PETROLEUM NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 4 March 1911, Page 4

PETROLEUM NEWS.

The treatment of stagnant water with petroleum, which is effectual against mosquitoes, operates also in an indirect maimer on rate. Mr. Mandoul has made investigations on boarjl L'lmerethic. One of the holds of the ship, which contained silk cocoons, had been almost entirely devastated by rats., Their presence there had probably been due to the saccharine water from the, fruits and ice placed near the hold in question. To 'this body of water, which it had been impossible to remove, petroleum was added. Two weeks later, on arriving at Marseilles, it was found that not one cocoon had been damaged by the rodents. Mr. Mandoul sought to find out how the petroleum had been so efficacious ; he endeavoured to determine the sensitiveness of the rat to petroleum. A sewer rat was subjected, during about 45 minutes, to the action of the vapour of about 100 grammes of commercial petroleum in a closed atmosphere (a bell communicating with the exterior by a narrow orifice). The animal began to exhibit laboured breathing, and, during the last quartet hour, a lassitude in its movements. After these manifistations the animal licked the hairs of its beard; it wae depressed, and ate little. Three day* afterward it was found dead in ita cage.