as Enemies of Marikind. 



29 



1. Protection of food supplies. 



This is of prime importance. All foodstuffs in stores, markets, 

 and shops should be kept in rat -proof receptacles when not 

 exposed for sale. Household larders and the mangers of domestic 

 animals should be carefully protected from rats. 



2. Removal and destruction of refuse. 



Pending removal, all refuse should be placed in rat-proof 

 receptacles, such as metal bins with tight-fitting lids. Our care- 

 lessness in this matter provides nourishment for swarms of rats 

 in every city. 



Eefuse should be promptly removed and destroyed. The 

 formation of rubbish dumps is a most dangerous practice and 

 should be prohibited ; such dumps always afford good shelter and 

 much food to rats ; and they frequently become the principal 

 breeding places and strongholds of rats infesting docks, ware- 

 houses, and railway goods yards. 



3. Rat-proofing of buildings. 



All new buildings should be made rat-proof by the liberal use 

 of cement in their cellars and foundations, and by the proper 

 protection of their doors, basement windows, ventilators, and 

 drains. Whenever opportunity presents itself similar protection 

 should be given to existing buildings. 



4. Protection of drains. 



All drains opening into sewers should be efficiently sealed. 

 Inlets and outlets of stackpipes, etc., should be guarded with 

 wire cages. 



5. Fumigation of ships, and protection of quays, rail- 



ways, etc. 



In most ports the Sanitary Authorities now fumigate ships and 

 take steps to prevent rats from passing from ship to shore and 

 vice versa,*' The importance of such measures cannot be exag- 

 gerated, and it is to be hoped that everything will be done to 

 extend or improve their application. Attention should be paid to 

 lighters, barges, and other craft on our rivers and canals. 



Wooden stagings and platforms frequently harbour immense 

 numbers of rats; they should be replaced whenever possible by 

 solid structures of brick and concrete. 



* All hawsers should be furnished with rat-shields, such as circular discs 

 of metal not less than 4 feet in diameter. 



