Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-06-10
WHAT IS TEXAS FEVER 7
The Question as to How it is
Disseminate Answered.
NO pAEeER in aOUTHERN OATTLE

when They Are Received for Immediate
siauRhter-Ihs Main Thing to he
Feared Is the Dlstribution of Ticks
@on Roads and In Pastures.
During the month Of May Secretary
+ B Frazier, Of the State Board OF
Health received notification from the
Baltimore inspector OF the Bureau OF
Animal Industry United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture. that two car loads
OF Southern cattle from the Texas fever
belt had been shipped to certain butchers
In Wilmington. This notification
Secretary Frazier at once handed over
to Secretary Colquhoun. Of the local
board so that II necessary steps could
be taken to hold and inspect SILL later
another notice Of further shipment was
received and took like channel The
local press commented on the subject
and advised the authorities TO take the
necessary precautions.
The publicity given TO the matter
proved rather damaging TO the handlers
OF the cattle here and they set about TO
find a remedy. James Sawden, Jr., ,
wrote to Chairman ID h SalmRn, OF the
buIsau, in Washington, enclosing him
the newspaper articles and complaining
that their publication was a source OF
annoyance and damaging to his business,
and asking him TO make an explanation
why such notice was sent. Mr.. Salman
then wrote Secretary Frsz or, under date
OF June /, detailing the circumstances
He wrote amoag other things:
"rhis department has outlined as
carefully as possible the district In the
United States from which Texas fever Is
carried by cattle when shipped out Of It
The cattle from this district do not show
signs Of the disease and are In no way
dangerous to those who consume the
meat produced from them Consequently
this department allows those cattle TO
be shipped for immediate. slaughter ans
it Is our custom to notify the state
authorities OF the points to which they
are shipped, in order that If considered
necessary, precautions may bs taken to
prevent the dissemination Of Texas
fever. This you doubtless know, occurs
from the distribution of the ticks which
are on the Southern cattle These ticks
DO not prduce any serious effects II
these animals, because they have
acquired certain degree OF i'm
munity,j but when they leave thl
| southern cattle and find their way upon
animals outside Of the Infected district
/ they produce the fatal disease known a
Texas fever. While, therefore, there 4.
no reason to prevent such animals goi Of
/ for immediate slaughter, they should no
\ be allowed TO travel over country road
or over pastures, where susoeptibl
animals will contract disease from tn
ticks that are dropped and infect sue
roads and pastures.
In reply Secretary FREEZER sent him
detailed account Of the steps taken here
as we'll as COPY of chapter $50, volum
10, part 2, Laws Of Delaware, whic
gives the governor power TO bold an
order inspected any cattle suspecte
Of disease.
Mr. Salmsn replied on June 2 saying
1T is the custom OF the inspectors 0
this Bureau to notify state authorities
having control of the diseases o
animals when Southern cattle ents
their states This is done not TO protec
people from disease, because there is n
danger to consumers, but to enabl
authorities to prevent the dissemination
of disease among animals In mos
states the authorities exercise a certai
amount Of supervision over the move
msns Of such cattle, to prevent th
infection OF public roads and pastures
It appears, however, to be unnt caesar
to send these notices when cattle AT
shipped TO Wilmington, and l hav
consequently notified our inspector a
Baltimore that he may discontInu
them"
This sets at rest any fears that ms
have been entertained lest cattle fc
market should have been or may
received here, and at the same tin
furnishes some valuable informatio
relative to Texas fever