The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-03
pAsrEUR AND THE RABBITS
An Attempt 10 Rid Australia of Its Fest
some Doubtful, Experiments

The offer of "A reward of G25, 900 by
the Government of New South Wales to
any one who should find new and ef-
fectivc method Of eXtermlnatlng the
warming rabbit, Of Australia caused VI,
pa,tcur 10 suggest the Introduction Oh
chicken cholera 10y means OF the mlcrOOe
If shat disease. The reward was offered
in November last. At first VI. Pasteur
lid not intend TO compete for the PRIZE.
He aflerward came to the conclusion that
the money could be well used for the
support Of the PastcW Institute and III
a letter 10 the agents general Of the Aus
ttaliau colonies bee formally put has name
ON the list of competitors.
Since November last, when VI. Pasteur
published la ie Temps. OF Paris, de
scriplion of the method which he pro
posed to u-e. he has made some interest
ing experiments upon rabbits m France.
Some time ago the owner OF several
famous VINEYARDS near Rheims deter
mined &, breed wild rabbits in one OF
them which covered twenty acres and
was surrounded by high walls. The
animals multiplied rapidly, and the eX-
cavaton, which they made began TO en-
croach upon extensive vaults where
champagne was stored The proprietor
applied t. VI. Pasteur 10, relief, ana he
fed tine rabbits With tine microbes OF
chicken cholera. On tine following day
all OF them were dead.
When NJ. PasCcW'7 assistants arrive an
Australia they will lind ,hat experiments
ike his were made there before his sug-
cpstions were published la IL Temps.
The disease which an Australian scientist
proposes 10 introduce is not however
chicken cholera. but rabbit scab or itch.
The Adelaide Register published la No
vembera report written fox the crown
lands department 81 South Australia 10y
Professor Watson, 81 the University of
Adelaide. concerning an inquiry made 10y
him with reference I'D the cultivation OF
this disease. Professor Watson asserts
that scab Is not communicated from rab-
bits 70 men. DOG. horses or cattle. and
his experiments prove. hc thinks. thatH
is not communicated to sheep He asks
the government to permit him 90 con-
tmuc his experiments ou sCme island set
apart for the purpose But other 5uthorl-
ties IN Australia are u the opinion that
sheep would be endangered 81 the disease
should be used for the determination OF
rabbits Although Professor Watson was
carefully guarding his injected rabbits,
il appear. that other persons had already
undertaken 10 spread the disease, for IN
Tha Adelaide Ohfryer 81 Dee. b. q cor
IL n9udeul writes Steamers have been
taking diseased rabbits up the river for
distribution. and scab has since broken
o.t among the cattle as Banchotown ami
j. aup2jng rapidly
Tine evil for which remedy Is sought
5a great 8u1 the rabbits threaten g.
put au end to farming Gld sheep raising
IN great tracts Of c3mGry The colony
Of Sos. South Waie- atouQ paid more
than sl. 100000 last year for tine De
strlci.ou al rabbits Ii has also built
wire fence lcct high and POS miles long
for protection ou the hne Of It's western
BOUNDARY and it Is proposed that
S3.0G000J shall be- expended in extend.
ing this barrier The experience Of one
land owner may be- ciDoi Is showing that
tine public expenditures are bat small
part OF the cost Of daling with tine nut
sauce. After -pebiDIs 10000 m vain
attempts to clear his land he was forced
to give up farming
While the Introduction of chicken
cholera might sweep away the rabbits.
there /, danger that it would at tine same
time lill all the binds. and that cattle !
and sheep and even human beings might
suffer in some way from the pcstience. /
II NJ. Pasleur's method should be adopted
the animals would at least gain the priv !
ilegc OF diving peacefully It Is SAID that
fowls. when attacked By the disease, .
''curi themselves up INTO a lnli and drop /
into a deep sleep. which ends 10 q pain
less death " The Australians now hIi
millions If rabbits every year BIS the use
OF steel traps, arsenic, strychniHe and
phosphorus, SO that the suffering OF the I
victims is intense. New York Times.