METHODS OF DESTROYING RATS.
A compilation of all the methods of destroying rats practiced in historic times would fill a volume. Unfortunately, the greater number of them are worthless or impracticable. Few have more than temporary effect upon their numbers, and even the best of them fail unless persistently applied. Conditions vary so much that no one method of dealing with this pest is applicable in all cases. Among the more important measures to be recommended for actively combating the brown rat are: (1) Poisons; (2) traps; (3) ferrets; (4) fumigation, and (5) rat-proof construction of buildings.