ermanent solution of the rat problem
in this country is ratproofing, combirned
with sanitation, and the elimination of
rat harbors. Rats will thrive as lopjg
as they have food and shelter and siafe
access from one to the other. Remove
the food or the shelter, or place a
barrier between the two, and rats cannot
survive. The practical application
of this principle is sometimes simple and
easy and sometimes -rather difficult, but
usually the manager of a food establishment
with a rat problem will find it
economically profitable to ratproof the
premises and dispose of waste food in
ratproof containers. In some places
these things are compelled by law because
of the health factor, but in many
places they are not.
Ratproofing buildings, even those
housing food establishments, cannot be
expected throughout this country in a
short time. When new buildings are
constructed and older ones are rebuilt
or repaired, however, ratproofing should
be included in the plans. Many recent
buildings and some in process of conVol.
27. 63
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
struction today lack proper ratproofing
devices, which could have been installed
during construction with little or no
added cost.