The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-06
ASsSSSSSSSsSSsSSsssseseee
I The Farm and Grove. \
Copyrighted by Rural Press Syndicate.
h. E. STOcKBRlDGE, Phi. D., Editor. 4


!
the importation of stock from the
north, is n generally recognized fact.
Stockmen who have taken pains to
become informed are well aware of
the reasons for this danger. There
are thousands of cattle owners, how
ever, perfectly familiar with the
fact that northern cattle brought
south very often sicken and die, still
ignorant of the real cause. Change
of climate and feed are commonly
ascribed as causes for the facts OBJ
served. Indeed, necessity for ac-
eliminating northern animal brought
south is acceeded by all.
That process OF adapting these ami
mails to southern conditions is now
possible with little risk, is n demon
strated fact. The means for accom-
Iplishing this result are simple and in
expensive. Their real adoption means
the reVolutioniZing of our conditions
and the making of the southern pine
country the center of the great beef
producing industry of the world.
Mild climate, cheap lands, good ma
tive grasses and the best and cheap
est fattening materials in the world,
all tend in this direction.
1t is therefore important that those
interested in the contamination of
this end, should become familiar
with the conditions influencing the
result. 1t is particularly important
that every cattle owner, present or
prospective, become acquainted with
the simple principles by application
of which immunity from the great
scourge Of our herds may be secured
We now know positively that yell
low fever is contagious, only through
being carried from sick person to Il
well one by mosquitoes. In like man
ner, we know that this cattle fever is
carried only by means of the COM
mon brown-headed southern cattle.
tick. The disease occurs only where
ticks exist; and the Z. S. govern
ment maintains quarantine line
| between tick inhabited and tickless
territory. North of this tick line,
southern cattle may not pass during
warm weather when ticks propagate.
/ and south of it animals pass with
risk of infection, and are prohibited
from return.
The Bite of ticks is the only natu
raj way of inoculating for, or catch
| ing, the disease. Therefore, every
animal bitten by ticks, either has
the disease, or, for some reason OF
condition, does not take the infec-
ton, exactly as some people always
escape yellow fever.
Ticks are. everywhere present in
the south. Every southern animal.
therefore, is at some time exposed to
the disease. In the north there are
no ticks, and animals are never eX-
posed. Bring them south and they
| become immediately exposed, when
the first tick finds them.
Every animal bitten, if it survives
| the attack becomes more or less i'm
muue to the disease. AS every south
ern animal has been exposed to the
| tick, all are in q measure immune
More important than this is the fact
that calves dropped by cows which
have had the fever, however mild,
take immunity from the blood of the
| dam. Most of our southern stock,
| therefore, is born comparatively inn
mune to the fever.
All very young animals usually
| have the disease in so mild form as
to be hardly recognized, and may
| TINS become Individually immune.
by actually passing through the
| fever without the owner recognizing
it's presence. These are thoroughly
established facts and principles.
Among other things they explain
what is mystery to so many stock
men. Namely: that a northern ami
NAL brought into contact with per
fectlv well southern ones, takes az
apparently contagious fatal disease.
! The tick is the explanation.
Now for the application, the prac-
| yical protection of exposed animals
The tick is the cause of the disease.
| rbe more ticks the greater the eX-
posture and probability of disease.
The tick is hot weather, hot elm
ate product. Cold weather is his
leath, or reduces his vitality or vir-
uIence. Therefore, bring in north
ern animals during cool weather.
The change is also less for them at
| this time, and their systems are III
stronger, more resistant condition.
Expose to presence of ticks gradu-
ally. Animals brought to Florida
last November and exposed to full
tick infection by being turned into
The woods, died. Animals from the
same lot, kept up during the first few
months, are well.
The younger the animal exposed,
| the less is the danger of fatal results.
! Chickens are the inveterate enemy
of ticks. Lots or fields where fowls
range in numbers, often remain free
from ticks, and are safe refuge for
imported animals. A valuable Short
horn COW bought at the last State
Fair was kept through the summer
i'm an enclosure with Il flock of hens
! No tick was ever found on her. With
cool October weather she was turned
into woods pasture. She is today
supporting q good colony of ticks,
! Int has shown no sign of the fever
| She is now immune and has doubled
in value from the fact.
AS all southern animals, though
well themselves, carry the infection
in their blood, the incubation of
northern animal with blood-serum
from a southern animal renders thu
former immune. The complete ope-
ration covers several months and re-
ouires expert services. Most of the
southern experiment stations, how
ever, are prepared to perform the
service at actual cost.
1t must be remembered that the
importation of whole herds is not eX-
nected. The protection of single
animals, or limited numbers, for in
dividual owners is desired, that ths
hest blood in the country may be used
lin the building up of the character OF
our herds.
This object is within the reach of
whoever will ntelligently apply
these simple facts. The improve
mani of our cattle and the building
mn of great industry is a practical
| onSsihilitV,