Welcoem to HCM! On reading your question I found that you have a rat bite and now you are putting hot water and alcohol over it. From my clinical experience I can tell that you should get yourself vaccinated against rabies, this is what is usually done. Apart from that, alcohol is a spirit, and is good in killing germs but one needs to get the wound throughly cleaned under running clean water with soap first. Soaking in warm water is usually not recommended, not because it does any harm , but there is no evidence of benefit with it. I would sincerely advice you to visit a physician/ doctor and ask if they can vaccinate you ( it is done in India in such bites) and usually recommended in case of bites by- dogs, monkeys, wild animals, rats, bats etc, ( more so when one can t trace the animal for alteast week or ten days- and rats can t be traced!). He may also give you a course of antibiotics to prevent the infection at that site, which will be better along with vaccine. If you are still having pain, you can get relieved with aceclofenac sodium. Hope the reply helps you with your wound get well soon! feel free to ask more queries. Dr. Manisha Gopal