Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-01-23


State Live Stock Inspector
Texas Fever, the well known and
easily recognized fatal Southern cattle
scourge, probably first invaded the
United States from Mexico over cen
tury ago. The infection gradually
spread northward from the Mexican
border until about forty or fifty years
ago when it made it's first appearance
in Tennessee. and finally spread over
81 counties in this State. For many
years its causative agent was I'M
known.
1t was in the year 1887 that Cooper
Curtis was the first to suggest the tick
as the carrier of the infestation of this
disease, but it remained for Smith and
Kilborne in 1889 to demonstrate that
the tick did really transmit the dis
ease. OF course for many years no one
knew or even suspected that it was
possible to eradicate this disease pro-
ducing tick. 1t was in the year 1894
that Cooper Curtis demonstrated the
possibility of exter minating the fever
tick.
About this time the first bulletins
on this subject were gotten out by
Mohler, Dalrymple and Morgan. To
Myer of Louisiana belong the credit
for presenting the first bulletin calling
attention to the economic Importance
of eradicating the tick. He placed the
10 Aho StotnS OF
800, 900, 0OO The early field work was
done by Butler, N c., Cary, Ala,
and Diuwiddie, Ark. They demon
strated that tick eradication over large
areas of infected territory was practi-
cal. They demonstrated beyond
shadow of doubt that ticks could be
eradicated from any prescribed terri
tory in short time at reasonable
cost
In 1905 a committee from the Com
missioners of Agriculture of the South
ern States prevailed upon Congress to
make the first Federal appropriation to
begin the work. This appropriation
amounted to $89, 500. DR.. R. P. Sted-
dom and w. P. Ellenberger did the
pioneer work in Tennessee, but to Drs.
J. A. Herman and R, E. jackson the
credit is largely due for the excellent
results which have been accomplished
in this State.
As said before the disease had spread
to 81 counties and the annual losses in
this State from deaths of cattle from
the disease and from the depreciation
in value as result of the handicap of
quarantine restrictions, far exceeded
$1,000, 900.
This work of tick eradication has
gradually progressed until now we
have succeeded in freeing Al whole
counties of ticks and those 44 counties
have been released from quarantine.
Only seven counties and parts of coun-
ties remain in quarantine. These great
results have been accomplished in on
ly few years and at very small ex
pense to the state, counties and feder
al government. when we pause to con
siGer the manifold advantages to the
cattle raising industry which have &C
crued therefrom.
However, the work is not yet com
pleted and tee annual losses, even at
the present time as result of the ex-
istence of this disease will probably
exceed $500, 600.
Nov is the opportune time to COM
plete work in all of these seven tick
infested counties if the cattle raisers
in these counties could only be made
to realize it, The tick can be destroy
ei now with less expense than later.
The stockmen of these remaining quar-
antined counties can now profit by the |
experience of those who have already
successfully conducted the work in the
counties which have been freed of
ticks and placed above the quarantine
line. They have at hand the Goth cen
tury method, the ideal way of killing
ticks, viz, the concrete dipping vat
and arsenical solution which are the
boon to, and salvation of the cattle
raising industry in the Southern
States.
The dipping vat and arsenical solu-
tion are cheap and efficient as well as
practical and are in my opinion the
only weapons which will be used i'll
the future in tick eradication work
From present indications the ticks
will be entirely eradicated and the
whole State of Tennessee released from
ouarantine one year from this date, in
which event, Tennessee will enjoy the
distinction of being the first State to
entirely exterminate the Southern cat
tie tick.