INOCULATING RABBETS

Temuka Leader, Issue 1664, 24 November 1887, Page 4

INOCULATING RABBETS

Much interest is taken in Professor Watson’s proposal to destroy rabbits by inoculating them with scab. Objections are made to it on the ground that the disease will spread to sheep dogs and even man, and thus become a greater pest .than the one it is desired to extirpate. A reassuring report on the question, however, has been presented to Parliament by Professor Watson. He says:—“Assisted by influential stockowners, I am investigeting the effect of rabbit scab on sheep. The wool of three unshorn merinos was on October 14th last, and again on the 4th instant, heavily charged in several places with the parasite, taken directly from living rabbits, and it is impossible to imagine that the sheep in question, if running at large, even surrounded by millions of infected rabbits, could ever be subjected to such a severe drenching with the rabbit parasite as was the case here. Judging by the analogy supplied by the abortive action of the sheep scab itself, when brought in contact with the shin of other animals, including man, I certainly did anticipate some slight transient local irritation, caused by the futile attempts of the rabbit parasite to accommodate itself to live in the skin of a sheep. Thus far, however, no local irritation, much less destructive general spread of the parasite in the wool of the sheep has occurred. As for dogs, horses, cattle, and man, the evidence is that ro danger need be anticipated. The flesh of the diseased rabbit may be eaten with impunity, although very lean and dry if the disease of the skin is far advanced. We hope by Christmas to be in a position to carry out experiments on horses, cattle, pigs, and marsupials.”

Adelaide, Nov. 14.