The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-02-02
THE SPANISH OR TEXAS FEVER.
what is Thought OF, Il in n lssOuirf.

! % i f11U 8HNT'- - - =
What is Thought of 1t in Missouri.
The following article, which was writ
ten by Albert Badger. of Nevada City
Vernon county. Missouri, and publish e
IN the st. Louis Farmers ADVERTISED
throws more light upon the subject o
the Texas fever than anything We nav,
seen. and although quite lengthy we pdb-
lish it entire, knowing it will interest GU
readers in this section Of Kansas Yer
much. Il may contain some valnabl
hints also to our members of the legfsla,
ture, before whom the subject is to com,
at the present session. That section o
Missouri from which The article wa
written has had sad experience with thi.
terrible malady, as we'll as Southern Kan
sas, and the autboi's opinions are based
upon extensive observation. The AID
vertiser says be is an intelligent physician
snd farmer, and we bespea9 a careful
Perusal of the article from those who
msintaid that Ihe,disease is not transmit
ted to this country by Texas cattle. Tbs
article is entirely free Of any desire to keep
Texas cattle from competing with those
OF Missouri in the markets. The sub
ject is to be brought be fore the Legislature
Of Missouri as well as ouroWp. Well
does the Advertiser remark that, "a law
entirely Prohibitory will be tie only eff
fectual method of keeping The disease
out OF the State" AMI that eff southern
cattle are allowed to be driven into or
through the Stats,at all. it will be almost
impossible to prevent more or less loss
of our stock from the pestilsucs which
they carFy.'"' oav p raaL
He@e is what Mr.. Badger says: -o,,
The Spanish or Texas fever is we'll
known to the older residents of this
(Vernon) county:
Il This disease was first recognized as
having been propagACed by cattle driven
Il ON Texas some twelve or thirteen years
ago; the disease having been in the coup-
y some two seasans previous to its hav-
ing been traced 10 the Texas cattle.
From lbe first breaking out of this
fever it VAS found TO be confined TO the
large roads or highways running through
TIE counly from south to north, and ,6n,
ally was centertd' in the Texas cattle. /
believe in the year 1858, by its being
confined to one high way through che
county over which these cattle passed in
that year On this road the disease was
quite fatal, killing about 6tty per cent. OF
all the cattle. on The. road, and persons
living near the water courses over which
the road crossed lost as high as ninety
per cent. Captain Freeman BarfoWs and
Peter Coiley, the one living 1T the ford
ofathe Usage river, the other near bv,
iost'the latter per eentl2 one of athemIoWn
lag about one hundred head, while the
former had considerably above the at
number. Mr.. Collins, living at1he ford
of Clear creek, south of the above, lost
an equal proportion. $3.50 7sm rs 80. "a
The disease being in no other part-of
the county that year. satisfed7ths people,
on this road. at least, that they had found
The true origin. as it had been amongst
the cattle in the county for two summers
past . Ina season or two after ,almos t
every settler OF the coHnty was convinced
that. the Texas cattle in some way com
munIcated this fever to our Stock al
though q few, persons. living secluded
from the great highways, were III beiieV-
eFs and still remain soL 10 fact the way
this disease is pTopagated, > the obscurity
surrounding it, for want of a defined
cause, together with the diferert con
hicting opinions Of almost every citizen
familiar with it, gives them at least a
reasonable excuse for believing no ones
opinion. Two Il ings only, the Symptoms
OF the fever and its fatality. are agIeed to
by every one, the latter being much
greater IN a warm, dry summer than 10
cold, wet -one-the disease always ceas
ing when the lrosts aud lreezss have KIN
ed the vegetation. 'E'7i
The first symptom Of The fever, dis
coyersbls several days before there is any
appearance Of sickness, /. 4 dry cough
which is noticeable bg careful obserg5is :.
IL a few day after Ibis the nose becomes
dry and the,ears slightly dropping, v hen
more dles will be found 10 collect on this
than the other cattle; at this stage the
breath will be found 10 have lost The
sweetness so peculiar 70 grazing cattle.
and ass umed the sickening, teVerish smell
generally. If not always. found lin the
Texas cattle, which I can best describe
by comparing it to the smell OF our slaugh
ter houses, or constantly crowded stock
yards In cities. From this condition in
one or Two days the fever gains its high
est stage, aud is found to bavs dissent
1 mated itself over The whole body--the
heat being very great the arteries Of abe
neck are seen TO beat In short, heav 2
thrObs; the ears very much Topped; the
hinder psFIs reel 10 walking. The aDina
gelIirg up or lying down with difficulty
Ihe breath and exhRlatiOns very disagree
able; the end Of the tail usually hollow
for two or three inches; the piIh 10 thC
! horns has commenced 10 decay. if no
already decaysd; the animal refuses Il
notice the herd remaining stupid If no
disturbed. neither seeking food or Wslsr
Some. in this stage, will pass water mix
ed with blood, and dung naturally: Others
will pass water OF natural color, anC
not dung AZ all. or but very little, auC
that in Jryieh lamp 10 another typ
Of the disease. which will occur. perhaps
L