THE HOUSE RAT 



13 



Service was able to check each outbreak before it got out of control. 

 In the United States there have been approximately 450 cases and 

 almost as many deaths. 



B25100 



Figure 10. — Typical rat damage to bags, an example of the preponderance of foods wasted 



to foods consumed. 



Figure 11. — The only clean characteristic of the rat is a seeming fondness for soap. 



Unfortunately, however, following its first occurrence in San Fran- 

 cisco in 1900, the plague was contracted by ground squirrels of ad- 

 jacent areas and before this was discovered had become endemic in 

 our native fauna to the extent that it has not been possible to eradi- 

 cate it. Since its discovery in native rodents in 1908, this form, 



