Pound some stone-lime, and mix it with oatmeal and coarse sugar; lay it about the house, set water by it, for after they eat of it, they will drink till they burst, then the rest will leave the place.
Though this seems but a simple thing, yet it will destroy them faster than any thing else, and do no other damage.
"Th' Doctor always seys iffn' you can find a more kinder way of killin them rats, to use it. I think bein' kill't by a right good blow to me hed is a better way to go than poison to the guts, but he ent ever listenin' to me."
From the book: "The Servant's Directory, Improved" or "House Keeper's Companion; Wherein the duties of the Chamber-maid, Nursery-maid, House-maid, Laundry-maid, Scullion or Undercook, are fully and distinctly explained. To which is added, Cookery and Pickling sufficient to qualify a person to act as THOROUGH SERVANT in any family."
The damn'd stuff stinks, & causes me stomach to ache! I suppose if it gets t'the rats afore the men do, it saves me the job of having to belay their sport. I prefer chucking the devils over the taffrail, gets them gone sans carnage.
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