KEEPING FOOD FROM EATS. 39 



kept out by the use of either an inner or an outer covering of galvan- 

 ized-wire netting of half-inch mesh and heavy enough to resist the 

 teeth of rats. The netting in common use for screening cellar windows 

 is suitable for covering cribs. As rats can climb the netting, the 

 entire structure must be screened. 



KEEPING FOOD FROM RATS. 



The effect of an abundance of food on the breeding of rodents has 

 already been mentioned. Well-fed rats mature quickly, breed often, 

 and have large litters of young. Besides limiting reproduction, 

 scarcity of food will make the measures to destroy the animals by 

 traps, poisons, or bacterial cultures far more effective. 



The general rat-proofing of buildings is the most important step 

 in limiting the food supply of rats. But since much of the animals' 

 food consists of garbage and other waste materials, it is not enough 

 to bar rats from markets, granaries, warehouses, and private food 

 stores. Garbage or offal of any kind must be so disposed of that 

 rats can not obtain it. 



In cities and towns an efficient system of garbage collection and 

 disposal should be established by ordinances. Waste from markets, 

 hotels, cafes, and households should be collected in covered metallic 

 receptacles and emptied each day. Garbage should never be dumped 

 in or near towns, but should be utilized or promptly destroyed by fire. 



Rats find abundant food in country slaughterhouses ; reform in the 

 management of these is badly needed. It is a common practice to 

 leave offal of slaughtered animals to be eaten by both rats and swine. 

 Such places are not only centers of rat propagation, but are the chief 

 means of perpetuating trichinae in pork. All this should be changed 

 by law. The offal should be promptly cremated or otherwise dis- 

 posed of. There is no reason why country slaughterhouses should 

 not be as cleanly as constantly inspected abattoirs. 



Another important source of rat food is the remnants of lunches 

 left by employees in factories, stores, and public buildings. This 

 food, which alone is sufficient to attract and sustain a small army of 

 rats, is commonly left in waste baskets or other open receptacles. 

 Strictly enforced rules requiring all remnants of food to be deposited 

 in covered vessels would make trapping far more effective. 



If buildings are infested with rats, wire-screened compartments 

 should be used for storing food. Many merchants now keep flour, 

 seeds, meats, and the like in wire cages, and the practice should be 

 general. Ice boxes and cold-storage rooms may be made proof 

 against rats by an outer covering of heavy wire netting of half-inch 

 mesh. Steamboat companies engaged in carding high-priced south- 

 ern produce to northern markets can, at small expense, protect the veg- 

 etables or fruits in screened compartments on both docks and vessels. 



