The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-27

udl uttu - y
tematlcally examining wild rats,
mice, squirrels. rabbits aud other
rodents. Engaged thus he encoun-
tered n new germ. which eventually
was named Bacillus Tularense from
Tulare county in which he first en-
countered IL.
Within the last two decades tu-
laremIa has spread practically all
over the United States. and II has
been found also In Japan. but so
far not In Europe. II Is new dis
ease and doctors are watching II
closely. With barely more than 20
years history behind Il. they can't
know what variations II will show.
as they do know about the older
diseases.
Rabbit fever is the more common
name for il, as il is primarily dis
ease OF rabbits. The germ is trans
mitted from rabbit to rabbit by
ticks.
Ticks feeding on infected rab-
bits get the germ and transmit II
through their eggs to their young.
A tick lays several thousand eggs.
and each hatched tick. attaching IL.
self TO a rabbit, can give that rab-
bit the disease. Thus 1t can easily
be seen that one sick rabbit can
infect whole countryside. In
districts where rabbit fever is pre-
valent, IL Is common TO see dead
rabbits scattered over the ground.
In addition to the rabbit, squIr-
rels. Wild rats. muskrats. opossums,
coyotes and woodchucks can be af-
fected with the fever. Quail and
sage hens are now also falling vic
Tins And not only the wood tick,
rabbit tick and rabbit louise. but
also the blood-sucklng deer fly can
carry the Infection.
In man rabbit fever Is second
airy infection. lie gets IL through
cutting or handling an infected rab-
bit carcass or other diseased ami
NAL.
The occurrence OF the largest
number OF cases In man coincide
with the open hunting season for
hunting wild rabbits. Hunters,
cooks and market men are most
prone TO get It. Laboratory work
ers, too, who are studying the blood
and tissues OF infected animals are
apt 10 contract the disease. Some
times the entire personnel in a
Laboratory will be victims.
The chIlls and fever usually start
six or seven days after an infec-
tion. There is swelling and sore
ness at the spot where the germs
entered the body. This sometimes
forms an ulcer. The chills and fever
last for about two months. Rabbit
fever In man Is more serious than
undulant fever. which he gets from
coming In contact with contagious
material from infected cattle, hogs
or goats.
Our best way OF prevention OF
rabbit fever In man is to avoid con-
tact with the carcasses OF infected
wild animals. Sickly or sluggish
small game should not be shot. ex-
cept as an act of mercy. A rabbit
that sits still and allows you TO
shoot him at your leisure makes a
dangerous carcass. Apparently
healthy rabbits can carry the In
fection. To DO on the safe side,
always wear rubber gloves when
dressing rabbits. and do not let the
blood come In contact with any part
Of the skin. Infected rabbits, when
well cooked, however, can be eaten
without danger of contracting the
disease. The danger comes In han
ding the raw meat.
Laboratory tests can determine
whether a patient has contracted
| rabbit fever. The test is very sim
liar TO the one made for typhoid
fever and for undulant fever.
Science does not know of any
special method Of treating tularemia
So far it does not seem that vac
cines are of any value. One attack
evidently confers immunity.
There are reports of sheep herds
being infected by ticks. If this con
tinues, 1t will mean many new ways
Of injecting man. through the han
ding OF meat, hides and wool.
We do not know how to contro
the disease I'm wild animals. The
tick transmission and the ability
Of the tick to pass on through It's
thousands of eggs to its offspring
the same germ, make control almost
impossible. Then, too, the germ:
may take notion to find some 9th
er feeding ground than the small
wild game in the woods that theJ
thus far have selected. Germs havt
population problems the same az
we have. They want TO live anC
grow. If they find another feedin:
ground more suitable to their needs
and taste, they will move If tha
feeding ground should prove 20 b
man, then rabbit fever in mar
could. doubtless, no longer b.
classed as a mild disease.
| e Western Newspaper Union