1920.] Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. 223 



Occupiers are reminded of their obligations and liabilities 

 under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. It is im- 

 portant that every care should be tuken 



Rats and Mice protect ricks, barns, and granaries from 

 (Destruction) Act. ^-^ . , , v^-. 



1919: Some Simple ravages of rats. In urban districts 

 Suggestions. defective drains are a frequent source of rat 

 infestation, while slaughter-houses, bone- 

 yards, refuse dumps, sewage works, and similar places are 

 common breeding places, which should be kept as free as 

 possible from rats by constantly taking measures for their 

 destruction. 



^^'here there is evidence of the presence of rats, the rat 

 officer of the Local Authority, provided one has been appointed, 

 should be consulted, or, if the occupier wishes to undertake 

 destruction himself, one of the poisons containing squills or 

 barium carbonate should be used. If there is no danger to other 

 animals, or to human beings, by the use of stronger poisons, 

 one of the standardised phosphorus preparations is generally 

 efficacious. 



To those who may desire to make their own baits, or 

 have them prepared by the local chemist, the following recipes 

 may be tried : — 



Recipes for Using Bayimn Carbonate and'- Squills . 



1. Barium carbonate .. .. .. 6 oz. 



Meal 16 



Dripping . . . . . . . . 4 



Salt 1. 



This makes 1,000 baits of 6 grains each {i.e., pieces as large 

 as a hazel nut). 



2. Barium .. .. .. .. .. 4 oz. 



Biscuit meal or plain meal . . . . 4 



Oil of aniseed . . . . . . . . 5 drops. 



Mix with fat to a paste, and lay out in pieces the size of 

 a hazel nut in places where rats are known to be present. 



3. Tallow . . . . . . . . . . 50 per cent. 



Barium carbonate . . . . . . 50 



Mix with dripping to a thick paste and spread on cubes of 

 bread the size of dice. 



4. Squills, red powdered . . . . . . 20 per cent. 



Bread 



Fat 



Syrup 

 Aniseed . . 



Crumble the bread, mix ingredients to paste and apply 

 as in the case of Nos. i and 2. 



" Gassing " Rats. — Sulphur dioxide, applied through a 

 Clayton machine or in cyhndcrs, as well as carbon-bisulphide 

 properly appUed, can be used to " gas " rats. Calcium carbide 



30 

 30 

 20 

 6 drops. 



