The record-union., 1898-12-25

To the Honorable State Board of
Health, Sacramento, Cal.-Gentlemen:
have the honor to herewith submit my
report of the work done by me from
October 18th up to the present date.
Pursuant to your request have made
as thorough investigation, with regard
to the presence and prevalence of con-
tagious and infectious animal diseases,
more especially Texas fever and an
thrax, as time and circumstances would
permit in the following counties: Ala
media, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa
Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Be
nito, Fresno, MADEIRA, Merced Mari
posa, Calaveras, Stanislaus, San Joa-
quin, Contra Costa, Solano, Sacra-
mento, Yolo, Napa, Sonoma and Marin.
I have travelled nearly 1000 miles and
have interviewed Supervisors, Veteri-
narians, health officers and stockmen
where and whenever it was possible,
with the result that 1 found some of the
above mentioned counties practically
free from contagious and infectious dis
eases, while others were found to be
infected both with Texas fever and an
thrax
Some of these counties have taken a
great deal of interest in these matters
and have appointed veterinary inspect
ors and health officers, whose duties are
TO control, and, wherever possible, Grad
icate diseases, while others have paid
little or no attention whatever to such
matters.
The authorities in some of the latter
claim that there is no use in their do
ing anything along these lines unless
the neighboring counties are compelled
to do likewise. In others they have
about made up their minds, having had
disease in their midst so long, that
these diseases are a necessary evil, and
that it would be interfering with a wise
and just providence to take any action;
while another set of county authori-
ties do not recognize any such diseases
as Texas fever and anthrax, but believe
that stock that die in their territory,
die either from starvation or sporadic
diseases. Upon the whole, however.
most of the counties are beginning to
take q little interest in sanitary science
and police, and this is most noticeable
in counties where stockmen have or
ganized for mutual protection.
Time has not permitted me to make
as thorough investigation as I should
like to have done. Then again it was
so late in the season before received
my appointment that the cold weather
had checked outbreaks of disease
throughout the State, consequently,
with the exception of seven or eight
outbreaks personally investigated.
much of my information has been OBJ
tained from veterinarians, health au-
thorities and stockmen of the different
counties visited
l have confined my work largely to
those counties situated in the central
portion of the State. for the reason that
1t is that portion of the State where the
most of our work must be done in the
spring. Yet by corresponding with per
sons in different parts of the State not
visited 1 have gained considerable in
formation that will be of great benefit
to US in framing laws, rules and reg
ulations.
TEXAS FEVER.
I shall first take up the subject of
Texas fever, but shall not enter into
its history, nature, symptoms, ETC., for
the reason that 1 have written an ar
ticle containing a compilation of facts
regarding this disease, which 1 will take
pleasure in presenting to the members
of this board if such is their desire
1t will suffice to say here that Texas
fever is caused by a micro-parasite a
plasmodium, or, more correctly speak
Ing, haematozoa, which receives the
name of "Pyrosoma bigemium" This
parasite lives within the red blood cor
puscles Of its host in large numbers.
Sometimes it will destroy three
fourths to four-fifths of the red
blood corpuscles before the affected ami
NAL dies. For instance. during health
there are about 100000 red blood cor
puscles in cubic milimeter of blood.
but in Texas fever, actual count has
shown that the ravages of this organ
ism reduces the number as low as l.
0UU,OOO, at which point the animal dies
This parasite in some respects re-
sembles the parasite that is the cause
or malaria fever in the human family
The transmission of this organism
from one animal to another is effected
by the cattle tick (Boophilus bovisl
and by this means only.
With regard to it's prevalence in
this State, I will state that owing IN
the removal of the quarantine line last
spring by the Federal authorities (eS
tablished December 16, 1890, and placed
on the State line. there has been sporadic
outbreaks of Texas fever in nearly all
of the northern counties. due to the
indiscriminate placing of infectious
Southern cattle upon, Northern past
ures. Yet this fact is not so serious
as it might at first appear, as for
tunately the climatic conditions of the
northern part of the State are such
that it will eradicate the disease this
winter; consequently if no southern
cattle capable of disseminating Texas
fever are permitted to be placed on
northern pastures in the future no
luther trouble need be anticipated.
To recapitulate. then. my investiga-
tions with regard to Texas fever lead
me to the conclusion that, while near
ly all of the northern counties have
experienced outbreaks of this disease
during the past summer, yet there is
no permanently infected territory north
of the following line:
NON-INFECTED DISTRICT.
Beginning on the Pacific Coast where
the southern boundary line of Santa
Cruz County connects with the Pa
citic Ocean; then easterly along the
southern boundary lines of Santa Cruz
and Santa Clara Counties to the south
west corner of Stanislaus County;
thence northerly along the western
boundary lines of Stanislaus and San
Joaquin Counties to the intersection
of the western boundary line of San
Joaquin County with the boundary
line of Sacramento County; thence
easterly along the northern boundary
line Of San Joaquin County to its in