EXTERMINATING THE RABBIT

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 10

EXTERMINATING THE RABBIT

Tests With Virus To Be Made AUSTRALIAN CHEMIST'S DISCOVERY (TED* 01TB OWK- COBaESPOHDEKT.) SYDNEY, September 2. An experiment is about to begin on afarge and practical scale in the erad - cation oi rabbits, Austrian pashave already been made with the OT payment of a virus to spread total disease among the rabbits. The next ♦pots will be in the field. n . t B Bull is in charge of the ex on behalf: ol: thejggjftgj Scientific and Industrial Rfsearcn. ioe vims was discovered by an Australia", Sir Ctarie? Martin, now at Cambridge "STSSJ; W h *ffi Xbsß for the island, said that the raDC would be allowed six or eight months to breed in the enclosure Then about 30 would be infected with a «**£ virus dropped in the eyes of the animals" and they would be liberated in different parts of the enclosure. The 5 seie would take about a week to germinate, and it would be WW*s£by sneezing, coughing, and a discharge from eves and nose of the animals. It was estimated that, in less than three months, all the rabbits would be wiped out. An officer would be appointed to reside on the island and make daily 'observations. . , ~ ~ "An amazing thing about the disease is its specificity," added Dr. Bull. It will not affect any other type of rabbit but the European species, which is the kind in Australia. Even a hare will not be affected." If this experiment proves successful it will be recommended to the state governments. Dr. Bull favours an inter-state organisation to control the rabbft extermination campaign if the virus scheme is adopted. "Babbits OO not recognise state boundaries," he said. _„_■_»—._—— —