A disease of rodents such as rabbits and rats, caused by the bacillus, Francisella tularense, and spread either by flies or by direct inoculation – for example, into the hands of a person engaged in skinning rabbits. In humans the disease takes the form of a slow fever lasting several weeks, with much malaise and depression, followed by considerable emaciation. It was first described in the district of Tulare in California, and is found widely spread in North America and in Europe, but not in Great Britain. STREPTOMYCIN, the TETRACYCLINES and CHLORAMPHENICOL offer effective in treatment.