The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-12
LlFE-HISTORY CT THE TICK
SUGGESTIONS FOR PREVENTION
OF THE DISEASE.
IT HAS DIES fR0YEO TIE CATTLE TRADE
OF the Ninety. Seven Counties ia the State,
Eighty iw1 are Under the National
Quaran'ine. This Means Great
Loss 10 the St,'e.

A bulletin on Cattle Quarantine
Ticks and Distenper'' will today be
issued by order of the State Board OF
Agriculture. 1t was prepared by DR.
Cooper Cuatice, State Veterinarian.
In view of the recent and very fatal
outbreak of splenic fever among the cat
tie of Wake and the surrounding coun-
ties this publication is of special interest
at this time.
1t traces the life-history of the cattle
tick. which either conveys or causes the
disease known as splenic or Texas fe-
yer, and tells how they may be ex-
terminated.
The bulletin is pamphlet of about
10 pages, full of valuable information
touching the subject of which it treats
and may he had upon application to the
Commissioner of Agriculture, Raleigh.
N. C.
Among other things. DIR. Curtice says,
in the course of his bulletin:
The cattle traffic of eighty-two of the
ninety-seyem counties of this State is
subjected to costly restrictions in its
trade with the other fifteen and the
Northern markets, to which the surplus
must go if cattle are to be raised ut a
profit.
This quarantine has hen brought about
by the presence of cattle ticks upon cat
tie of these counties, and will be sus-
tanned so long as these ticks are present
therein.
North Carolina cattle men are there
fore permitting crop Of ticks to grow
upon their cattle, which in eigilty-two
counties will tax them the difference
between the prices realized by sale to
Northern markets and Western pastur-
ages under unrestricted conditions and
those of the present restricted for beer
only Northern markets and the local
trade.
And this tax lis not alone upon the
ticky cattle; it is upon all cattle or
these counties whether they be tick
infested or not; whether they be thor
otlghbred, dairy or beef cattle. and be-
cause some other cattle are infested.
For years part of the profit of the
cattle men of Eastern North Carolina
has been the raising Of young feeders
for the Western counties. The cutting
off of their sale to the mountains dimin-
ishes their value fully % per cent, or
from enc cent to ONE and one-half cents
per pound. The prohibition of mich cat
tie from open markets reduces their
price to needs of local trade or to about
80 per cent. of prices elsewhere
The cattle tick is found during the
warm season in nearly all of the Uni
ted States south of the 35th parallel of
latitude. II is also found along the At
lantic seaboard as far north as Rich
mond, spreads over the half of Tenlles-
see, and seems to he able to exist ait the
same latitude in other Western States.
In those portions Of the country of
higher latitude, even though far south
Of this latitude, the tick does not seem
able to survive the climate. In summer
the Northern distribution Is often ex-
tended into Northern markets, where it
is killed off Inn the fall
In mild winters, and possibly every
winter. the tick is to be found at all
times at extreme Southern points and
along t1le seacoast There is no doubt
the tick is externEinated in many Of the
upland farms mt this latitude annually
and do not re:fppeaa until brought back
in the course Of cattle traffic. In severe
winters this destruction occurs quite far
to the southwark.
The cattle Of this State are not uni