The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-12-09
TICK ERADICATION.
Nashville, Tenn, Nov. IS, 1911

Nashville, NOV. 10, lSlV.
Mr.. Irving P. Delmas:
Dear Sir-Your letter of the 15tf
instant, addressed to Mr.. G. H. Afford
Jackson, Miss, is turned over to this
office, and l take pleasure in attempt
ing to furnish you with the desired
Information.
We are pleased to learn of the grow
ing interest manifested in the work Of
determination of the cattle tick in ev
cry section of Mississippi. 1t is 2
clear indication of the progressive
spirit of Mississippians.
The work of tick eradication has
been in progress a little more than
four years, and in that time an area
comprising 120, 900 square miles has
been freed of the great cattle pest,
released from quarantine with the re-
suit that cattle raisers are improving
their stock and receiving increased
prices, and, further, the markets OF
the world stand open to which they
may ship their cattle. The writer sees
no reason why tick eradication should
not be conducted in every county in
Mississippi where the sentiment fa-
vors the work. 1t will not be posi-
BILE for the state or the government to
detail inspectors to cover such a large
area, but the boards Of supervisors
may appoint local inspectors, who
could proceed with the work, and no
doubt accomplish the desired results.
At the present time the method EN-
ployed to clean cattle of ticks is by
the use Of the dipping vat, in which
%arsenical solution is mixed and into
which the cattle plunge and swim
through, thus thoroughly immersine
them and at the same time reaching
all the ticks, which are killed by the
poisonous solution.
Dipping watts, in various sizes and
built of various materials. are being
used. For instance, in Claiborne and
counties, a hole thirty feet al
the top, ten feet at the bottom, sly
feet deep, is dug in the clay. The
sides are then plastered up with one
inch walls made with one part cement
and two parts sand. At the entering
end of the vat a sliding chute three
feet long, at an angle of sixty degrees,
is made so that when the cattle reach
plane they lose their footing and
inc the solution. At the other
end of the tank they walk out on an
inclined cleated plank into a dripping
pen, into which they are permitted to
drip off for a few minutes before being
turned loose.
In other sections Of the state con
Yates are made about the same
or a little smaller If de-
sired, material consisting in the pro-
of one part cement, three parts
sand and five parts gravel or Stag,
the walls being made six inches thick.
The more substantially built watts are
necessary in sandy soil, but where
clay exists the former style vat an
the purpose very we'll.
The a~rsenical solution wherever
used for disinfecting cattle has proven
a great success, and cattle owners fire.
quently inform us that the dipping
improves the looks Of the cattle very
much. 1t is reasonable to expect that
It. would, as dirt is washed off the
matted hair, old hair Is shuffed OF,
and the hide stimulated, which gives
the cow or animal a rich glossy color.
There is being sent to you under
separate cover a package of bulletin
No. 37S, which explains the tick Grad.
ication problem in full, and gives you
further Information regarding the dip.
ping watts and the arsenical solution.
It is possible that during the win
ter months the services Of an inspec-
tor of this force may be obtained to
supervise the construction of dipping
watts in counties other than in which
the work is being regularly conducted.
II it is your desire to have q tank
built in your county, which this office
strongly recommends, please advise,
and arrangements will probably be
made for assigning an inspector to
assist you.
Very respectfully,
]. A. HERMAN,
TncDont0r IN Cboroo