THE RAT PLAGUE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sia,—Your article in last week's Spectator on "The Rat Plague" is of very general interest. If sanitary authorities and others would first read it, and then act upon it, you would have conferred a benefit upon the community at large. May I add another indictment to those you bring against rats,—viz., the pollution of the shallow wells by them in rural districts ? A few years ago I had to investigate the origin of an outbreak of septic pneumonia at a farmhouse, where five persons were seriously ill of the disease, two of the cases ending fatally. Of course, the water supply was, as usual, declared to be above suspicion. Certainly a glass of water drawn from the pump was clear and sparkling ; but on removing the cover of the well, there were the bodies of three rats, in varying stages of decomposition, floating on the surface of the water. The well was only 12 ft. deep, and the water-level was within 6in. or Sin. of the top of the brick lining. It was obvious that through one of several holes in the rickety well-head the rats—who are extremely thirsty animals—came to the well to drink. If the water-level was lowered a few inches, the rats, in trying to reach down to the water, fell in and were drowned. On having the well emptied, there was found at the bottom a horrible mass of putridity consisting entirely of decomposed rats. The men who cleaned out the well told me the stench was so awful that it was as much as they could do to finish the work. I could quote many other instances of a similar nature. Let me add a word to what you say about rat-catching as a sport. Many a happy and exciting day I spent as a boy with an old rat-catcher. It was a delight to watch the old man with his five or six terriers. There was a perfect understanding between master and dogs ; a whispered order from the old man was instantly obeyed by Teaser," Jock,' or Toby.' The dogs were quivering with excitement, but as still as mice till a rat was bolted by the ferret. The best day's sport I remember to have had was at a large farm at threshing time. The bag amounted to about three hundred and sixty rats. I have since enjoyed nearly all forms of British sport, including deer- stalking in the Highlands, salmon-fishing, and grouse-driving, but I doubt if anything ever much surpassed the pleasure and sustained excitement of that day's rat-hunt among the old
barns and rick-yard.—I am, Sir, &c., P. E. Werris,
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