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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8963, 30 January 1888, Page 4

We are not surprised to find that both the Melbourne Argus: and the Age raise their voices in warning of the clangors that are lurking in M. Pasteur's treatment of the rabbit pest. That eminent experimenter is quite confident that his method of introducing a fatal contagious disease will prove effectual if applied, and we have no reason to question his opinion ; but there are many things to be considered as well as the one object of destruction of rabbits, before such a venture, possibly fraught with very grave results, is entered upon. Some of these were well and forcibly put in a letter which appeared in our last issue, signed by " Old Colonistand as our Government, equally with those of the sister colonies, will probably be subjected to considerable importunity on the subject, we think it right that the public should be fully awake on the question, so that we do not rush precipitately into a position from the consequences of which there is no receding. As stated by us in a former reference to this subject, M. Pasteur does at admit any certainty with respect to the limits set by nature to the communicability ot this which he calls chicken cholera. He admits its fatality to all winged creatures, and some marsupials ; and that he hesitates with regard to other marsupials shows the uncertainty that attaches to this phase of the question in the mind of the chief experimenter himself. But even assuming that his limitations founded on his experience in Paris are correct, we are all aware how liable many diseases are to develop new forms in new lands, and the extensive propagation of this, evidently very malignant and fatal malady, which he calls chicken cholera, may introduce to us evils of which at present we have no conception. The mere decomposition of the millions of dead bodies in a thoroughly-infested district would, beyond question, as stated by "Old Colonist," taint the atmosphere "with morbific odours of the most dangerous character. The result of the decomposition of the dead slain in battle is known to be plague in all its varied forms ; and when we consider the enormous numbers of rabbits in some districts, and the possibility of their all dying within a few weeks of the introduction of the disease, as confidently asserted, it requires no language of a merely alarmist kind to show that it is not chicken cholera alone that may be generated. We declare that neither M. Pasteur nor any other man can state the limits which disease might find in the event of millions of rabbits being scattered dead over our hills and plains and rotting under a semi-tropical sun, or tell the effects which they might have, not only on the larger animals pasturing there, but on the human beings in the vicinity. Our correspondent spoke or these decaying bodies, or the ellusions from them being carried into watercourses. The effect of such contamination as this on the health of the people is known beyond any question, whilthe effect on the lower animab, even ' £ proof against this so-called chicken cholera, from drinking such contaminated water may be regarded as equally sure. M. Pasteur is not certain whether the disease would affect kangaroos. Common-sense tells us, no matter what his empiricism has discovered, that there must be equal uncertainty respecting sheep or any other animal that lives on pasture, hut whether they are subject or otherwise to this particular malady, no Oil® can question their liability to disease from the universal contamination 0 pasture lands from decaying a ninia , matter. Our correspondent referre to the great value which rabbits ha) as a delicacy in London and 1 There is nothing to prevent the expo - of them from these colonies in a "' oz . state, developing ultimately into a \ a able enterprise ; and it is not iuipossi that, to a certain extent, they in'S become quite as valuable acre for a as exporting frozen sheep. _ But ie once be known that a malignant o 3 temper has been introduced among rabbits of the Australasian colony and even if it do not prove as; fatal M.Pasteur supposes, there will be , effectual barrier interposed at once for all time to Australian and land rabbits being accepted as an art ° These, however, are the con J;"L gent evils of this remedy of N. f fc teur's. But there is one fact tw wo think will make many pause be . joining in approval of the introdu of this antidote to the rabbit pest, ioll it is admitted without any que that it will be communicable, anu presume fatal, to all winged ere' i ken The universal spread of this emu cholera, then, will not only J e f u l our poultry yards unless undci C l a tli system of isolation, but will 'be d

to the birds of the air, to which there can be no isolation. The feeling may be in part a sentimental one, but we think it will be a very powerful one ; and much as we may long for the removal of the rabbits, there are very few indeed who will be prepared to tempt the risk of all our native and imported birds being swept away, and our shrubberies and woodlands being tilled with the silence of death.