20 Studies in Rat Catching. [ch, i. 



is that it does not hurt, for I have noticed 

 that sort of man generally prefers using a 

 remedy that hurts a lot — that is, where the 

 patient is not himself, but an animal. 



No big day's ratting ever takes place 

 without a ferret getting badly bitten. When 

 this is so, the ferret should never be used 

 again until it is quite well. It should be 

 sent home and put in a quiet box, apart from 

 the others, and the bites gently touched 

 with a little sweet oil from time to time ; or, 

 if it festers much, it should be sponged with 

 warm water. 



I have often had ferrets die of their 

 wounds, and these have usually been the 

 best I had. Again, with wounds the old 

 rat-catcher uses the tar-bottle, chiefly, I think, 

 because it hurts the ferret, and therefore 

 must have " a power of wirtue." 



Before going further I should point out to 

 all students of this ennobling profession that 



