The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-06-13

Alexander City, Ala, of which thirty
four were dead on arrival, and nearly
all the others afterward died. The
same dealer on February 30. 1907,
sent fifteen dead birds, eight Kansas
bob-whites and seven scaled quail,
that had been infected by the ship
ment from Alabama. The dead birds
had been kept on the place for some
time and were perfectly well till the
infected shipment was brought to the
building where they were kept. Ten
days afterward the disease broke out
among the old birds, and all of them
died.
Other reports have been received
showing that the centers of Infection
so far as known are Alabama, Kan
sas, Indian Territory, Washington, d.
&C., Mount Vernon, Va, Elizabeth,
Pa, Boston and Worcester, Mass
and Yarmouth, N. S. The records
show that the disease has attacked
the common bobwhite, the blue quail.
the Gambel quail, the mountain qauil
and the sharp-tailed grouse.
Had the disease remained limited
to the quail only 1t would have been
serious enough, but the recent dem
onstration of its transmissibility to
sharp-tailed grouse is nothing less
than appalling in its suggestion Of
widespread fatality among game
birds. This fact calls for the most
energetic action on the part of all
lovers of sport and all who appreciate
the economic importance of these
birds, in noting and reporting every
outbreak of the disease, and, if posi-
Bile, tracing its origin.
Questions Needing Answer.
In conclusion the circular OF the
department says:
Some questions pertaining to the
problem that require an answer are
as follows:
lis the disease due to a specific
contagium introduced into this coun-
try from without. as. for instance,
grouse disease of England, or is it a
disease of overcrowding that may
arise in any section of the country
whenever the birds are brought under
artificial conditions of life?
Are there. as in grouse disease.
two outbreaks-one, the acute, in
spring, and the other, a subacute, or
chronic from, marked by emaciation,
in the fall?
Does this disease seem to occur
spontaneously in sections of the coun-
try other than those rnamed under
known centers of Infection
"How widespread is the disease
Is its geographical distribution, as
outlined in a previous section. limited
to those localities which have re-
ceived shipments from the known
centers of infection?
Does the receipt of shipment of
birds result in the infection of birds
heretofore healthy? The facts re-
corded in this circular point to this.
but further evidence will be of value
''If the preceding question is an
swered affirmattively, what period of
time elapses between the receipt Of
such infected birds and the outbreak
among the old stock? In other
words, what is the period of incuba-
ton?
Besides the cases mentioned in
this paper are there other persone
who have received shipments Of bob
whites or other quail from Alabama,
Kansas or Indian Territory, only to
have them shortly die from disease?
These and similar questions press
for answer before it can be claimed
that we know the disease and are
therefore prepared to combat 1t in
diligently. Any Information that viii
throw further light upon the problem
will be welcomed by the bureau Of
animal Industry Upon those who are
interested In this chief of American