712 



(leconiposc iuid occasion «;ieal slencli. Stiycliuiiic, a 

 vt'j'elahlt' poison and vrry bitter in taste, kills 

 (|alckiy. It is 'generally used by cuttinji <;ashes in 

 pieces of meat and insertinji' the poison in the incisions 

 wliiclj are closed toj^etliei- and the meat is then nailed 

 to a board or phiDk and placed in runways or oilier 

 places where Rats go, and where other animals can 

 not get at it. 



Arsenic, a mineral poison, is sweet to the taste; it 

 is often used in conjunction with plaster of paris and 

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

 be mixed with dry cornmeal for the Rats. Strych- 

 nine is far more deadly and certain in its action and 

 il destroys its victims quickly. Arsenic, on the other 

 liaiul, wliile it causes death, kills more slowly and 

 causes great irritation and iutiammation of the stom- 

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

 many persons to recommend its use in preference to 

 strychnine, as it is claimed the Kats will leave the 

 buildings and go to water to allay their sufferings. I 

 do not recommend the use of either of these poisons 

 for the destruction of Kats 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 ])oisoned food for them. 



TRAPS. 



Different kinds of wire traps are sold by dealers for 

 catching Rats and many of them for a time answer 

 the puipose very well. Various hand-made box-tra])s. 

 snares and dead-falls are also used mo-re or less suc- 

 cessfully to aid in extenninating these rodents. The 



