF other food sup
piics, Two kinds of traps are een-
orally uscd---the wire cage trap and
IN n "A m
should he placed wherever rats have
becn accustomed to come for feeding
purposes and should be more or less
concealed. the snap trap by scatter
ing dust, corn meal or flour on or
about them and tho Gags trap by
nieces OF sacking, straw or rubbish,
leaving only the opening free.
"Ifighly savored articles. such AZ
cheese, and toasted bacon, will more
quickly attract rats than viii FOOD
without odor: but the idea that rat
can be enticed into . trap by the
emp.o. rnent of bait more appotixipg
10 rim than the surrounding food
supply IN faliacious. To the rat. food
supply 10 a question OF availability
and preference ! sa secondary con-
siderrtion.
THE destruction OF rats by poison
has always been more or less In ta-
ver. A preparation OF arsenious
acid or phosphorus. 10 per cent ana
suitable base, az cheese, meat or glu-
cose, are the most popular poisons.
Poisons undoubtedly have q certain
efficiency In Kidding a place OF rats.
but whether by causing their NIL
grafton or their actual destruction Is
somewhat difficult OF determination.
"Rat proofing excludes rats from
the food supply and deprives then
OF harbornse. without this procedure
~ IL almost impossible to reduce the
rodent population.
I'm rat-proofing any building'
the following parts have TO be con-
sidered; Ground area, walls. ceilings.
garret roof. bed spaces In general
vsntiiators. abandoned sewers. doors,
windows. outside piping, water ana
sewerage pipe, down spouts. wiz
ing and air or light shafts. Ny the
omission OF some small detail an
otherwise rat-proof structure may
become badly rat-infested.
"The rat-proofing OF floors OF
buildings In secured either by ele-
vntion OF the structure with the
UNDERMINING opening free or by
marginal walls OF concrete, stone or
brick laid In cement mortar SUNK
two feet In the ground, fitting flush
with the flnor above, The wall must
1T tightly to the flooring.
Food depota are the greater i'm.
portanee In rat-proofing because
they furnish both substenancc ana
shelter for rats. In this class OF
buildings are stables, meat markets,
retail and wholesale groceries,
bakerics. warehouses, docks and
wharvcs These places are best rat
proofed as TO the ground areas by
the construction OF concrete floors
and Foundation walls Untenanted
ss they are Mt night timo rats might
well enter doorways or windows
csreieasiy left open or he introduced
concealed In the merchandise and
gnawing through plank flooring, OBJ
tain well protected hiding and breed
Ing places.
spouble walls with dead space be-
tween should be avoided or II used
should he rat-proofed Mt top and
bottom with heavy wooden timbers
four by four joists or by n concrete
ill. Attics should be well opened
and kert free ar Gunnage or other
refuse for rats.
Double ceiling should be avoided
especially so In Easements. Boxed
In structures. such M uprights and
roughly finEhed dwellings, plumb
ings, Kitchen sinks and the like
should be removed Miscellaneous
opeuings ms light shafts, ventilatorI
and windows should be screened pre-.
ferabiy by 2-gauge wire screen with
mesh not eSceeling one-balt inch