Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/503

RAT Bvsts in mixing a quart of oatmeal ■with six drops of oil of rhodium, <xie grain of mask, and two or three fruits of the nuxvomica tinely pvilverized ; and forming the whole into pellets, which must be placed near their holes. Tiiis recipe was first ]3ublished in the Letters of the Bath Society, where it is observed, that the rats ate eagerly at first, and that great numbers were killed ; but, after a short time, they de- clined to devour it. Hence, a more alluring substitute was recommend- ed, namely, three parts of oatmeal, and one of staves-acre, made into a paste with honey, which should be divided ir.to ^c■^^. pieces, and laid at the entrance of their avcnu. s. Another composition has been made of wheaten tiour, sugar, and •water, kneaded into a paste, and scented with a few drops of oil of caraway-seeds : small portions are to be e.Kposed at stated times near their holes, till tl^e animals, lulled into security, colle£t in considera- ble numbers. It will then be ad- visable to incorporate a sufficient <]uantity of arsenic, finely levigated, with the paste, and thus to render it a fatal poison for mice and rats. Toward the close of the year 1-800, Mr. CuNDELL obtained a patent for a new compound invent- ed by him, with a view to destroy rats.— -He directs eight ounces of calomel to be mixed with four- teen ounces of dried and pulverized scilaiium (night-shade) ; lifty-six pounds of oatmeal ; six pounds of melasses, and a sufficient quantity of oil ot" rhodium, to communicate a fragrant smell : the whole is to be formed into a mass with sweet oil. Beside these remedies, there are many other contrivances for exter- p:inating rats : and^ as the subjeft RAT [475 is of considerable importance to every house-keeper, we shall sub- join an account of several other means, which have been found re- markably successful. Mr. Charles Taylor, Secre- tary to the Society for the Encou- ragement of Arts, &c. dire(5ts one or two table-spoonfuls of dry oat- meal to be uniformly, but thinly, spread on a tile or plate, in ord^- that the quantity taken away may be more easily ascertained. The rats, if not interrupted, v/ill regularly feed there ; and they must be supplied for two or three successive days with fresh meal, when three drops of oil of aniseed are to be mixed with a double portion of oatmeal ; and the composition deposited at the usual place, for a similar period of time. On the fourth day, one half only of the usual quantity must be given .of the scented preparation, and on the succeeding night, the following mixture must be placed at the hole : — I;et four ounces of dry oatmeal, perfumed with six drops of the oil of aniseed, be thoroughly incorpo- rated with half an ounce of carbo- nated barytes (aerated heavy spar of Derbyshire), which has been previously pulverized, and sifted through fine cambric or muslin. This compound must be spread on the tile or slate, and expos- ed as usual 3 all the doors, or other communications, being sb.ut for the space of 24 hours, that the vermin may eat it undisturbed by anv cats, dogs, or otier aniuials; and also to prevent the possibility of any accident happening to the latter. In tlie course of a few hours, after the rats have eriten the com- position, they will be seen fre- quently to reel about, as if they . were intoxicated, or paralytic ; though^ at lengdi, they return to thdr