Great Hanoi Rat Massacre

1 cent - French Indo-China 1902 Art-Hanoi (Indo-Chine Fran%C3%A7aise side)

Great Hanoi Rat Massacre

The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre was a public health campaign that took place in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1902. The campaign was initiated by the French colonial government in an effort to control the population of rats, which were believed to be spreading the bubonic plague.

Background

In the early 20th century, Hanoi was part of French Indochina. The city was undergoing significant urban development, including the construction of a modern sewer system. However, this new infrastructure inadvertently provided an ideal habitat for rats, leading to a surge in the rat population. The increase in rats was linked to the spread of the bubonic plague, prompting the colonial authorities to take action.

The Campaign

The French colonial administration devised a plan to exterminate the rats. They offered a bounty for each rat killed, requiring the severed tail of the rat as proof. This initiative was intended to mobilize the local population to participate in the extermination effort.

Unintended Consequences

The bounty system led to several unintended consequences. Instead of reducing the rat population, it encouraged the breeding of rats. People began to farm rats to collect the bounties, and some even imported rats from other areas. Additionally, some individuals would cut off the tails of live rats and release them, allowing the rats to breed and produce more tails.

Outcome

The campaign ultimately failed to achieve its goal of eradicating the rats and controlling the plague. The rat population continued to thrive, and the plague persisted. The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre is often cited as an example of the unintended consequences that can arise from poorly designed public health interventions.

Legacy

The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre remains a significant historical event, illustrating the complexities of public health initiatives and the importance of considering potential unintended consequences. It is studied in the fields of public health, epidemiology, and colonial history.

See Also

• Bubonic plague
• Public health
• Epidemiology
• Colonial history

Further Reading

• Public health campaigns
• French Indochina
• Urban development