235 



and the reward of 1 cent for each live rat, and a half cent for each dead 

 rat, delivered to the health department. He also states that there 

 are no by-laws or acts under which the destruction of rats can be 

 enforced in private houses. 



On account of religious opposition, and to teach the people, educa- 

 tional posters signed by the health officer were displayed, containing 

 advice \vhat to do to prevent plague, which in part reads asToHows: 



1. Beware of rats in your dwelling houses. 



2. To harbor rats is to court plague. 



3. Rat infection and consequent rat mortality are the indications of the impending 

 plague visitation among human beings. 



4. Allow the health department staff to place rat traps in and about your houses to 

 catch rats and take them back. 



5. Freedom from plague is in the removal of rats. 



6. Inform the health department when dead rats are found in or near your houses. 



7. Clear your houses of all materials likely to harbor rats. 



The same placard also contains information regarding disinfection 

 to kill fleas, evacuation of infected areas, and inoculations to pro- 

 duce immunity. 



In a special report dated January 23 the consul described a new 

 experiment in rat destruction; that is, an intensive effort in the 

 Kamatipura district. The district was divided into divisions and 

 subdivisions in which simultaneously there were distributed for use 

 on a certain day 19,642 poison baits and 2,670 traps. It was stated 

 that as a result hundreds of rats were collected the following morning. 



No reference is made to measures taken for the destruction of 

 rats aboard ships in the harbor. 



In Calcutta, it is reported by Consul-General W. H. Michael that 

 various methods are resorted to for the extermination of plague rats, 

 the use of poison being the most general. Rewards have been offered 

 for live and dead rats, and about 11,135 dead rats were produced, but 

 it was found that a considerable portion of these was picked up by 

 conservancy coolies, and the reward for dead rats was therefore dis- 

 continued. Of live rats, only 9,447 were produced. After December 

 1, 1908, the reward was raised to 4 cents, with the result that 49,396 

 live rats were captured. It is stated, however, that this did not seem 

 to have any appreciable effect upon the rat population. 



RAT EXTERMINATION IN YOKOHAMA AND NAGASAKI, JAPAN. 



In the Kanagawa Jen, in which Yokohama is located, the fol- 

 lowing ordinances relating to the extermination of rats have been 

 enacted : 



Kanagawa Ken Ordinance No. 64 of 1902 (issued October 8). 



Finders of dead rats within the prefecture shall immediately report and deliver 

 same to the nearest police, village, or other authorities in charge. Upon receipt 

 thereof, the police or other authorities shall without delay transmit the same to the 

 police headquarters (Yokohama). 



