A laboratory researcher has been treated at hospital because she is devastated by the death of more than 1,000 rats.
Gwynneth Quick, who has been dubbed Rat Woman, kept the rats at her home near Cape Town because she couldn't stand the way they were being treated at work.
Authorities only found out about the rats when she locked herself out of her house and called police for help.
Police found rats running all over the house where they had destroyed most of the furniture and internal fittings. Only one room was reserved for human habitation.
Ms Quick, said to be an exceptionally intelligent woman with a number of university degrees, was treated in hospital after the house was fumigated and the rats killed.
She has now been readmitted for further treatment.
Copyright © 2001 Ananova Ltd
Why was this person banned? Centuries ago, people used to visit Bedlam, the major nut house outside London, for the amusement of watching the antics of the patients. Now it's considered cruel to make fun of the mentally ill, but there is still amusement value in folks who are dumb as a hoe handle -- when it's by choice, rather than brain chemistry.
To Constitution Day,
My latest UPI column is now out the door (see link below). If you like it, please ping the NC list. Also, starting probably next week I'll do a ten-part gig on constitutional law, on air with Jerry Agar out of Raleigh. That will be every Monday at 5-6 p.m. With 50,000 watts, it'll reach most of the state. FReepers are welcome to call in.
Cheers,
Congressman Billybob