Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-04-04
NO. XVI.
THE TEXAS CATTLE DISEASE.

The subject of this lecture was the
"Texas cattle disease. The late Prof
Stiles of this institution, called this the
"yellow fever of CATTLE" 1t is disease
which originates on the tide waters of the
Gulf of Mexico in localities on the coas
as fur north as Charleston, S. G. 1t is
specific, contagious fever, of very malig
nant type, propagated by the contagious
etlluvia, the source of which is probably
the discharges from the bowels. Thi;
disease occurs but once in an animal anC
only in bovines. The Texas cattle will
give the disease though they may show ne
appearance of the disease ut the time
Our native cattle will take it only from
the Texas cattle, and will not take it from
native cattle though the latter may be sick
and die with the disease. 1t can thus only
be propagated by actual exposure to con-
tagion from Texas cattle, and if these are
wintercd in northern climate above the
line of snow, the disease will be eradicat-
ed. No danger need he approhended
from any Texan animal which has spent
one winter north Ticks found on cattle
are an indication of the presence of the
disease, us they are the Southern cattle
tick; but they do not cause, or PROPAGATE
the disease by getting on the Northern
cattle, Yet their presence may give
warning of the disease, us they are also
killed by Northern winter. This disease
is propagated from eliicvia from the evaC-
nations. Northern cattle put into n car in
which Texan cattle have been kept will
be infected, and II single Texan animal
put in fifty acre lot where there are
other cattle will infect the herd. If Texas
cattle have been in lot alone and been
taken out, and other cattle turned in, the
latter will take the disease, though three
weeks may have passed between the tax
ing out of the Texans and putting in the
natives.
Nothern cattle placed in II lot, through
which runs II stream, coming from q lot
above containing Texas cattle, have been
known to take the disease the contagion
having been evidently carried by the
stream. The disease is most violent in
hot weather, and cattle brought North in
the summer will give the dstemper in ten
days. In cattle seized with this malady
the death rate is very large. The first in
dicalion of the disease is dark colored or
bloody urine and constipation of the bow
els at this early stage physic will be ben
eicial and exciting urinary action equally
so. DiarrhGa is symptom of II second
airy stage of the disease. There is IL ten
dency for bloody urine and Il stoppage of
the urine by mucus, which should be
treated by giving sweet spirits of nitro,
acetate Of potash, buchu, turpentinc, or
large doses of gin, to which extra oil of
juniper should be added. If these do not
afford relief the catheter should be used.
1t is of the greatest Importance that
these remedies should be applied as soon
as the presence of the disease is detected,
and the first remedy should be physic, for
which use salts, in pound TO Il pound and
u half doses. Give also all the salt the
animal will eat. A good effect is often
produced from salt alone.
The best dieurctic is acetate of potash
and gin. No treatment has been yet dis
covered 50 cflicacious in the treatment of
this disease, rs stimulation with alcohol,
and in this disease gin is to be preferred.
He had given as much as n gallon of gin in
IL day to Il single animal, and he had adj
ded rs much as one ounce of oil of juni-
per to II gallon Of gin, to secure increased
urinary action.