J. F. Centellas: Contra la destrucción del aura. 63 



mente se ha asegurado aquí que el Gobierno Americano lia auto- 

 rizado la destrucción de esas aves, cuando repito que es todo lo 

 contrario, aunque sí, en al^no que otro Estado del Sur, cuya 

 autonomía en ciertos asuntos es conocida, puedan quizás haberlo 

 intentado y tal vez realizado con la reprobación que estas car- 

 tas de esos funcionarios públicos atestiguan; y también deseo 

 hacer constar que al proponerse recientemente esa medida des- 

 tructora en el Estado de la Florida, pidiéndose hasta una prima 

 por cada cabeza de aura, fué negada de plano por la Legislatura 

 de ese Estado, según carta que acompaño (-), de la Estación 

 Experimental de la Universidad de Florida, y de la División y 

 Departamento de Agricultura. 



Aunque el Dr. C. F. Dawson, Veterinario de ese Estado, sos- 

 tiene que las aves que se nutren de carnes en putrefacción, son 

 por mucho responsables de la trasmisión de algunas enfermeda- 

 des, conviene, sin embargo, en que soterrando los animales muer- 

 tos no hay necesidad de matar las auras. 



Nótese que feste doctor opina que debe enterrarse el animal 

 muerto, pero no dice a qué profundidad ni trata sobre su inci- 

 neración, lo que prueba que no ha tenido en cuenta ni el trabajo 



(2) Augusí, 5, 1915. 



Mr. Geaorge, Reno, Chief, Bureau of Information, Havana, Cuba. 



Dear Sir: Your letter of July 29th was duly received. In reply perhaps I 

 cannot do better than to quote a portion of a letter recently written by Dr. C. F. 

 Dawson, State Veterinarian in answer to similar questions. 



"It is my firm opinión that not only buzzards but all carrion eating birds are 

 responsiblo for much transmission of diseases because such diseases as you mention" 

 (Anthras, Black Leg and Hog Cholera) "can be transmitted -vrithout difficulty, 

 mechanically. 



Anthrax appeared for the first time in Florida, this month, and my investiga- 

 tion as to its method of entering Florida by way of imported animáis or feed grown 

 in other infected states was negative, and I have adopted the theory that ot was 

 brought in from adjoining States by carion eating birds. 



I think it is only by aecepting that hog cholera is carried "on the wing" that we 

 can explain why hog cholera appears so suddenly at distant points. A Bill before 

 our recent Legislature having for its object the destruction of buzzards, offcring 

 a bounty for their heads, failed of passage. This Bill was considercd by many, 

 who were not in a position to view such things seriously, as "freak legislation". 



Turkey buzzards are rather rare in Florida, but the common carrion-eating crow 

 is very plentiful. Unless you have plenty of turkey-buzzards in Cuba I would sug- 

 gest you use the term "all carrion-eating birds" in your proposed legislation. Pos- 

 sibly those who object to removing one of nature's scavengers would not object 

 to legislation requiring the burial of all carcasses. This would remore the necessity 

 ^or killing the buzzard as he would have to go elsewhere for his food." 



No experiments have been conducted at this Station, but the State Board of 

 Health has done some work in this direction. 



RespectfuUy, 



Florida Experiment Station, 



per E. G. Shau, See. 



