Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-09-12
RATS AND MICE.
Osmpei These Nuisances to vacate, and
 Once Out Keep Them Out.

oBmPei These Nuisances to Vacate, and
 Once Out Keep Them Out.
 Mice often do more damage about house than rats. They are contempti- ble little nuisance and cause a great deal of tumultuous vexation. Generally they work the greatest injury in and about the house, as they can get into holes and corners where neither rats, cats nor hu- man beings can molest or make them afraid, but where they can multiply and devastate the house at their pleasure They take especial delight in gnawing holes into fCur and meal sacks and scat tering the contents over the floor.
 When weary of life, they invariably contrive to commit suicide by drowning in pitcher of molasses or crock of fresh cream. They don't improve the flavor of liquids by bathing in them nor the smell of any box or closet by making it their abiding place. They don't improve mans chances for cool and comfort able hereafter by entering his trunk and converting his clothing into lint, making nests of it and raising extensive families therein. They do have very mean and small way of creating tribulation in the household, upsetting equanimity and de- stroying peace of mind.
 All houses should be made mouse proof when they are built. They may be just as well as not. Carpenters should be given distinct and emphatic instruc- tions in regard to this matter. If the mice are already in the house, the object is to get them out and then keep them out. This is not very difficult task, if you only go about it right. If you are certain the house does not contain more than half dozen, you can get rid of them by employing a good mousetrap and changing the bait every day. If, however, they are numerous, it is not worth while to fool with traps; use poi son and settle the matter quickly.
 If you are afraid to use poisons or for any reason this is not advisable. proceed at once with caustic potash. pepper or meal and plaster of paris to make the premises unhealthy for them. At the first indications of their presence begin operations. Don't give them time to set tie down, construct nests and start a family. Make it hot for them at the very outset. They will soon discover that your premises are quite insalubrious and will carefully avoid them. It is not a difficult task to expel either rats oI mice or destroy them. They love phos. phorus mixed with meal and made into little balls and will eat it with avidity They will readily devour strychnine ol arsenic when properly mixed with sucf food as they relish.
 Finely ground cayenne pepper or tai literally applied in the holes and run ways will compel the rodents to leave Caustic potash. if thinly spread around the holes and in any place where either mice or rats are liable to tread, will ut terly ruin their feet, corrode their mouths and send them abroad in search of health
 Powdered cayenne pepper operates by creating a violent disturbance of theil breathing apparatus. Don't be afraid of sitting too much into the holes anC be sure that it is dry. The foregoing hints are from little manual published by the Rural Publishing company oI how to rid buildings of these and simila pests. In poisoning rodents the caution is given to place water where they cal find access to it. and of course to provid against the poison falling into the wa. of children or pet animals.