PASTEUR & POULTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1617, 7 December 1912, Page 15

PASTEUR & POULTRY.

(Specially written, for The Dominion by J. B. Merrett, Christchurch..)

That we are ,able to associate the great naino of Pasteur with poultry indicates the wide researches of the noted scientist, and the groat detail of his 6plendid work. His experiments with hens have an educative, value, while they have contributed largely to the welfare of mankind. His beautiful life was devoted solely to humanity, and his name is immortalised. Pew men have done as much for humanity, and animal life as Pasteur, and to-day the 'effects of his discoveries are known iii every branch of physiological study. Louis Pasteur was born December 27, 1822. The world can never know its debt of gratitude to those parents who exercised every, self-denial and used every persuasion that their son should have the best education that France could give him. The tender care of tho parents, the co-operation and sympathy of the sisters, and the way in which all this was reciprocated by Pasteur mado the formation of that happy home life as near ideal as one could desire it.

Early Life and Biography. - Early in life Pasteur's persistence in. study marked him as a force to be counted with- in the intellectual life of his country. The development of character, the gradual attainment of his purpose, and his discoveries form one of the grandest studies in biography which the world lias to offer us. His biography by Radot is an achievement 'that must stand in the forefront of standard books. Boswell's "Johnson," and LocKhart's "Scott" have their place,, and have long been looked upon as standard works, but, for captivating style, and perfect delineation of character, Kadot's work of Pastour stands alone.'

One would think that the biography of a scientist would be prosy and uninteresting,., except, to a student, but such is not the ease. There is not an uninteresting page, while, at times, the narrative is interesting enough to rouse enthusiasm. The description of the great anthrax test in which Pasteur undertook to demonstrate the value of a vaccine, and its power to resist disease, and the test of the fifty sheep at Melin in which ho resolved to establish'his proofs, has,-in. my opinion, no equal in /English literature. The excitement of veterinary surgeons and tho medical world, the scepticism of his compeers, the tremendous consequences attached f o the test,' and tho remarkable'. confidence of Pasteur show something never-to he forgotten as long as literature exists.

His .Researches on Poultry. Columns could -to written of this interesting life, but that is not my purpose. P.asteur's association and his experimental work with poultry have an eduoative - influence i.for poultrymen. -Among'.the many experiments few have a. more educational' effect than tho test on hens in connection with anthrax. Pasteur's challenge to Colin to produce a hen that hnd contracted the disease makes splendid reading. Colin's equivocation and final failure show how carefully and studiously Pasteur had obtained possession of his facts. The laboratories in which these tests toot plijce would have delighted the heart of any While sheep and cattle fell a rc-ady prey to splenic fever,, hens were immune.. .Hens- prove refractory to charton tests, 'and their mysterious preservation- rigainstthe : disease led. the scientists to.take-considerable interest in poultry. .-•••It. yraa, afterwards discovered, that ow.inj to-tho temperature of the hen's body being-higher by- several degrees ■ temperature of pther-.ajinials,' thcy-.were : -free from by . charbon.. It was only lien 6 subject to cold baths and the temperature greatly reduced they were nffceted by inooulation.

.These, experiments have a' lesson for poultrymen. They have in poultry'the most strongly resistent force against disease of all. animal life. True, _ th-ey are subject to disease, but such diseaso comes only from persisteut neglect.

Description of Infected Hen. Some idea of tha virulenco of the microbo in connection with chicken cholera is gained when'one reads the account of experiments, and the results of the tests! Pasteur gives a description of a hen suffering from the-discase: "The animal suffering from this disease is powerless, staggering, its wings droop, and its bristling feathers give it. tho shape of a ball; an irresistible somnolenco overpowers it. If its eyes nro made to open, it seems to awaken from a deep sleep, and death frequently supervenes after a' dumb, agony, before the animal has stirred from its place; sometimes thero is a 'faint fluttering of the wings for a few 1 seconds." Remarkable as it seems that while hens are immune to c'harbon, guinea 1 pigs are frequently immune from tho microbe of chicken cholera. When inoculated, it was frequently found that the 'microbo terminated in an abscess at tho point cf incision. Concealed, as in a phial, tho microbe was stored in tho abscess. Yet poultry, kept in tho society of guinea pigs, would, if the abscess became broken and the-contents drop out, instantly become effected and die. Pasteur found that the smallest drop of chicken cholera culture on a ; crumb was sufficient to kill a chicken. \- Tho disease is duo to infected excreta. Tho intestinal canal proves an excellent culture medium for tho microbe, whicli works its devastation rapidly. Describing the disease, the author says: "A'voung and superb cock, whoso trium-phant-voice was yesterday heard by all tho neighbours, falls into a sudden agony, his beak closed, his eyes dim, his purple comb drooping limply. Other chickens respited till tho next day, come near the dying . and tlm dead, picking here and there grains soiled with excreta containing the deadly germs. It is chicken cholera." - Tha Lessons-for Us, The truths taught us hero convey a lesson—scrupulous cleanliness.' In New .Zealand we have an 'excellent climate, and coupled with the oare and attention of poultrymen the disease is rarely known in its worst form. Cleanliness is the keynote to success. No poultrymen need be troubled with) diseaso where proper precautions are taken. Roup, colds, catarrah,. are prevented by having draught-proof houses and ■ dry floors and

runs. Cholera may be avoided by cleanliness of dropping-boards, scratching material, and water. Tuberculosis, by careful selection of breeders, and tho removal of all birds .weak in constitution. Precaution should bo the watchward.

Poultry are usually neglected by farmers, and it is owing to their healthy constitutions disease is not rampant. Pasteur sounds the warning—look out for the microbo —and the poullryman. who does this will never bo troubled wit'lu disease among his poultry. This review is not given to adopt general inoculation, for poultry. Such a process is impracticable. The search for immunity is vain. Tho lesson which we should learn is to pay attention to conditions. Pasteur used to 6peak modestly of his work. He said that it was "through assiduous work with no special gift, but that of perseverance' joined to an attraction towards all that is great and Mod" that he had met with success in all his researches. In. his great work he has left something whereby poultrymen will remember him, and ever owe to him a debt of graiiitude for the splendid work ■ he has done.