Arizona silver belt., 1884-08-09
Saturday. August 9. 1884.
TEXAS FEVER AMONG CATTLE.

item from the Prescott Miner assel ting the presence of Spanish or Texas fever in Chino valley. Yavapai county, among lot of blooded bulls recently brought from Kansas. Out of the one hundred bulls originally imported all but about twenty had, at last ac- counts, died and those that remained were badly infected with the dis Ncase. The nature of the disease has not ye, been definitely settled, some persons asserting that it is dry mur- rain, but the prevailing opinion seems to be that it is Spanish fever. By the following extract from the St. Louis Globe-D Democrat of recent issue, it would seem that Texas fever has made its appearance among the herds in Nebraska and Is spreading rapidly:
 "Dr, Hopkins, veterinary surgeon for the Wyoming Stock-Growers' As sociation, who has been quietly inves- tigating the cattle plague in Western Nebraska, says that It is the true Tex as fever. Hopkins is an acknowledged authority on diseases of cattle, and is not likely to err in his diagnosis.
 "In report made to Omaha parties by wire Hopkins gives some impor- tant information about the infection. The majority of cattle sent from Tex as to the Northern ranges are troubled to some degree with the fever. When driven along the trail, which is about 600 miles long, the disease is worked of before the cattle reach Ogallata, and there is no danger of infection. When shipped by rail, however, the disease retains its virulence, and is communicated to native herds at the first opportunity, Texas cattle seldom dic with it, but there is no help for natives. The first symptom is tre- nor of the body, followed in five or ten minutes by violent shaking and a desire to lie down. Once down, the animal never gets up again, death usually ensuing in about two or three hours from the first attack. Two or three autopsies performed by Hop kins at Maxwell, Neb., showed the lungs to be inaamed, the bladder filled with blood and kidneys swollen and congested. There IS no running at the nose or eyes, or any outward sign except the tremor to indicate the seizure. The disease seems to be com municatcd to natives by their eating over pastures or occupying corrals, cars or stock-yards used by Texans. The theory is that the germs of the disease are in the droppings of the southern cattle. Some hold that they consist of small gnats which are shell tered in the feet of the Texans; that the germs are not in the air. and that the disease is infectious rather than contagious is proven by the estab- Iished fact that native cattle may be confined in pen with Texans, and if separated from the latter by common rail fence they will not be troubled. Unless they run over the same ground with the Texans they will escape in- lection.
 "Reports from stations along the Union Pacific Railway show that the plague has obtained strong foothold in Nebraska, but there is nothing as yet to justify the wild rumors that are flying about. The first cases heard of was at Brady's Island. On Saturday a herd of 2,080 Texas were unloaded there and driven north across the country to Rankin's ranch, some sixty miles. All native cattle feeding in the range crossed by these Texans are dead. The number is placed at 300. Ed. Searles, of Ogallata, lost this morn ing thirty-fvc head out of a bunch of sixty. The Union Pacific officials have ordered all stock-yards at Ogallata, Brady's Island, O'Fallon, and other points in the infested region closed and dlsinlccted, and instructed agents not to receive any diseased cattle for shipment, .- ....-.-.--.-. -... ...-....
 Most of the Texans are now sent by the Missouri Pacific and trans ferred to the Union Pacific at Omaha. To-day General Freight Agent Shelby notified Mr. Olds, of the former road, that the Union Pacific would demand full tariff on all cattle from the Gulf States for fifty days. This will amount to a close quarantine, as the freight would be more than the cattle are worth. Shelby says that the road is bound to protect the cattle men along its line, and will not take any risks
 The presence of Texas fever is also noted in Kansas, Colorado and at the Chicago stock yards.
 In view of the fact that large num- bers of cattle are being driven into