74 



successful treatment. It is then too late to arrest its progress. 

 The Pasteur preventive treatment will protect exposed human 

 beings against the development of rabies, provided it is under- 

 taken in time. It has not proved so successful with animals and 

 is generally regarded as impracticable for application to domestic- 

 ated animals, not only on account of the comparative uncertainty 

 of the results, but also because of the necessarily prolonged 

 treatment and its expense. 



"From the beginning of the outbreak in Nevada in the spring 

 of 1915, to November 30, 1916, 89 persons who were exposed 

 to rabies have received the Pasteur preventive treatment at the 

 State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Nevada. In 

 addition, several persons have been treated privately by physi- 

 cians. Of the 89 persons treated, 20 v>'ere exposed by coyotes, 

 43 by dogs, 14 by lynxes and cats, and 12 by other animals. 

 Exact data as to the number and value of the domesticated ani- 

 mals which have died of rabies are unobtainable. It is impossi- 

 ble to collect such data under range conditions, more especially 

 ^in the case of range cattle and horses than with sheep and farm 

 animals. Furthermore, Nevada has no system for reporting 

 such losses and the establishment and successful conduct of one 

 is practically impossible. Reports indicate that the loss of live 

 stock has been heavy. Doubtless $750,000 is a conservative 

 estimate. With practically one-tenth of one per cent of our 

 people exposed and given the Pasteur treatment and with a live 

 stock loss of three-quarters of a million dollars during a period 

 of twenty months, it will be seen that rabies constitutes an ex- 

 ceedingly serious problem. 



"In the latter part of September, 1915, the Biological Survey 

 sent Mr. E. R. Sans to Nevada to organize a corps of coyote 

 hunters and direct their work. He established headquarters in 

 Winnemucca and began operations immediately, which he has 

 since prosecuted most earnestly, vigorouslv and intelligentlv. Bv 

 October 15, 1915. he had 18 men in the field; June, 1916. his 

 force consisted of 168 men, but was reduced about November 

 30 to 80. As soon as winter abates somewhat he plans to again 

 increase his force. 



"These men have hunted, trapped and poisoned coyotes and 

 other animals. Thev have turned in over 15,000 pelts of animals 

 actually secured. They have distributed over 300,000 poisoned 

 baits. Naturally but few poisoned coyotes are secured, as they 

 sneak away to their hiding places as soon as the poison begins 

 to operate. It is estimated that from 45,000 to 50,000 coyotes 

 have been killed since operations began, and that estimate is 

 probably too low. 



