The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-02-28
GOOD BYE, BUzzARD
Old Spreader Of Disease No Longer
Under Protection Of Law


the general assembly at its recent
session was introduced purely at the
request of the law and legislation
committee of the chamber Of COM
merce, says The Charleston Post
The committee investigated the sub
ject very thoroughly. obtained expert
opinions, decided that the buzzard
was decidedly menace to successful
stock raising in South Carolina, and
asked the Charleston delegation to in
troduce a measure which would ex-
empt the buzDard from the law MAX
ing 1t a criminal offense to kill,
wound, or capture any wild bird other
than a game bird. The chamber of
commerce is glad that the measure
was passed and feels that it has been
instrumental in removing one of the
chief nuisances to successful hog
raising.
Needless to say, before taking any
definite steps. the chambers COM
mittee got opinions from leading au-
thorities on the subject, including the
United State department of acricul-
ture at Washington and the state
veterinarian of South Carolina at
Clemson college. DR.. w. A. Barnette,
assistant state veterinarian. wrote
the following letter to the acting sec
retary of the committee:
Il have your letter of the first (Oc-
tober), asking for a statement from
an animal disease carrier. especially
hog cholera. This office has always
regardede the buzzard as a menace to
the livestock industry, especially cat
tie and hogs. 1t is an easy matter
for the buzzard to carry the germs of
symptomatic Anthrax. Hemmarhagic
and hog cholera on it's
body and feet, each of these diseases
being a detricnt to the livestock in
dustry. While this is not list of all
the diseases which the buzzard might
carry from one farm to another, it
only suggests some of the more i'm
pOrtant diseases which each year
prove a great loss to the livestock in
dustry of this state. The veterinary
division will heartily endorse any
ovement which can be taken toward
discriminating he buzzard."
1t is within the personal knowl-
edge of the writer that the veterin-
airy division of Clemson college has
for several years sought to eXter-
inmate the buzzard from South Caro-
lima and has made at least one at
tempt to have tire legislature enact
just such measure as it has now
pnGcta6 hn y-rin
ing DR.. M. Ray Powers, former state
veterinarian says repeatedly that the
buzzard caused a large proportion of
the hog cholera in South Carolina and
that the disease could hardly be
fought with complete success so long
as farmers were prohibited by law
from killing buzzards. 1t is certain
that DR.. II. o. Feeley, the present
state veterinarian, holds similar
views. What is more. it is within the
PERSONAL knowledge of the writer that
many farmers who know the danger
'F buZZards have slaughtered them at
very opportunity. regardless of the
aw. In addition TO spreading disease,
are know to prey upon
away i"iio"Su piSS anu tne writer
las frequently seen Il man stationed
n field with a gun to pick off buZ-
ards and protect some new pigs
which were there. The buzzard not
'nly carries hog cholera, but is car
'icr of the deadly anthrax. one of the
most dreaded and dreadful Of dis
Eases. The view OF the chamber of
commerce is that farmers should be
'prised of the charge in the law and
should be encouraged to kill off the
'uzzards as RAPIDLY as possible. Espe-
Tally al the present time does ii
seem TO be a patriotic duty to take
every step which will Facilitate the