OF INSECTS, &C. 361 



Use arsenic, or corrosive sublimate, for that pur- 

 pose, except under particular circumstances, as 

 they are deadly poison : nux vomica will generally 

 answer the end as well, without the danger. In 

 case of being accidentally tasted by children or 

 others, it will be attended with no worse conse- 

 quence than leaving a disagreeable bitter taste in 

 the mouth ; unless, indeed, a considerable quanti- 

 ty of it be taken, which would, no doubt, prove 

 fatal * ; as it is possessed of a strong narcotic qua- 

 lity, and is found a certain poison for dogs and cats, 

 as well as for rats and mice. All domestic ani- 

 mals should, therefore, be kept from the places 

 where the poison is laid. A very good way to 

 prevent accidents is, to enclose the traps in cacjs, 

 having holes in the ends of them large enough to 

 admit the rats, but small enough to exclude dogs, 

 cats, &c. 



A Bait for Rat- Traps, 



Take a pound of good flour, three ounces of 

 treacle, and six drops of the oil of carraways ; put 

 them all in a dish, and rub them well together till 

 they are properly mixed ; then add a pound of 

 crumb of bread. 



Set the traps, baited with some of the foregoing 

 mixture, as near their haunts as possible ; but, for 

 two or three day;^, so as not to fall or strike on the 

 rats going in, and let them have free liberty to go 



♦ It has been taken in doses from five to ten grains twice a 

 day, in intermittents and dysenteries. 



