234 



For ordinary cleansing a 1 per cent solution is used, but Doctor 

 Pierce stated that on the recurrence of plague special gangs would 

 be employed to apply a 2 per cent solution in infected localities. 



Beginning with January 1, 1909, Doctor Pierce stated that a rat 

 poison known as "Punjaub rat exterminator" had been laid down, 

 and that the intensive destruction of rats by this means was under 

 consideration. 



In summarizing the measures taken against rats, the American 

 consul-general stated that four methods were in use, namely, rat 

 proofing, trapping, poisoning, and use of cats. The use of bacterial 

 viruses as poisons has thus far been unsatisfactory, and the use of 

 chemical poisons, such as phosphorus, prepared, and known as 

 "Punjaub rat exterminator/' has only given moderate results. 



The keeping of cats is encouraged, and the consul states that some 

 hundreds of these animals have been imported from Macao and 

 Canton by the colony and distributed. 



Finally, the consul states that the use of u rat funnels" has long' 

 been compelled whenever large vessels lie at the wharves. 



In Sinyang the work of exterminating rats is in charge of a physi- 

 cian who has 12 assistants, which number, however, may be increased 

 in case of emergency. The means employed are trapping, offering 

 rewards, and catching by means of cats. In his report, the consul 

 states that the best results have been secured by trapping. For 

 ridding houses of rats, some use is made of fumigation. It is stated 

 that there is not much danger of rats invading cargo boats, but that in 

 the country rats are present in enormous numbers, and that the 

 problem of their destruction has thus far baffled all attempts at 

 solution. Bounties at the rate of 15 cents per hundred are paid, and 

 in one year the Government expended for this purpose $32,500. 



RAT EXTERMINATION IN MADRAS, BOMBAY, AND CALCUTTA, INDIA. 



In Madras, Consul N. B. Stewart states there is no legal enactment in 

 effect requiring the destruction of rats, but the Government has done 

 everything in its power to make the public understand the value of 

 such a measure as a preventive against plague. In 1907 a reward of 

 one-half anna, equal to 1 cent, was offered by the city for each large 

 rat killed, and one-fourth anna for each small one. Bounties of 

 one-fourth anna and one-twelfth anna each for the respective varieties 

 of rats were still being continued at the time report was made. 



In Bombay, where plague has been endemic since 1896, destruc- 

 tion of rats and examination of all dead rats and evacuation of 

 rat-infected areas are included among the measures taken by the 

 health department in connection with plague operations. In his 

 report Consul E. H. Dennison states that the present antirat campaign 

 in Bombay includes the distribution of poisons, the trapping of rats, 



