PHOSPHORIC POISONS. 
263 
rhodium or not, at pleasure. The flavour may be varied 
with the oil of anise seed. This dough, being made into pel- 
lets, is to be laid in the rat-holes. By its luminousness in 
the dark, it attracts their notice, and being agreeable to their 
palates and noses, it is readily eaten, and proves certainly 
fatal. They soon are seen issuing from their lurking-places, 
in quest of water to quench their burning thirst, and they 
commonly die near the water. They continue to eat it as 
long as it is offered to them, without being deterred by the 
fate of their fellows, as is known to be the case with arsenical 
doses." 
A gentleman who was a great sufferer from rats gives 
the following as the best method of preparing phos- 
phorus : — " Procure of lard or dripping ^Ib., of phosphorus 
one drachm, of spirits of wine one gill ; place the whole 
of these in a thoroughly clean pint wine-bottle ; that 
done, then place the bottle in water nearly to the neck. 
This can be easily done by putting it in a saucepan. 
Then let it gradually warm^ till the dripping or lard 
is fairly melted ; then take it out, cork it firmly down, and 
shake it, until the contents are thoroughly incorporated. 
When cold, pour off the spirits of wine, and then it is ready 
for use." 
To prepare it for use, first get some flour, as much as you 
may think will be necessary, and put in some sugar ; then 
warm the bottle and pour out as much as will make it into 
thickisb dough j that done, cut it in two, and put to one a 
couple of drops of the oil of rhodium, and to the other, two 
drops of the oil of anise seed ; work them up separately, until 
the oil is thoroughly mixed ; then cut them in little pieces 
about the size of marbles, and place them in the holes or 
run of the rats, and there is an end of them. 
For the preparation of phosphorus paste, Dr. H ^'s 
prescription is as follows : — " Take twelve ounces of starch, 
and mix it up with half a pint of cold water ; when ready, 
pour in five half-pints of boiling water ; it must boil while 
you poar it in, and the starch stirred at the same time. 
The instant it forms a jelly, put in one ounce and a half of 
phosphorus, and cover the basin for a few minutes ; then 
mix it well up together with a wooden spoon, or spatula, 
till it is cold ; after that, add a little powdered valerian 
