Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-07-05
THE CATTLE DISEASE
Resort Had to Dipping the
Herd in Oil.

inspection Of the NidifIer &
1hopason herd, be was able to
pronounce the malady wi.h which
they are infected splenic, or Texas
fever. The Bureau OF Animal 10.
dcslry Of the United States and
most other authorities have long
since arrived at the conclusion
that this disease is communicated
from one animal to another by a
tick, in some respects similar to
the ordinary dog tick found in the
timber, and on the inspectors ad-
vice the owners Of the infected
herd at once made preparations TO
immerse the cattle in oil-"dip
them" A at, chute, ETC., was
constructed, and a supply of
crude oil, such as is pumped
from the we'll near Chelsea and in
certain localities Of southern Kan
sas was procured.
This is the treatment which the
government experts have decided
to be the most practical, and, be-
cause OF thedifIiculty of introduce
ing medicine to the seat Of disease
Of a COW brute, about the only one.
(It is a vesy simple matter to
drench a COW, but the animal has
several stomachs.) II ia not
claimed that dipping in oil is
cure, but in the nature of a pre-
ventive. The disease is carried
by the ticks and as oil kills the
insects the animals recovery de-
pends upon the degree of infection
which has been sustained. IL is
believed this treatment will be
employed extensively by Messrs.
NidifIer and Thomason for the
fret time in this section, and
doubtless a considerable number
OF persons will be glad to witness
it. The pasture Is a mile north Of
Tim Shanahan's, and most easily
reached by crossing Cabin creek
at the Meek's ford--less gates to
open that way. No doubt oil will
be welcome, If they can find a way
TO see the show without soaring
the cattle.
Fora long time cattle raisers,
particularly in Texas, took no
stock in the tick theory" but we
believe they have about all sur
rendered II is not held that the
tick kills the cattle, but that it
carries the disease. By observ-
ing carefully whether a herd of
cattle is infected by fever ticks
those having ridges down the
sides---a person may be reasonably
certain whsther there is probabil-
ity OF fever. Texas cattle, from
the sonlhern portion OF that state,
are believed to be immune, though
they may transmit the fever TO
other cattle. The theory is that
they are inooulaled before birth
and thus escape, though in four
years, if the animal is kept above
the quarantine line, it is believed
it would sgain become subject to
the disease. To Arkansas and
Louisiana cattle a great deal of
the fever from which this country
has suffered in past seasons has
been accredited, but ii comes from
all the southern states, and If a
herd ofirtssted cattle is DasIured
on any range, fever may be ex-
pected.
Briefly, the tick falls from the
animal when it has filled itself
with nourishment and at once de-
posits its eggs upon the ground.
When the embryo is fully formed
it bursts its shell, gaining freedom
snd at the first opportunity at.
laches itself to the passing animal,
makes its way to the more tender
parts, generally the brisket, and
very speedily reaches development
and "fevers" its host. On the
ground, development will not re-
suit Cold weather kills the eggs.
but it must be quite severe to make
destruction a certainty. During
the months Of November and De-
cember southern cattle are admit
ted into Kansas and other western
states, for feeding, etc., or Sin
spection," and this inspection is
simply as to whether the animals
have ticks on them or n3s.
Inspector MccunniDgham left
Sunday to see some cattle near Par.
sons expecting to reiarn in a day or
two and may spend considerable
time in this section this season.
The Daily Uhieitain reaches the
people Of yinita as thoroughly and
punoiually as the weekly Chief.
tain las reached the masses in the