Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION myxomatosis—the man- spread anti-rabbit disease. However, it had remained alive just long enough for Doctor Weiss—that is his name—to stumble upon. the blood serum theory.” Someone offered the ob- vious question. “How about using tame rabbits ?”’ “They are a divergent species. They never contract the wild variety’s A.P. germ, therefore cannot become serum manufacturers.’’ There was complete silence for a moment. Then Geoffrey Tollen heard his own voice, harshened with the bitterness he could not keep out of it. ‘““What you really mean is that ten years ago, man committed a sort of delayed action suicide! A small crea- ture was so tactless as to annoy man by nibbling his crops, so the lords of creation whistle up their scientists and order its complete exter- mination. The present situa- tion is almost a sort of poetic justice, isn’t it?” A man sitting near mut- tered: “Dry up, Tollen!”’ The lecturer cutin: “‘That’s 114 hardly fair or accurate. When myxomatosis was used against a rabbit pest in 1954, no-one had any intention of wiping out the species. It was just that the germ got out of control and ran wild.” Geoffrey was on his feet now, his voice cracking with pent-up emotion. “Well, we needn’t be so damned complacent. I’ve been to the plague spots. I’ve seen those “quarantine villages, ’as they call them. Villages! They are cities, cities of death and madness, whole valleys or hillsides fenced off with barbed wire. Square miles of shacks and tents and holes in the ground, and corpses nobody has time to bury.” ‘““Sulphacobrine is doing a good job. It is being airlifted to the plague spots from England, America and Canada. Fewer people die every day.” The lecturer’s young-old face wore a tired smile as he spoke the heartening words. He went on: “I know what those places are like—I’ve been there, too. I must impress upon you all, comicloooks.com