THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 12

THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR SORBY. The Pasteur representative (Mr Sorby) last night afforded further information to a “Daily Telegraph” reporter. His visit to Australasia, ho says, is solely a commercial one in the interests of the Pasteur anti-toxins and vaccines, the question of destruction of rabbits being no part of his mission. The subject of their extermination having been repeatedly referred to him by pastoralists,’ he intimated that the Pasteur Institute had cultivated virus which would destroy the rabbits. “I explained,' 1 he said, “what had been accomplished ’by the Institute in Europe in destroying members of the rabbit family, and told them there was little doubt that the Institute would bo prepared to supply a specific virus which would destroy rabbits in Australia. The meeting this morning was the result. The essential feature for successful operation is to have a virus fatal only to the rabbit family, and absolutely harmless to human beings, as well as innocuous to other animal and bird life. The efficacy of the virus of a contagious disease, such as that I have referred to, is that it not only destroys the rabbits which partake of the bait, but it also destroys those that come into contact with the infected animal. This represents a minimum of work with a minimum of effectiveness. “An epidemic, either natural or artificial, runs itself out, and therefore when the distribution of the virus had been started in various centres, it would have to be systematically spread. It could be prepared in one centre, for instance, in or near Sydney, and it could be sent out to the various districts ready for use. The present method of distributing poisons is expensive, as well as dangerous to human beings and animals other than for those for whom it has been specially prepared. What is more, no substantial progress is, being made in exterminating the pest. The

systematic distribution of specially prepared virus, destructive to rabbits would rid this country of the x)Cst with the greatest economy, and in tho shortest possible time. AVo have demonstrated in Europe that it can bo done there, and we can succeed here.”

.Speaking on the commercial phase of the rabbit industry, wliich has grown to a trade of considerable proportions, Air Sorby said: “It could not be expected that this contagious disease would bo confined to one centre* The rabbit industry, therefore, could be carried on, but it would be necessary to fence all rabbit farms, in order to prevent those reared for trade from infesting the country where pastoral or agricultural pursuits arc more profitable than rabbitraising. Legislation would enforce this provision, and there would be little or no hindrance to tho trade.'’ Tho Pasteur representative suggests that, should a local test of the specific virus lie determined upon, it should be carried out in a limited and isolated area. “The science of bacteriology,” he said, “lias made a substantial progress in the last decade, and a skilled bacteriologist, acting on behalf of the Government, would be able to supervise tho demonstration, and make all tests to prove that the-virus is harmless to all species other than that for which it has been prepared. As I told tho moating of pastoralists, the Pasteur Institute would not undertake the demonstration at their own cost —they have already proved its effectiveness. A fund might bo raised for the purpose of establishing a laboratory, and carrying out the tests, which I estimate would run into about £SOOO. There should be no hesitation in incurring this expenditure, in view of what lias been accomplished by the Pasteur people during the past twenty-five years in bacteriological science. In a practical way tho pest can be exterminated at a cost of lid or 2d per acre; that was the cost of operations in two departments in France. The virus,” he added, “may be distributed by station hands, and no special skill is needed.”