The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-01-02
i: T.'EXAS j ]: ( s FEVER ! !.
May ytbe Regarded as a Native Disease
in this State, s:'..ss ,5s
DR.. NRsoM I SAYS 3 !, 5ABoUTIT II

WHAT DR.: .NRsoM SAYS Z ]. ABOUT IT
Caused by tho Bite Of the Common
Cattle Tick. How the stock
Law Greatly Decreased
f tho Disease. III ss
The following article on Texas fever
in cattle was written by DR.. G. u.
Nesom, State veterinarlan,t and is
published for the benefit of our farm.
ers: %.
For the benefit of the many stock
owners who read this paper I desire to
call special attention to the cattle dis
case, now commonly known as Texas
fever, but possibly better known in
South Carolina by the names of bloody
murriaD, red wntcr and distcmper.
So great las been the inroads Of this
disease ON the cattle industry Of this
State during the last four years that
many men, especially breeders OF beef
cattle, have become SO discouraged
that they have abandoned the busi-
ness altogether From Il business
standpoint this is quite detrimental
to the live stock industry, as itoftcn
drives out many men who have the
means and could successfully continue
and leave it in the hands OF the
others who have not the means to en-
gage in other business, where such
severe losses are not incurred. 1t is
also robbing many people of those
staple necessities in all families, milk
and butter. BESIDES IL is iiiscuuraging
breeders who nre at present engaged
in the production dairy OF cattle, and
detcrring others who might engage in
it but for the fact that they fear they
might incur severe losses. l have
quite frequently published more OF
less extended accounts Of this disease
and do not think necessary to repeat
at length what have already said.
The South Carolina experiment. sta
tion has left few copies OF Bulletin
u on this disease and they will be
furnished, so long as they last, to
citizens Of this State who will write
for them and state to what extent
they are interested In the cattle bust
ness.
Texas fever may be regarded us Il
native disease in South Carolina, Just
as we think Of chillS and fever us s3on
as the Mississippi Valley is mentioned.
1t Is now well known to he Il specific
disease OF the blood, caused by very
small animal organisms entering the
body through the bite Of the common
n Irty II !, = u
multiplication destroys the red por-
tton OF the blood and causes very high
fever. in cattle, except calves, it va
rics in its intensity III direct proper
tion to the age Of the animal, or, in
other words, it is lightest on young
calves and Increases in severity with
the age of tic animal. The question
has frequently been asked il this dis
ease has been caused by ticks, why all
cattle did not die before the war,
when ticks were SO common in this
State? That is a vital question and
the answer to it is that when cattle
are allowed to run alt large and all Of
them are continually carrying ticks
throughout the year they acquire a
perfect Immunity TO the disease as
young calves. AS stated before, calves
40 not seem TO suffer very greatly
from this disease, and when they have
for ali 1u uys,$ !: Sa?iaT.a So far as our knowl-
edge goes, and may carry ticks in
great numbers with perfect immunity
for the balance Of their lives.
EFFECT OF THE STOCK LAW
When our agricultural system under
went its notifications subsequent to
the. war, and stock law was passed.
the number OF cattle in The State was
greatly decreased, and those few that
were kept were penned on small areas,
and herds OF near neighbors were
allowed to run on the same pasture.
Beside, when people began to see their
cattle more constantly they seemed
to have taken more interest in their
care, and especially in getting those
ugly and filthy ticks off of them. The
result has been that since the stock
law went into elect ticks have rapid
iy disappeared in all parts OF the
State, but especially in the upper
country, where there is less woodland,
more bare ground and colder winters.
II is now difficult to find many farms
In Grccnyillc, Plckcns and portions Of
Oconee, Anderson, Laurcns, Spartan
burg and Cherokee counties on which
cattle are infested with ticks These
counties, and even as far south as
far south as Hampton, have many
farms in them on which Il tick has not
been seen for years. Many Of the
older citizens say that in one or two
years after the stock law went into
effect the ticks seemed to have diSap-
pearcd as ii by magic. Now what
has been the reSu!5 Of this change?
Where the ticks still remain the cat
tie are Still immune to Texas fever, as
they were in the old days. But where
the ticks have disappeared and the
cattle have had no access to them
during their lives they have had no
opportunity to become immune to this
fever. The result is that as soon as
these tick-frcc cattle arc brought into
contact with the ticks they develop.
Texas fever and great many of them
die.
SOME CONCRETE EXAMPLES.
There are many concrete examples
that might be given to prove this