CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Introduction, ........... 7 



Rat history, ........... 7 



Rat habits 8 



Rat food, 11 



Rat fecundity, ........... 11 



Rat numbers and destructiveness, ........ 12 



Rat incendiarism, .......... 2.5 



Cost of keeping rats, ......... 24 



The rat menace to human Ufe and the public health, ... 26 

 Circumstances favorable to the multiplication of rats and their appearance 



in large numbers, ........ 30 



Rat riddance 32 



Rat eviction, .......... 32 



Destroying rat habitations and harboring places, ... 33 



Rat-proofing buildings, ........ 33 



Rat starvation, .......... 37 



Disposal of edible garbage and refuse, . . .37 



Rat-proofing food receptacles, ....... 37 



Rat slaughter, .......... 38 



Rat trapping, .......... 38 



Snap traps, ......... 41 



Cleaning, disguising, scenting and concealing trap.?, . . 44 



Catching the experienced rat, ...... 46 



Rat bait, .......... 51 



Wire cage trap, ........ 52 



Barrel traps, ......... 54 



Rat electrocution, ....... 57 



Rat fence and battue, ....... 57 



Grain-room trapdoor, ....... 57 



Rat poisoning, ......... 58 



Arsenic, .......... CO 



Strychnine, ......... 67 



Phosphorus, ......... 69 



Barium carbonate. ........ 69 



Directions for use of poison in poultry houses, ... 71 



General directions for poisoning, ..... 71 



Antidotes for rat poisons, ....... 72 



Rat deodorants, ......... 73 



