Question
Here is the question : ACCORDING TO LEGEND, THE PIED PIPER PRACTICED WHAT NOW-OBSOLETE JOB?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Trolley conductor
- Corset maker
- Rat catcher
- Telegraph operator
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
Beginning in the middle ages, municipalities that suffered from rat infestations would seek the services of rat catchers to bring their rodent population under control. Even though rat catchers were generally supplanted by more generalised pest-control specialists in the early 20th century, their legacy lives on in the story of the Pied Piper, a rat catcher who kidnapped all of the children in a German town when the villagers refused to pay him for his services. In the myth, the Pied Piper was a rat catcher who led the children to their deaths.
Legend has it that in the town of Hamelin, Germany, during the Middle Ages, a mysterious figure known as the Pied Piper emerged. This enigmatic character, often depicted in colorful attire and playing a mesmerizing tune on his pipe, was said to possess a unique skill: the ability to rid the town of its rat infestation. The Pied Piper is associated with the now-obsolete profession of a rat catcher, a role that involved trapping and removing rodents from human settlements.
In the medieval era, rats were a pervasive problem in towns and cities. These vermin would infiltrate homes, businesses, and food stores, causing widespread damage and spreading disease. The role of the rat catcher was to tackle this issue head-on, employing various techniques and tools to control and eliminate the rodent population.
The Pied Piper, as depicted in the legend, used his melodic pipe-playing to lure the rats out of the town. The story goes that his enchanting music was irresistible to the rats, drawing them out of their hiding places and leading them away from the town and into the River Weser, where they met their watery demise. The Pied Piper’s unique ability to communicate with and manipulate the rats made him a revered figure in the community, and his services were highly sought after.
In reality, rat catchers employed a range of methods to control rodent populations. They used traps, such as spring-loaded devices or cages, to capture rats alive. These trapped rats could then be disposed of or released elsewhere. Rat catchers also employed the use of poison baits, typically made from toxic substances such as arsenic, to kill rats. Additionally, they would employ the help of trained dogs or even ferrets, which were adept at hunting and capturing rodents.
The job of a rat catcher was not without its dangers. Rats were known carriers of diseases such as the bubonic plague, making the handling of these vermin a hazardous task. Rat catchers had to take precautions to protect themselves from bites and scratches, which could lead to infection. They often wore thick gloves and used long-handled tools to minimize direct contact with the rats.
The profession of the rat catcher extended beyond simply catching rats. They were also responsible for preventing infestations by identifying and sealing off potential entry points for rodents. This often involved inspecting buildings and structures for gaps, holes, or other vulnerabilities that rats could exploit. Rat catchers would then advise property owners on necessary repairs or modifications to make their premises less susceptible to rodent intrusion.
Over time, advancements in sanitation, urban planning, and pest control methods led to the decline of the rat catcher profession. Improved waste management, the construction of sewer systems, and the introduction of more effective rodent control measures reduced the prevalence of rat infestations in urban areas. The need for dedicated rat catchers diminished, a