PROPESSOR WATSON'S METHOD OF DESTROYING RABBITS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7541, 19 April 1886, Page 4

PROPESSOR WATSON'S METHOD OF DESTROYING RABBITS.

(South Australian Register.)

In October last year Professor Watson, of the Adelaide University, brought under the notice of the Government a proposal for the destruction of rabbits by introducing amongst the pests a contagious disease which would be tlie means of causing the animals to die off. His ideas were so practical, and the plan so feasible, that on the Professor obtaining six months' leave of absence it was arranged that he should visit Germany with a view to ascertaining whether rabbits with an infectious disease could be introduced into South Australia. The Professor returned on Friday, the 26th March, by the Caledonien, unfortunately unsuccessful' in his mission, from no fault of Ms own. The steamer in which he went away was delayed; and as the Professor had to return to his duties in Adelaide by a certain date, he had very-little time abroad to carry out his investigations or. to consult with Professors Koch and Pasteur, but he succeeded in getting two dozen rabbits affected with animal (Sarcoptes eunimla) and vegetable parasites. He thought that by the introduction of the rabbit scab among the bunnies here the purpose of destruction might be partially or wholly effected. He obtained his subjects (the common grey species) in German Poland; two came from Frieburg, Dr Gorger's native town. The two dozen diseased specimens were put on board the Caledonien steamship, but there the troubles began. The seamen were rather shy of such Jonahs among the rodents, • and dreaded the disease, and the captain of the vessel was alarmed lest the disease might be of a nature calculated to cause his vessel to be put into quarantine. However,: these prejudices were in a measure overcome, and the Professor's furry charges v/ere put in the cook's galley. They did very well in the Mediterranean, because the weather was cool, but they all died of sunstroke before reaching Aden. The.Professor, however, has not given up the idea, and hopes to see it carried out. His intention, had the rabbits reached here alive, was to have obtained 500 of our northern pests; and to; have experimented with, them, and had the infected rabbits introduced amongst them to see how long the disease would take to spread and cause death.He has no doubt that the Germans might arrive at some satisfactory results if they were to tryv Ip Europe rabbits form comparatively an expensive article of food, and they are put to a more' profitable use than they are here. Professor Watson has sent for some more of the diseased stock, to replace those he lost, aud he has reported to the Government the failure of his expedition. There are several small islands near

Port Lincoln, one of which has a number of wild

rabbits upon it, and the experiment of introducing a few of the diseased rabbits amongst their race there might be tried with, success and safety. The parasite in question is Sarcojites cunicula, and the course of

the disease has been described as follows:— "At first there is apparently little the matter with the rabbit. It soon, however, shows a few crusts about its face, which extend by continuity of epidermal tissue, as well as by auto-infection from scratching, to more distant parts of its integumeutal surface. It begins to lose flesh from loss of appetite, unrest, and slow septio intoxication resulting, from the venous and lymphatic absorption of the products of a hitherto purely localised and easily curable cutaneous affection. Extensive suppuration, principally of the cervical and submaxillary lymphatic glands, corresponding to the lymphatic capillary areas of the "face, supervenes. In like manner the absorbed toxic matter circulating in the blood induces coagulation, and extensive thrombosis (plugging) m ■various parts of its venous system, and usually some low form of pneumonia intervening mercifully puts an end to its sufferings." In older animals the disease, we are informed, is relatively slow, but it allows them' for a longer period to be a source of infection to their younger brethren, in whom there is relatively greater predisposition to acquire the parasite, or in whom the disease runs a rapid and fatal course. . . . ■ ••