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Show HEALTH ' I BY UNCLE SAM, M. D. Health Questions Will Be An- werod If Sent to Information i ! Bureau, U. 8. Publio Heaith 6erv- Ice, Washington, O. C i , I The high cost of board and lodging for Mr Rat is one of tho big problems I in economics for the United States to- jf da I Yi ars ago. when even a rat could get IH j his rations and a place to sleep at a f nominal sum, a careful survey was made of the situation. It developed 1 that the rat population kept pace with j the human population. There was a j I rat for every person in the United II ! States Investigations In feed store?. 'l poultry stores, the farm, etc. established estab-lished the further fact that each ra'. IH cost each person in the United States I one-half of one cent each day Estimates today by experts of the , United States public health service ij place the daily cost of the rat at one !; cent for each person In the United I States, or f 3.65 a year, just double the I pre-war cost, a conservative figure if the increased value of food stuffs since j 1910 are taken Into consideration. I A produce dealer stored 100 dozen eggs' In his warehouse for two eekd. I On opening the tub In which they had H been placed he found rats had gnawed j! a hole through the bottom and re- j' moved 71 V2 dozen eggs. Similar dep j redatlons happen throughout the Unit-ed Unit-ed States, to growing crops of grain. II the stored grain, fruit, vegetables, i young poultry, pigeons and merchan I dise in general, which It destroys Then to add insult to Injury' the rata now and then transmit to man through their fleas the dread bubonic plague. This disease has made its appearance , fl In a number of gulf ports this summer sum-mer While the public health service feels that its experts have been able j to control the plague and prevent Its spreading, state and city boards of health throughout the United States have been asked to begin an active war against the rat, not only as a health precaution but as an Important economic measure. Already a number of seaport cities and even communities communi-ties widely removed from plague ports, have determined to get rid of the rat. I Of all measures tho most effective, H according to the United States public pub-lic health service, is starvation This 'As accomplished principally by con jl Istructing buildings so that rata cannot I i get to tlie food in them. |