I'm guessing the rats were appalled by the conditions.
There is some of that here in government run places.
Tampa VA Hospital Cockroach, Rodent Infestation is Appalling
The Tampa VA hospital owes veterans an apology—not a defense of the deplorable conditions of the hospital.
I had a friend who was wounded in VN and was rehabilitating in the Philly VA hospital. He complained about the rats.