Micro - Case Study 1 - a Simple Plan: E.L. Trudeau, the Rabbit Island Experiment, and Tuberculosis Treatment

Part I

1. Group 1 rabbits were able to survive until the third month of the experiment at which point 80% of the population died, due to both the tuberculosis and the poor living environment. Group 2 experienced no deaths at all, displaying that the disease does not spontaneously infect organisms because of the poor environment. Group 3 rabbits experienced a 20% drop in population after one month because of the tuberculosis infections, but the death rate was not drastic due to the healthy environment they were placed in. Group 1 and 2 rabbits are displayed as emaciated because of the lack of food they were rationed.

2. Tuberculosis is caused by a germ known as MTb and is exacerbated by poor living conditions while being hindered by optimal living conditions. Tuberculosis cannot spontaneously infect organisms. 1) When both the bacillary infection and unhygienic surroundings are put together the death rate rises to around 80%. 2) Tuberculosis is not generated by poor living conditions, and if the disease is not already present, poor living will not result in tuberculosis deaths. 3) The effectiveness of the infection is vastly reduced in the best conditions of living.

3. Dr. Trudeau’s results show that unless the germ is already present, infections cannot occur even if the living conditions are barely sufficient. Deaths by the disease also occurred regardless of the living conditions, although the quality of the conditions did affect the rate of death. Group 2 and Groups 1 and 3 prove these points, respectively

4. The data suggests that clean air, proper food supply, and effective exercise are able to counteract Tuberculosis in some cases.

5. Crowding makes it easier for the bacteria or virus to move and to infect new hosts. Had more rabbits been put into Group1 the death rate would have likely risen due to the increase of susceptible organisms.

6. The dependent variable was the death rate of the rabbits.The independent variables were the number of rabbits,...