The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-12-19
How to Poison Rats
Initial Step in the Prophylaxis of
Bubonic Plague Described.


of the gravest questions affecting
quarantine, as explained by The
Medical Review of Reviews. An ap-
proved method Of determination is
also given. The writer says:
''The rat has become a National
menace because it spreads the bubo-
mic plague, and the Federal Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service
is undertaking a Nationwide cam
patgn for its determination. The
activities Of the service have been
in educational work throughout the
country, and locally In stimulating
the authorities at the principal ports
to undertake radical measures for
killing rats on incoming ships.
"The chiefs of the service consid-
er that the peril from the plague is
a real one not only in the Southern
States but in the northern part of
the country. The social significance
of preventing the plague from secur-
ing foothold in this country is OBJ
vious. The first step in prophylaxis
consists in eliminating the potential
danger from rats, which serve as
Indirect contagion bearers.
In this connection the following
explanation Of How to Poison Rats
prepared by Assistant Surgeon Gen
eral Rucker, may be of some inter
est:
Get a loaf of stale. bread, cut it
into pieces about one inch square by
three-quarters of an inch thick Get
a good rat poison. There are two
chief kinds of rat poison on the mar
ket, one containing arsenic and the
other phosphorus. You can tell
phosphorus paste because it smells
like a match head, Either one of
these poigons is good, but in some
respects phosphorus seems to be the
better, as it shines at night, and the
rats like its odor and taste. A small
quantity will kill them, and, as it
acts rather slowly, they go outside
the house to die
If the poison used is too hard
to spread easily on the bread set the
container in some hot water. Some
pastes are thin enough SO that this is
unnecessary. Do not get any Of the
paste on your hands, because it may
burn the skin, and unless the hands
are washed carefully the poison may
be carried to the mouth by the fing-
ers soiled with it. 1t is best to wear
pair of leather or rubber gloves
when preparing the poison. Spread
the poison on the pieces of bread
with knife. Be careful that all
sides of the pieces are smeared with
the poison.
AS fast as the poisoned pieces
of bread are prepared they should
be put in a covered bucket, and
when sufficient quantity is ready,
it should be distributed. Bear in
mind that arsenic poison has the dis
advantage that it does not deterio-
rate, and therefore it may be taken
by some animal which it is not in
tended to poison a long time after
it has been put out; also bear in
mind that phosphorus is liable to
spontaneous combustion, especially
when put in warm place or ex-
posed to tho direct rays of the sun.
Phosphorus pastes, which have glu-
cose as a base, are less liable to
spontaneous combustion. Do not
put the poisoned pieces of bread in
the open, because they may be taken
by children or domestic animals, but
put them in the rat holes, where
they cannot be gotten at by human
beings or domestic animals.
When this is not practicable
get small box and put small pieces
of poisoned bread in q bowl, cover
the bowl with box, and bore a hole
two inches in diameter in each end