712 



i|< Tiiiiiiiusc iuid ofcasion i;ieat stench. Sn \cliiiiiic, ;i 

 vi'^eliible [loisou and vi-rv bitier in taste, kills 

 iiuickly. It is {"ent^rally used by cutting gashes in 

 liieces of meat and inserting the poison in the incisions 

 which aie closed togelliei- and the meat is then nailed 

 to a bo<ai-d oi- plank and placed in runways or oilier 

 places where Rats go, and where other animals lan 

 not get at it. 



Arsenic, a mineral poison, is sweet to the tasic; ii 

 is often used in conjunction with plaster of paris and 

 mixed with butter which is spread on bread, or it can 

 he mixed with dry coiiimeal for the Rats. Strveh- 

 nine is far more deadly and certain in its action and 

 il destroys its victims quickly. Arsenic, on the other 

 hand, while it causes death, kills more slowly and 

 causes j;rcat irritation and inflamiuaiion of the slom 

 ach, etc. This action of the latter agent has induced 

 many persons to recommend its use in preference to 

 strychnine, as it is claimed the Rats will leave the 

 Imildings and go to water to allay their sufferings. I 

 do not recommend the use of either of these poisons 

 for the destruction of Rats or Mice, as the use of such 

 means is attended with great danger and other objec- 

 tions. However, if you do use them it is well to bait 

 the animals for several days with meat or meal so 

 they will become accustomed to it before you arrange 

 I he i>oisoned food for them. 



TRAPS. 



Ditferent kinds of wire traps are sold by dealers for 

 catching Rats and many of them for a time answer 

 the purpose very well. Various hand-made box-traps, 

 snares and dead-falls are also used more or less suc- 

 cessfullv to aid in exiemiinating these rodents. The 



