Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-23
MORE TEXAS FEVER.
Another Outbreak of it in Edge
combe County.
Tho Agricultural Department Hunting for
Skilled Veterinarian Importance of
Work Reports From other Counties.

A letter from Edgecombe county yes
terday informed Commissioner Patterson
that there had been another outbreak of
splcnic fever in that county.
Mr.. III. d. Bats chairman OF the DEM
ocratic executive committee of the coun-
ty. has lost five cows and has IL others
sick. He THINKS the infection came from
cattle driven inFfrom an adjoining coun-
ty.
A few weeks ago there was an out
break of fever In Edgecombc, In which Is
cattle were lost. This outbreak is under
control. The fever was brought in by
cattle from Martin
Commissioners Patterson has sent Mr.
Bats the law In regard to the quarantine
OF cattle and instructions as to how to
infection.
Ing an effort to secure the services of n
skilled veterinarian to take the place of
Pr; Curtice, who resigned TO accept a po-
sition in the y. and NJ. College OF Rhode
Island. DIR. Curtice was Il most compe-
tent man and he inaugurated a system
been entirely eradicated from the State.
could he have remained here and contin-
ued his work.
ment TO the position are already on file
and the board will probably elect Il veteA
rin ..;lr at It's next meeting,
Tho work just now" said Commits
sioner Patterson. is at critical stage
and 1t is more important that ii be car
RED on 8 than ever before in the history
OF the State. There are more outbreaks
OF the disease than ever before. This is
because In the stock law districts many
ticks and the blood of the cattle Is UNI
tainted by poison. But these cattle when
coming contact otiter-eattle will
become infected and die. while the own
ers are entirely ignorant of the cause
OF the disease or of the necessity of talk
ing preventative measures. This has led
to n great many OlIthrpQkS w In
fected cattle have been mixed with unin-
fected cattle, often in The same neigh
necessity TO educate the cattle men in
regard to the disease and to otherwise
help along, the progress of disinfection
inaugurated by the stock law system
1T is absolutely necessary TO continue
to guard the cattle raising section of Tile
west against cattle driven from other
Curtice has, in that section and else
where. so wisely and successfully started
cannot now be dropped
The damage caused by the ticks in this
State Is of two kinds; direct and Indirect
The direct is caused by the driving and
pasturing OF infested cattle upon the pas
lures and roads whore cattle which have
never been infested may become so by
the tick progeny. This results in their
death The death OF cattle taken TO the
tick infested districts for Improvement
of herds has further resulted in The non
Improvement of stock therein.
The indirect loss results from the quar-
antine placed upon the cattle traffic on
account or the presence or ticks on "A
portion of them. Were these ticks to be
exterminated there would be no quaran-
tine; The great problem of marketing
cattle In all this State, excepting only the
mountain counties. Is TO obtain access To
the open markets of the North now de-
MED to them. The one cent per pound
Tor $40 for each 1000 pound anmaD Diff
ference between the open and quarantine
market in favor of the former Is IL mar
gin which means profit In raising cat
tie.
Everywhere ticks are the same pcstif-
erous nuisance and drawback upon the
cattle industry. and their appearance in
new districts Is followed by the same
disease.
a letter recently received at the De
partment from Surry county says:
ITO exempt the cattle of Surry would
enhance the value of the cattle sold each
there is very little trading in cattle here
have no outlet and people are los.
ing interest in the business of raising
and dealing In cattle. You see we hav,
quarantine is raised. and that IN dead of
winter, when cattle as II rule are rather
thin. unless they have been we'll fed
This would mean keeping them on hand
empt trading In cattle would go on the
year round. and thereby cattle raising
would be encouraged. and the people
would be benefited many times my eSti-
mate of the difference in the value of
cattle
a letter from Burke county says:
at would be of great value To Burke
to have that portion north of Catawba
river exempted from quarantine. as that
is the best part of Burke for raising cat
tie. My opinion Is that IL would raise
the value of cattle from half to ono
and "A half cents per pound. The people
north of the river. are very anxious to
have the river as the line.