Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-10-03
DEgrRoY oBNoxIous ANIMALg
The Use of Poisoned Grain and
Killing Fumes

The Use Of Poisoned Grain and
Killing Fumes
Poisoned wheat for seed eating
mammals and birds; 1t is often de-
sired to poison certain destructive
seed-eating animals, such as rats,
mice, muskrats, gophers, and wood
chucks, as well as English sparrows
The difficulty of poisoning these
mammals and birds is well known to
those who have tried it, as the poison
renders the food distasteful to such
an extent that It is not generally
eaten in sufficient quantity to cause
death. This difficulty can be over
come and success can be obtained
by first poisoning grains of wheat,
then sugsr-coating them. To do this
dissolve about one-fourth Of an ounce
(or eight grams) Of strychnine in one
fourth of a pint of vinegar boiling,
then add water enough to make one
pint. Pour this over three or four
pounds of wheat and let It soak one
day GA hours), stirring occasionally.
Next, spread the wheat in the sun or
by fire and let it dry. When dry,
add one pound of coarse sugar to one
pint of hot water and boil it down to
one-half pint. Stir well and add
about ten drops or one-fourth tea
spoonful Of anise Oil stir and pour
the hot mixture over the dry wheat,
stirring thoroughly until cold and all
wheat is covered. This is now
dangerously poisoned sugar-coated
wheat, which has its legitimate uses,
but will kill anything that eats it,
whether given by intent or accident.
For this reason it should at once be
labelled and always handled with
care. To use it for rodents bury a
small quantity, y,-from a few grains to
one-haif teaspoonful, just beneath
the e'surfare of the soil near the bur
row of the animal. Having been
buried, it will not be found by fowls
or seed-eating birds, but the rodents
will readily smell the anise oil and
dig it up. In using this bait to kill
English sparrows place it in vessels
on roofs and at other places where
domestic fowls can not find it.
To Kill animals in holes, by poison
GUS fumes: When it is found desir-
able to kill animals in holes in the
ground, logs, Or trees, this can easily
be accomplished by the use of carbon
bisulphide. This is a foul-smelling,
poisonous, volatile and explosive
liquid. 1t is quite safe to use as long
as one is careful not to inhale its
fumes and to keep it away from fire.
1t is sold in drug stores by the
pound, at a price varying from
twelve cents to S1.5O, according to
the dealer, but thirty cents per pound
should be the maximum price for the
commercially pure article.
To use it pour from one table,
spoonful to one-fourth of a pint (ac-
cording to the size of the hole) into
a shallow vessel and place it as far
back in the hole as one can reach
easily. 1t soon volatilizes or turns
to a gas, The fumes are heavier
than air and tend to follow down the
hole rather than. TO rise. After a
short time light a torcth made of
paper tied TO the end of a pole and
place it in the hole. Do not stand in
front Of it. The slight explosion that
follows forces the poisonous fumes
back to the remote parts of the hole
and they at once kill all living crea-
lures found there. This method
should not be used in buildings, but
in all places where it is applica bic it
will be found quite effective. 1t can
also be used to kill all kinds Of ami
mails in hollow logs and trees, but
they remain where killed. Care
should be taken to not destroy desir-
able or protected animals.
Bear in mind the explosive charqc-
ter of the fumes Of carbon bisulphide
when igni ted, and their destructive
effects on all animal life whether
burned or not.-H. A. Surface, pro-
fessor Of zoology, geological depart
ment Of the Pennsylvania state col
lege, State College, Pa.
OBITUARY
GILBERT YOUN0s CRONE