MISCELLANEOUS ANECDOTES. 
269 
to draw tliem in the first place, trail a red lierring round the 
floor, close to the wall, through each hole into the box, and 
there leave it. They will eat it, and then drink of the 
water. Look to the vessels every morning ; and you may 
throw down some bread crumbs, scraps of cheese or bacon- 
rinds ; but be sure each time to cover the box loosely over 
with straw, taking care to keep the holes clear ; and when 
you find them eat and drink freely, then lay down your 
poison, spread roughly on a wooden platter, and not in pills 
or boluses. By this plan they cannot carry it away, but 
must eat it where it is, and will afterwards drink till they 
die. Bury the dead every morning in the dung-heap, so 
that pigs or other animals cannot get at them. Beplenish 
the poison and water, and by this means you will soon clear 
the place. 
And now, in summing up the matter on poisons, let me 
tell you that until the law, or universal consent, shall put 
an end to the use of arsenic, barytes, nux-vomica, and such 
like things for the poisoning of rats, &c., of course you have 
an undoubted right to use them, if you think pro^oer. But 
unless you are on good and friendly terms with a druggist, 
you must have a written recommendation from some quali- 
fied medical man who can guarantee your intentions. 
Without this, no druggist can sell you such things with- 
out being subject to a heavy penalty. 
CHAPTEE XIV. 
— MISCELLANEOUS ANECDOTES. 
A Barrach for Eats, — An extensive bacon m.erchant, who 
kills between forty and fifty thousand pigs in a season, 
has adopted the following successful method for destroy- 
ing the rats which abound in his premises. He has 
-erected a square building, eleven feet long and seven feet wide, 
with a wall three feet high, having stone flags laid flat on the 
top, but projecting over the inside of the wall. All round the 
wall, on the inside, at the base, are numerous small holes, 
like pigeon-holes, which do not go quite through, except a 
