ted white; and, when many of them are seen, to let down
the lid; by which contrivance sixty of them are stated to have been
taken at one time.--But though the usual ways of destroying rats are by
traps and poison, it is advised never to use arsenic, or corrosive
sublimate, for that purpose, except under particular circumstances, as
they are deadly poisons: nux vomica will generally answer the end as
well, without the danger. It is a very good plan, to prevent accidents,
to enclose the traps in cases, having holes in the ends of them large
enough to admit rats, but small enough to exclude dogs, cats, &c. As a
bait for rat-traps, the following composition may be made use of with
advantage. Take a pound of good flour, three ounces of treacle, and six
drops of the oil of carraways: put them all in a dish, and rub them well
together till they are properly mixed: then add a pound of crumb of
bread. The traps baited with this mixture should be set as near their
haunts as possible; but, for two or three days, so as not to fall or
strike on the rats going in, but letting them have free liberty to go in
and out at pleasure, as this makes them fearless. Some of the bait
should also be laid at the rat-holes, and a little of it scattered quite
up to the traps, and so on to the bridge of each trap, where a handful
may be placed. It may also be proper to scent the traps with the
following mixture, for the purpose of enticing the rats into them. Take
twenty drops of the oil of rhodium, six or seven grains of musk, and
half an ounce of oil of aniseed; put them in a small phial, and shake it
well before using; then dip a piece of twisted paper or rag in the
mixture, and rub each end of the trap with it, if a box trap, and put
two or three drops on the bridge, leaving the paper or rag in the trap.
Of whatever kind the trap is, it should be scented; but once in a
twelvemonth will be sufficient. Then throw some chaff mixed with a
little wheat about the bottom of the trap, in order to deceive the
rats; for they are very sagacious, and will not enter a suspicious
place. This will be necessary to be done only at the first time of
setting the traps; for, after some rats have been caught and have
watered and dunged in them, rats will enter boldly when they find others
have been there before them: do not, therefore, wash or clean out the
trap, as some people do before they set it again, but let the dung and
urine remain in it. Keep the places where