Abstract
ACCORDING to the Medical Officer of August 15, Dr. Charles White, medical officer of health for the City of London, has recently issued a report to the effect that while the devastation caused by enemy action has undoubtedly reduced the rat population, particularly in the Cripplegate area, in other districts there is still severe infestation by these vermin. Premises previously more or less free now suffer constant infestation, especially buildings in which the upper floors only were damaged by fire or blast. The hundreds of sandbag blast walls have formed a safe harbour for rats, but many have now been replaced by brick structures. Infestation by rats has been aggravated by the introduction of fire-guarding and consequent indiscriminate feeding, as well as by leaving doors open throughout the buildings to facilitate fire-guards access to rooms. Dr. White recommends that when structural reconstruction is considered adequate steps should be taken to constructrat-free buildings.
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Rats and the War. Nature 150, 287 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/150287c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/150287c0