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Household and Garden Pests: Ratite

Ratite for Rats. - We make no apology for quoting in full the following extract from a circular of the Pasteur Vaccine Company, whose products are for sale by leading druggists or can be obtained of the mak- This preparation is so unique and effective that we unhesitatingly recommend it, believing that all who try it will regard the suggestion as perhaps the best that could be given on the subject: ers. "Until to-day, the usual means employed for ridding private houses, stables, corn and hay lofts, etc., of the rats, mice, and other small gnawing animals which do so much damage there, were various chemical products, of which the principal elements were arsenic, strychnine, nux vomica, etc., which destroyed them by poisoning. "However, the desired result could only be thus obtained by each individual rat or mouse swallowing the bait, and this necessarily entailed a long time when the pests were numerous, and was even impracticable when large spaces required treating. "Moreover, the use of these chemical products was not without danger for domestic animals, and hence could not be used in poultry yards, stables, kennels, pheasantries, farms, etc. Children have even been poisoned in this way when the necessary precautions were not taken to prevent them from touching the bait. "Now, however, thanks to bacteriological science, which has made so much progress in the last few years, it has been established that certain microbes become pathogenic for small gnawing animals by giving them a disease peculiar to their species. "This first fact thus made clear, we have undertaken to perfect the work already done in this direction, and have at last succeeded in preparing a product which we call 'Ratite' and which, when swallowed by rats and mice, gives them a disease not only fatal but contagious, while, being peculiar to their species, it is quite harmless to all other animals. ""Ratite thus possesses two big advantages over the means of destruction employed up to the present, viz.: (1) "It is absolutely harmless to man, domestic animals, and game of all kind (feathered or otherwise). It can thus be utilized everywhere, in private houses, farms, stables, fowl runs, kennels, pheasantries, etc., without danger of any accident. (2) "Not only does it act as simple poison by killing the rat or mouse which swallows it, but it continues its work by contagion, inasmuch as one of these rodents, having swallowed the 'Ratite,' not only catches the fatal disease but becomes an infecting agent among its companions, communicating it by simple contact. "Lastly. The application of 'Ratite' being at once simple and without danger (see directions for use) in addition to its real efficacy, will insure its being preferred to all other systems of destruction employed up to the present. "Directions for Use. - Pour out the virus in a clean basin, and cut up small cubes of bread (preferably crust) of about 1 c.c. Well soak the bread until it has thoroughly absorbed the liquid, taking care that the bread does not become too pulpy. "Coarse oatmeal or 'Quaker Oats,' which readily absorb liquid, may be used instead of bread, and this vehicle is recommended for large areas. "Both the preparation and distribution of bait should be carried out in the evening and spread about in places frequented by rodents-as far as possible in their holes. Six to eight days after distribution of the bait its effects will be apparent, but should any rodents remain after fifteen days, a second application should be made at once. The best results are obtained by one application of a given quantity of virus rather than by extending it gradually over a longer period. "The virus should be used within twenty days of its preparation, which is marked on the bottle, and if not employed immediately should be kept in a dry, dark, and cool place (a cellar, for instance). "It will be noticed that the bottles are not full, the empty space being necessary for its preparation. "The odor of this virus is no sign of deterioration. "The operator should have his hands free from cuts or sores, and wash them well after preparing and distributing the bait."

We would recommend that if other means prove ineffective "Ratite" be given a trial.