232 



the bare hands, and the places where found disinfected with a germicidal solution; 

 and the quarantine officer shall assure himself that the vessel is free of rats and vermin 

 before granting free pratique. 



Additional regulations prescribe the method of disinfection of 

 vessels for plague, and elsewhere in this publication is given a detailed 

 description of the measures taken aboard ships at Angel Island, one 

 of the national quarantine stations. 



Elsewhere is also given an account of the measures taken to eradi- 

 cate plague from certain cities on the Pacific coast, among the meas- 

 ures being the systematic destruction of rodents and practical rat 

 proofing. 



In a letter dated November 21, 1908, requests were made to the 

 Department of State for reports from certain of the more important 

 foreign seaports as to systematic measures being practiced for the 

 destruction of rats. As a result much valuable information has 

 been received, and acknowledgments are due and here made to the 

 consular officers furnishing it. The data received was abstracted 

 and classified according to countries as follows: 



RAT EXTERMINATION IN CHINESE CITIES. 



Although the present pandemic of plague had its origin in Canton, 

 China, in 1894, and the disease has been endemic there practically 

 ever since, Consul-General Bergholz states that the provincial gov- 

 ernment of Kwangtung has made no efforts to exterminate rats. 



In Amoy the local authorities have never taken measures to 

 encourage the extermination of rats, and in the absence of assistance 

 from the local authorities but little can be done toward effective 

 eradication. 



An outbreak of plague in Shanghai in December, 1908, was attrib- 

 uted to the introduction of rats by ships from plague-infected ports." 

 A plan of campaign for such an emergency had previously been for- 

 mulated and was put in operation. It included collection and labor- 

 atory examinations of rats and organization of rat parties to destroy 

 rats and render houses rat proof. 



In Tientsin official efforts made to exterminate rats are on Unes to 

 suit the convenience of the particular health official. The consulate 

 at that port states that generally on the appearance of plague, the 

 officials pay about one-half cent for each rat brought, and as the 

 epidemic becomes severe, as much as 2^ cents gold. 



In Hongkong, the question of rats in relation to plague has been 

 of perennial interest. While on duty in the American consulate at 

 that port, my attention was forcibly called to the influence of rodents 

 in the transmission of plague. In 1900 it had been the practice 



a The Municipal Gazette, Shanghai, January 7, 1909, Health Officer's report toi 

 December, 1908. 



