Rat Proofing Buildings and Premises

This early 20th-century USDA technical bulletin represents a foundational text in urban pest management. Crouch, drawing on decades of agricultural research, presents a systematic approach to rat exclusion that treats building design as the first line of defense. Rather than relying solely on poisons and traps, the book argues that the most effective strategy is architectural: sealing foundations, installing rat guards, eliminating foundation vents, and designing buildings with materials rats cannot gnaw through. The text covers both agricultural structures (farms, granaries, stables) and urban buildings, providing detailed specifications for construction details that exclude rodents. What gives the book lasting value is its preventive philosophy: kill the rats you have, but change the building so new ones cannot enter. This approach influenced building codes and public health policy for decades.