Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-11-30
Warning To Persons Hunting And
Handling Rabbits.


Examination they found that patients had
contracted the disease known as "tulare-
mia" from handling Of rabbits. Not only
the hunters were affected, but recall one
case reported in Washington, D. c.. of a
party working in a stall in one of the
markets handling rabbits contracted the
disease and died from same. have con-
ferred with the State Board of Health
regarding this matter and up to the pres
ent they have not received any reports of
anyone being affected so far this season
however. the season Just opened on No.
vember 10th and it would be hard to
determine at this time whether or not
rabbits are affected with tularema this
season or not.
DISCOVERY Or TULAREMIA.
This disease was discovered by DR.. C.
W. Mccoy. of the United States Public
Health Service in Tulare county. Califor-
mia, in 1910. in ground squirrels. Efforts
were made to prohibit the spreading of
the disease. however. it soon outgrew every
native county on the Pacific Coast and
advanced steadily across the Continent,
invading State after State and the reports
from the United States Health Service in
1928. were to the effect that six New
England States were the only ones in which
rabbits were not affected. In the State of
Massachusetts, where the State Depart
ment Of Conservation received shipment
OF cottontail rabbits from the West for
propagation purposes. upon examination
by the Board of Health. tularemia was
detected in the shipment and the entire
lot destroyed. The Department advised
the Gully safe method at the present time
in replenishing depleted covers of cotton
tail rabbits is to allow the native stock to
recruit from its own ranks by the help of
laws directed toward furthering proper
conservation methods.
REPORT On DISEASE
! DR.. Edward Francis. Of the United States
Public Health Service. contracted the in
lection of tularemia while studying his first
case in Utah and is now devoting his
services to its prevention and cure Dr.
Francis seems to be more familiar with
this disease than any other physician and
has published a bulletin on same which
can be obtained gratis by addressing the
United States Department of Health. Wash
ington. d. C. In the interest of public health
we ,eel this matter should receive wide
publicity as any person handling rabbits.
whether they kill same. 60 in the markets
and purchase same. or in cleaning and
preparing as food. are liable to contract
this dreadful disease. and in handling
rabbits at all times rubber gloves should
be used as preventive.
How To DETECT TULAREMIA
The liver and spleen are the organs
affected. The bacterium tularense lodges
in these tissues and causes decay of the
cells. These foci of infections are appar-
ent to the naked eye in the shape of
enumerated white spots varying from
in-point to pin-head in size.
! SYMPTOMS Or DISEASE In HUMAN BEINGS.
Tularemia is likely to manifest itself by
pain, tenderness and swelling Of lymph
glands. draining the regions where the in
lection occurs. as those of the elbow or
armpit. These symptoms will probably
occur within two to five days after infec-
ton. An infiamed and painful ulcer may
soon appear at point where an insect bite
occsrred or at an abrasion in the skin
where the infection has gained entrance.
This may be accompanied by sudden on
sets of headaches. aching pains. chills,
prOstrations, general weakness and fever.
In some cases. no external LESSONS are
found
BEWARE Or RABBITS.
Rabbit meat thoroughly cooked is claimed
to be harmless; however. to be on the safe
rabbits. not to handle same with bare
hands and we advise the public in general
to refuse to purchase rabbits this season
whereby they would be compelled TO handle
same. On Saturday. November 18th. W.
j. Trege. of Cambridge. Md. informed us in
starting on a rabbit hunt he found two
dead rabbits. called his dogs off the trail
and discontinued hunting. Raymond Rich
ardson. of Church Creek. Dorcherter coun-
ty reports that he trapped three rabbits
the first week of the season which were
affected with some disease.
DR.. Francis. in an article in the Deem
Der issue of The Field a.d Stream. makes
the following statement: 1T would seem
that our opinions concerning the harmless
ness Of many OF the domesticated animals
which we have been taught to regard as
the friends OF man should be revised
bunny must no LONGER call up in our minds
a pict ure of innocent Easter eggrOlling
contests on the White House lawn, Rather
must be thought Of in terms of liver spots.
ulcers. fever and possible death. His dis
ease bearing possibilities oblige us to class
him with the rat. the steer and the horse,
which are sources OF bubonic plague. an
thrax and CHAMBERS. respectively Even
pussy is not above suspicion. for there is
reason to believe that influenza. scarlet
fever diphtheria and perhaps infantile
paralysis have been transmitted TO chill
dren by the family pet
"Tularemia is as has been said. a brand
new. up-to-date. all-American disease.
And yet. strangely enough it appears that
the anti -bunny campaign was in vogue as
far back as five thousand years ago. Turn
to Leviticus. Chapter II. and read Verses
4 to8 You will find there the following
warning: The flesh Of the hare shall ye
not eat. and its carcass shall ye not touch :
they are unclean to you. Without doubt,
Moses had never heard Of Tulare county
nor OF the Bacterium Talarense. But what
he knew about the insides OF a rabbit Is
ona mara nKnof nf the fact that there ia