eexxii Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XV, 
Important experiments are now being re hee at Poona which 
show clearly that during an inadequate or intermittent baiting campaign, 
the surviving rats soon learn to avoid a poisoned bait completely. The 
results of the observations suggest that though baiting is probably more 
spor isla suggest that ethods of rat fami vce 
especially relating to the c ekerdetion an os bat iting of traps and in the 
making and laying of poisoned baits, have hitherto been almost entirely 
piesa na fae Ted nets explain why rat destruction as an ne ee 
asure still etimes regarded ‘with disfavour. They certainly 
inden te that every y endeavour ae uld be made to place the entire pba 
more scientific basis at an early dat 
“Tt i is remarkable hina until “ecently Pag has been done in this 
— According to Boas ires quote il various authorities the loss 
aused by r ats in European ntri cae the United States every 
ie varies approxima tely fi from yone to Paigh shillings per head of human 
pope ulation. = wey it would appear to be only rhaghi t two shillings and 
ne Taking the latter rate an av ieiden for the 
whole world the rat due to rats would 2 itor! to over £200 mi iitions 
ually. s obvious therefore that a small expenditure directed sn 
improving the ‘methods ‘of rat destruction might effect an immense saving 
the haman 
Rat and plague conditions in hutted camps.—By J. 
TAYLOR. 
e conditions which result in the presence of rats and the occurrence 
of plague in Hu _ er at the Basra Base correspond in certain points 
with Indian behing 
The presence oki cane in huts is due to either— 
(1) Baeciotdired conditions, 
(2) Bad conditions acest abiel by the hese tee 
The structure of most of the huts in w e greater part of the 
Base a Pas is accommodated affords tittle eal for rats in the roofs 
and w 
e oe rs in some cases afforded shelter for rats, and where wooden 
floors were used, rats oe established themselves beneath them. Mud 
floors permitted ‘of rat bu peekin ut if huts were cleared out daily, and 
mealbc eed kit, etc., allowed to accumulate, and the floors kept clear, a ps 
popul ation did not aneied estab shed to any extent. Cement floo 
Avesly ba weit bioge 
Tn any hut, ay a str which normally would provide “bir 
shelter for rats, conditions adie. to rat infestation were brought a 
if the hut was a sgh to be filled with lumber which covered the move eer 
was never neap 
Instances of ait Telit and plague are given, which resulted from 
the pre — of oo floors, or from avoidable conditions caused by the 
occupants of 
In the ‘sia fee season, there was an extremely small incidence of 
plague in Hutted Camps exce pt in those which were badly fon 7 
in which rat tatasthtten had been encouraged by bad Camp man ent. 
measures est are Moco ent for keeping huts free ou "rats 
are detailed. These may be s 
(1) The removal an a arded aaa ae 
(2) The introduction of a Camp routine which will entail the com: lete 
clearance of floors daily, poi alterations to the interior of huts 
being first made which may be necessary to pe! this. 
