160 



But all such attacks upon rats fail of absolute eradication. One 

 must make it impossible for them to find sustenance and must destroy 

 not only all existing rat houses, but also all chance of their digging or 

 finding new ones. 



CUTTING OFF THE RAT'S FOOD SUPPLY. 



This is important not alone for its effect in a campaign upon rodents, 

 but equally because it necessitates sanitary care and cleanliness in 

 handling foodstuffs intended for humans and garbage coming there- 

 from. Abattoirs and places where cattle and hogs are fattened 

 perhaps furnish the greatest number of rats. Stables, food-supply 

 stores, groceries, meat, fish and vegetable markets, restaurants, 

 bakeries, and the various places where food is prepared for human 

 consumption are usually infested. In each of the places the barriers 

 vary according to the nature of the premises. Rat-proof receptacles 

 for the foodstuffs must be installed wherever practical. In San 

 San Francisco an ordinance requires every stable to have metal lined 

 feed bins. Markets and places where eatables are constantly being 

 shifted about must be properly screened against rats. Screening 

 should be of heavy wire and sufficient fineness, not larger than half- 

 inch mesh. In all places the food has to be raised such a height 

 above floorings as to be beyond the rat's reach. This applies also 

 to corn and grain cribs in the country. Yet, no matter how carefully 

 the bulk of the food may be kept from rats, negligence in handling 

 it, in spilling or scattering small amounts upon floors or the ground, 

 will nullify every precaution. 



No less painstaking must be the disposition of garbage. Ordinance 

 now requires that all premises in San Francisco be provided with 

 "sanitary garbage cans." Preferably these should be of zinc or 

 galvanized iron and fitted with tight covers. Under no circumstances 

 should the cover be allowed to remain off its can. Garbage is to be 

 placed in a can without delay and care must prevent the dropping 

 of it upon the ground. Rats once served communities as scavengers; 

 wherever the scavenger work is laxly done, rats are welcomed. 

 Finally, garbage must never be allowed to accumulate and should be 

 removed daily, not less often than every other day. 



Special conditions, closely related to the next topic, are encountered 

 in large warehouses and grain sheds. Places where large quantities 

 of food may be stored for a length of time should be constructed of 

 reenforced concrete to be rat proof. Then, again, where vessels 

 are changing cargoes, rat-proof compounds should be erected for the 

 temporary storage of freights. The water fronts of seaports are 

 invariably rat ridden; and in San Francisco a compound for freight 

 held in transit was found invaluable. No effort can be spared in 



