RABBIT EXTERMINATION.

Evening Star, Issue 7505, 25 April 1888, Page 2

RABBIT EXTERMINATION.

DETAILS OF M. PASTEUR'S SCHEME.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] [Per Press Association.]

Sydney, April 25. (Received April 25,1888, at 3.15 p.m.)

M. Loir has supplied full particulars of M. Pasteur's scheme to the Rabbit Conference. It appears that during M. Pasteur's investigations with chicken cholera about two years ago he accidentally discovered that rabbits were especially susceptible to the malady. M. Loir says that it is impossible to give direct proof that human beings are not susceptible to the disease, but states that no case has ever been reported even where diseased poultry were eaten. The microbes would die at a temperature of 57deg, and the virulence of the disease would be much weakened by exposure to air. There is no danger of the disease being conveyed to cows' milk, even if the animals were fed on poisoned food. M. Loir states further that no animals except rabbits are affected by the disease. During the first few removes of the disease from rabbit to rabbit the virulence of the disease increases, but soon attains a maximum intensity, and then becomes stationary. Generally speaking, the disease becomes more virulent in rabbits than in fowls. The answers given by M. Loir to questions asked with reference to the investigations conducted by expert men in France seemed to indicate that only small experiments were made, and these were generally carried out by direct poisoning. The representatives of New Soutli Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand have been appointed a committee to conduct experiments. The Conference has adjourned pending the report of the Committee.