ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS IN CONNECTION WITH PSITTACOSIS: AND THE IMPORTATION OF AUSTRALIAN PARROTS

On Jan. 24, 1939, a shipment of fifty-five Australian parrots arrived at the port of San Francisco on the S. S. Monterey of the Oceanic Steamship Company. The cargo had been en route from Queensland, Australia, and was intended for exhibition at the Australian Building during the Golden Gate International Exposition. The birds had been obtained from an aviary in Queensland and sixty-two were apparently healthy at the time they left the port of origin. En route seven, mostly King parrots, died. On arrival, the shipment passed through quarantine and was isolated on January 25 contrary to the usual custom at the Australian Pavilion on Treasure Island, which was declared a quarantine area by the United States Public Health Service. The collection of psittacine birds was inspected by the representatives of the United States Public Health Service and the State Department of Agriculture. According to a statement from the representative