234 



Mil. E. G. BOULKNGEU: REPORT ON 



Arsenic. 



With Stryclinine, which is acknowledged n most effec1<ive poison, 

 we made no experiments, as, owing to its deadly action, its whole- 

 sale use conld not under any circumstances be recommended. 



Much time was spent testing various preparations of which 

 Barimn Carbonate formed the basis, this rat-poison having been 

 selected as the most suitable by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and the Indian Government. Althiough 

 1| or 2 grains suffices to kill a i-at, Barium Carbonate is more or 

 less harmless to domestic animals, cats and chickens withstanding 

 10-15 grains, and an average-sized dog over 100 grains. It has 

 :also the advantages of being cheap, tasteless, and therefore easily 

 made attractive by mixing with a suitable bait: further, its 

 ■corrosive action on the mucous membrane of the stomach induces 

 the rats to leave their holes in search of drink. Althoti.oh the 

 successes obtained with Barium Ctr-bonate were not so decisive 

 as those resulting fi'om treatment with Squill — a, poison we refer 

 to later, — with one exception a definite reduction in the number 

 of I'ats resulted from our tests, and we satisfied ourselves that it 

 ivas as eflfective as the more dangerous poisons, such as phosphorus 

 and arsenic. In most cases the poison was put down with tallow- 

 fat mixed in equal proportions, and smeared on bread. To make 

 •certain of the destruction of all the rats leaving their holes in 

 search of water it was found advisable to place within their reach, 

 ■on the day followijig the treatment, bowls containing a solution 

 ■of squill and milk ; the rats being thus made to partake of more 

 poison in their efforts at relief. 



