RBDHBQUILL POWDERS AS KATICIDBS 
25 
Results obtained in these 14 series confirm Claremont's findings (-5) 
that, on the averasre, less squill powder is required to kill wild rats 
than is required to kill white rats. 
EFFECT OF RED-SQUHX POWDERS ON DOMESTIC AND OTHER ANIMALS 
Previous investigators have stated that squill, although toxic to 
rats, is not toxic to cats, dogs, chickens, and other domestic animals. 
As no data sho\\ing the minimum lethal dose of red squill to these 
animals were found lq the hterature, a series of experiments was 
undertaken to determine the toxicity of sqijill to animals other than 
rats. 
CATS 
Squill powders were rruxed with whole-milk powder, and various 
proportions were added to 100 grams of lean hashed meat, which was 
then fed to cats. In food containing 10 to 25 parts of squill powder 
per million the unusual flavor was detected, and the food was eaten 
slovrly but completely. The quantities of food containing higher 
concentrations of squill that cats consumed within 24 hours were then 
determined. (Table 12.j 
Table 12. — Relative 'percentages of squtU-meai baits eaten by cats in a 24-hour 
period 
Concentration of squill (parts per | 
million) 
1 VeKsmtr ji 
1 age eaten ^ 
1 C<xicenteaticm of squill (parts per 
1 million) 
Perc^nl- 
agt ea:ea 
100... 
2,0^.. 
200 
1 5,000 
20 
500. 
10,000 
7 
1,000 - 
As rat baits are customarily exposed in concentrations of 10 per 
cent, or 100,000 parts per million, cats probably will not eat such food. 
DOGS 
Dogs refused ground meat containing 1,000, 2,500, and 5.000 
parts of squill powder per million of meat. When squill powder 
suspended in water was injected into the stomach by stomach tube, 
emesis and diarrhea followed in several instances after doses of 100 
milligrams per kilo of body weight. As dogs refused food containing 
a small concentration of squill powder, such as 1,000 parts per million, 
it does not seem that they would be hurt by sqiull. Two separate 
instances have been noted where dogs gulped down squiU rat baits 
containing 10 per cent of squill mixed ^4th sausage. Emesis was the 
only effect noted. 
CHICKENS 
No effect was observed follo\^T.ng the injection into chickens' crops 
of quantities less than 2.000 milligrams of squiQ powder per kilo of 
body weight. Diarrhea followed the injection of 2.000 and 3.000 
milligrams per kilo. Squill powder was mixed ^dth cracked com and 
with laying mash in 10 per cent concentrations. After one or two 
picks, chickens refused to eat such food. Two chickens were placed 
on a diet containing 10 per cent of squill powder in growing mash. 
