RAT EXTERMINATION.

Shannon News, 23 December 1924, Page 4

RAT EXTERMINATION.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S . APPEAR,

) The shannon Borough. Council have received the IQJUQWing letter from me puohq Health Department;—

“in view, of tne recent grave , reports as to a serious outbreak 01 plague in Los Angeies and so urn Ainca it is necessary mat local anuionties continue their anti-rat measures. Every effort is made with regard to this matter on vessels and on Wharves at Che ports. Action is., however, needed hy all lofal authorities. ‘'‘l ’ would therefore, ask that .yo(u* Council continue a war against rats and mice.. It is desired that, notion should rather be continuous year hy year,* than that spasmodic action should be taken on every occasion when plague is irife in some parts of the world. Therefore constant action against rodents, is .what is. required. Citizens should be encouraged to trap and poison rats. The fact that poison is available from the Council should be made known, and the responsibility of tlie citizens impressed upon them. When it is remembered that one rat alone will produce some fifty to sixty rats per year it is easy to understand the necessity for an umrer mitting onslaught uppn them. “Special attention should of course be paid to prevention of rubbish accumulation, destruction of rats at tips, and the Storage of foods and grain.

“Property owners, who are guilty* of default with regard to* anti-rat, measures should have notices, served upon them requiring them to take proper steps* against rats. I would ask that your Council do as much as possible in this matter, and also endeavour to impress upon the citizens their duty with. 1 regard to the question.—Yours faithfully, JOHN BOYD, Medical Officer of Health.