The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-12
RAT WAR BEGINS REPORT ON FRUIT
Overrun With Them, O. whitney
Says Dr. Crumbine. NAL Report Crop.
Rat Population Gives Experiences OF Leading
Human Population. HOrtculturists of Mid West.
URGES CITIES TO KILL EMI 236 WELL FILLED PAGES
Re to Is Text Book for the Begin
Health, Report States ner, Report Says.
Probably Best Poison Is That Very Successful
of Barium Carbonate. Fruit Producing Sections.
Kansas Is OVerrun With Them
Says DIR. Crumbine.
Rat Population Is Equal to the
Human Population.
URGES CITIES TO KILL 'EM
4 e Great Menace, to Public
Health, Report States.
Probably Best Poison Is That
of Barium Carbonate.

(By The Associated PressO
Careful investigation made at vari-
Gus times and places shows that the
rat population of Kansas is at least
equal to the human population, 1t -
declared in the monthly bulletin of
the state board of health.
Experts tell us that a rat annually
will eat and destroy something in ex-
cess of 50 worth OF various kinds OF
foods. including depredations, destruc-
ton of property, etc" the report says.
When one considers that the last
census of Kansas showed approM-
mately 1.75O.O00 population, the an
nuaI economic loss to the state caused
by this rodent may be figured at some
where in the neighborhoOd of 3 y mill
lions of dollars, according to DR.. s
J. CFumbine, secretary Of the state
board OF health.
Kansas Overrun With Rats.
From reports from various parts
FN-the state, 10 would seem that Kan
S. is overrun with rats" DR.. Crum-
bine's monthly bulletin says in intro
duction. In the rural districts where
grains and foods of various kinds are
more abundant and more easily avail
able, the rat population is. on an aver
age, ten times the human population.
When We consider Kansas being
about IS per cent rural in population,
and in area about 9S per cent rural,
we can imagine what a huge rat
population we are harboring and feed
ing"
The great economic loss from this
pest might be prevented il municipal
files and householders would under
take effective means for rat exter-
mination, the bulletin says.
Menace to Health.
Then, too, the rat is a menace to
public health" it continues He is
a dissemination OF the dread disease,
bubOnic plague, which has so often
in the past swept the world with
resultant frightening mortality. Blu
bonic plague is now widely prevalent
in many of the tropical countries. and
plague rodent infection is present in
most of the principal shipping ports of
the world today. Judging from the
known foci o. infection, which is wide
ly distributed over the world, bubonIc
plague is probably the mos menactnS
malignant communicable disease
which cOnfronts the human race at
this time. tuberculosis only excepted"
Rat determination rests, primarily,
on three fundamentals, DR.. Crumbine
says in his bulletin. The first two
must be seFupulously observed If any
permanent Roadway in rat extermina-
t. 4 is TO be expected. These three
fundamentals are as follows: First, the
removal of all available food supply; |
second, the abatement or adjustment
of all rat harboFages; third. rat de-
struction- The removal of all avail
able food supply means that all goods
and grains should be put in rat-proof
containers. and that all waste and gar
bage not Immediately disposed of by
other means, should be placed in
tightly closed cans or barrels. The
second proposition concerns itself with
the removal of piles of litter and rub
bish, burning everything that is use |
less and stacking at least eighteen
inches off the ground all lumber or |
other material which affords a place
for rats TO live. Houses, harms and |
out-buildingS should, so far as pos
sible, be made rat proof. This would
entail some expense, but in the long
run would probably be the best invest |
ment one could make.
Kill Young Chickens.
There is little doubt but what the |
annual loss of young chicks grains, |
vegetables and other food materials |
on the farm would much more than |
pay for the cement and other rat proof
materials necessary to rat-proof all |
farm buildings
The third fundamental, that of rat |
destruction. includes the killing of |
rats by traps, poison and fumigation. |
The best trap is the spring trap. The !
most effective bait is said to be bread |
soaked in bacon grease or fried bacon. |
After batting the trap, remove the |
hu n scent BY flaming the trap, then |
set the trap within two feet of a rat |
hole or along the runway. Probably |
Donate. There are three kinds of bait |
recommended 10 use with this poison |
meats and other animal substances. |
such as steak, sausage. etc, second, |
fresh fruit or vegetable food, such as |
cantaloupe, tomatoes, green corn, |
sweet potatoes. bananas. etc, and |
third, miscellaneous foods. such as
milk, cheese, bread, cake, cereals, !
peanut butter. etc. The barium car
Donate must be thoroly mixed with |
the bait so that the rats or mice may
not eat the smallest portion of the |
bait without getting some of the /
poisoning. Bait every night as long |
as rats continue to eat.
Caution; Keep fowls. dogs, cats |
and other domestic animals away from |
the bait.
County and city boards of health 1
would do well 10 put on a vigorous /
campaign against the rat this sum- |
mer and fall. 1t will pay big divi- |
dends." the bulletin concludes.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
The call Of religion is not to be better !