The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-01-09
TO CBECK TEXAS FEVER.
Circular Being Sent Out by Dr.. Nesom
Of Clam son College.

Circular Being Sent Out by Dr. Nesou
Of Clemson College.
The following circular Of irq 1iry re-
gardiDg Texas fever in cattle has just
been issued from the Office of the 7ete.
rinarian at the South Carolina expert
nent station at Clemson college:
Dear Sir: This letter is sent you in
the hope that you will assist the vete-
rinarian OF the experiment station in
securing some information regarding
the cattle disease known as Texas
fever.
During the past few years, this dis
ease has been prevalent IN many sec
tions OF this State, but since the pas,
sage of the present stock Law it has
become very common, especially in the
up couotry and in the pastures and
feeding pens Of stock buyers.
Texas fever is known by number Of
names in different parts OF the coua-
try, but the more important Of these
are splenic fever, acclimation fever,
tick fever, red water, Bloody mu.rain,
bloody urine, distemper, mountain dis
temper, etc.
The symptoms are readily recognized
by anyone who has seen cattle suffer.
ing from this disease At frst, the
animal becomes stupid and leaves the
herd for some secluded and shady part
Of the pasture. II they come up at all
at night, they usually lag behind the
herd, appear listless and droop as
though all energy had forsaken them.
The ears are dropped down, the nose
more or less dry, and runintion (ohew
Ing cuo) suspended. The urine is red
colored, the degree Of redness yaryir &
with the Intensity of the disease. In
milk COWS the hoW Of milk almost
ceases. Constipation is usually marked,
only small quantities of very dark color
ed dung beiug voided The temperature
runs from 1O3 to l07 F. Some idea of
the fevered condition may be gotten by
inserting a 6oger in the corner Of the
anlmsl's mouth. All of the symptoms
increase in intensity until the animal
becomes almost or quite unconscious,
walks round in circle, groans and
seem to suffer great pain. Then con-
vulsions set in, the animal falls, struggles
violently, and ID the intervals between
commissions, lies On the side snoring
until death follows. Calves do not
developed the severe symptoms and
few Of them die from the disease, but
in cattle over three years old, the
desth rate is probably 30 per cent. to
80 per cent. The disease may appear
at any time during the summer but
more often from July to Ostober.
Post mortem examination Of the car
cas- shows the flesh to be almost blood.
less and pale in color, the spleen (melt)
black and easily torn, the bladder filled
with bloody urine the liver and intes-
tines yelloWish, and the gall bladde,
filed with bile
In all cases, an examination Of the
skin about the thighs, fsnks, neck and
other portions Of the body reveals the
presence OF ticks, which always 90 with
Texas fever. The cause of the disease
is very small animal organism (pro
tososn) which seems at all times to
exist in the body Of the common cattle
tie tick (boophilus bowls } When the
tick inserts his bill through the hide oi
the COW, these little germs" gain SO.
cess to the blood Of the animal and
there develop, producing . case Of
Texas fever in ten or twenty days, in
most cases. Death results from the
destruction of the red blood cells, the
bodies Of which go to the spleen and
the colccing matter to the bladder.
| Cattle that have had ticks on them
when calves are immune to the disease
and will not have itagain. Cattle that
have not had ticks on them until q yea,
cid will develop the fever as soon IS
they get them.
The experiment station officials de.
sire to assist the stocknen of the State
IN getting this disease under control
and preventing severe losses from it in
the future. To this end We are send
Ing you this circular, and request that
you will read it and answer the ques.
tions on the enclosed addressed postal
card. We thank you in advance fol-
your cooperation and trust you will
soon return the card to
DR.. G.. E. Nesom,
Clemson College, s. @.
December 81, 1910.