Question

"The measures taken by the French to control the spread of bubonic plague in Hanoi created a serious problem." Explain the statement.

Answer 1

The French decided to rebuild Hanoi with an endeavour to create a modern Vietnam. In 1903, the modern part of Hanoi was struck by bubonic plague. The measures taken by the French to control the spread of this plague further created the following problems:

1. To deal with the menace of rat, a rat hunt was started in 1902. The French hired Vietnam workers and paid them for each rat they caught. 

2. For the Vietnamese, the rat hunt provided them an opportunity of collective bargaining.

3. Those who did the dirty work of entering sewers began negotiating a higher bounty from the French.

4. They also discovered innovative ways to profit from the situation. The bounty was paid when a tail was given as proof that a rat has been killed. So, the rat catchers took to just clipping the tails and releasing the rats so that the process could be repeated over and again.

5. Rats were also raised to earn a bounty. Due to these factors, the plague worsened.